Principal's Report
The orientation for this edition of the Principal’s Report will be quite brief and utilitarian, with the understanding that there has been an overload of communication hitting your inbox over the past weeks while we collectively support government measures to reduce the spread and impact of the COVID-19 virus.
I commend the excellent articles presented in this particular iNewsletter which offer useful advice and specific access to online home learning resources. Mrs Maxworthy and Mrs Barrett have both listed some excellent and proven resources that will support quality online home learning.
I particularly recommend Mr Larkin’s extended piece that offers quality examples and sound advice about the opportunity that comes from a crisis like this to build personal resilience and strong empathy for, and outreach to, others. In the spirit of ‘Being Better Everyday’, take the time to read and reflect and to adopt some or all of this wise advice. This is our time to ‘step up’ as a faith community, to be better learners, better friends and to be better and seek out new ways of caring for each other.
Educational Brief
As the college moves into the next decade, we now begin the community consultation that feeds into a Master Plan for 2020-2030. To facilitate that community consultation I am sharing a link below to a consultation document that is entitled - ‘Educational Brief’. The purpose of such a document is not about the buildings or facilities in a ‘Master Plan’. The purpose of an ‘Educational Brief’ is to reflect and decide upon what type of contemporary teaching and learning experience we are aspiring to achieve into the next decade. The document will provide much more detail.
I recommend this consultation document to all families and encourage you to complete the online submission form presented as a link below also. If you like traditional paper responses, there are hard copy booklets available from the office. All submissions are due by April 27 - 2020.
Online Submission Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/130MKJiKHLvdUgWMwcQ-9I7Jmqjj8SUSB86TjidtLklM/viewform?edit_requested=true
Video contact in the Home Environment
Many students and teachers at McCarthy are now engaging in short video sessions online to support the delivery of online home learning experiences. It is important for, all families to understand the physical sensitivities of an online video connection during the ‘home learning day’. As teachers, we are acutely aware of the location and set up required for our video communication, especially when it comes to the camera location (ie. office or dining room) and most importantly ‘what’ is being filmed in the background!
Consequently, I instruct all students not to locate themselves in their bedrooms for video sessions. Students need to locate themselves in more public places like lounges or dining rooms with their microphones muted to avoid background noise interfering with the teacher’s instructions. I similarly emphasise my previous communication about a serious approach to learning and ‘dressing for work’ each day. While we are not requiring the school uniform to be worn online, presenting as formally as possible prevents potentially inappropriate experiences for the class members and the teacher. Please support these important directives.
In this time of self-isolation and the closing down of our parish gatherings for Mass, I commend the following excerpt from Bishop Kennedy’s pastoral letter. I strongly encourage all members of the McCarthy faith community to join the ‘live feed’ of Mass each Sunday, particularly as we move into Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday this weekend.
May God go with you.
Mr Geoff McManus - Principal