DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Teaching, Learning and Innovation

As we start into the final term for 2021 I’d like to thank our school community for their resilience in such a difficult year. I think we all felt, or at least hoped, that 2021 would see a shift from the Covid crisis back into some normality, but as we know that has not been the case! Nevertheless, there have continued to be some silver linings in difficult times. Some of the highlights for me have been:

The resilience of a Year 12 group who have been significantly impacted upon over two years. It appeared last year’s group were the candidates most likely to suffer in the pandemic, but this Year 12 has had much greater mountains to climb. I forwarded the Year 12 students and parents an article from Mark Scott, University of Sydney Vice Chancellor (and former Head of the Department of Education in NSW), on why this year’s cohort is so special.

His key message was that the ‘grit and endurance’ (Scott, 2021, para. 1) of these students was precisely what society welcomed in young people…and not just universities, but the wider world. I could not agree more—in times to come the pain of these uncertain times will be replaced with a sense of recognition that we came to know ourselves so much better in adversity. Not that we would wish that on anyone, but nevertheless…

The engagement of so many students with online learning, from Kindergarten to Year 12. If things have been tough for Year 12, imagine being a Year 1 student who has now had multiple transitions into and out of school over the last 2 years. To them and their parents I say take a bow. Research is telling us that the greatest impacts are occurring in some subject areas, such as Mathematics, but also in particular transition points such as K-1, Year 6-7 and senior students. The good news is that the younger the student the lesser the impact that is expected in the medium and long-term. The science of brain plasticity suggests that young brains are excellent at adapting and developing in areas once things move back to ‘normal’.
The amazing staff at the College, from our cleaners who have worked overtime to keep us safe, to the teachers who have relentlessly sought to keep the learning boat afloat. It has been a genuine team effort and not without moments of the very same fears and frustrations we all feel in these times. I spoke to the teaching body at the start of this year (and last year somewhat presciently) about teaching being a vocation that stands above most others in regards to its vital importance in society. I believe that more than ever, and I think one other silver lining may well be the growing recognition in society of this very fact.
Finally, to our parents a massive thanks. Without your support online learning has no foundation and as a consequence, it all falls apart. Amidst already anxious homes you have provided your children with the stability, love and care that makes everything else possible. On behalf of the teaching staff, I say thank you.

2021 is by no means done yet—we still have an important term ahead and much to do. We may well yet end up back in lockdown, we do not know. What we do know is that we can all overcome the challenges we face, and that is something about which we should all be proud.

References

Scott, M. (2021, August 28). HSC class of 2021, we want your true grit at our universities. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hsc-class-of-2021-we-want-your-true-grit-at-our-universities-20210827-p58mii.html

Anthony Heffer | Deputy Principal - Teaching, Learning and Innovation