Greensborough Focus 

Principal's Report

The last few weeks have brought many challenges and new experiences for all of us. What is comforting is that we are “all in this together” and that we have strategies, measures, resources and supports to assist us through these ever changing times.

 

The senior students and teachers have been on site from the beginning of the term. Whilst it is quieter on the site, there is still a hum of learning and activity going on.  I am extremely proud of the way the students have responded to the strategies and measures we have put in place. Everyone is wearing their mask, participating in temperature taking and working hard to exercise social distancing. I want to thank families for being diligent about informing the College when their child is unwell. This practice definitely assists us to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all.

 

This week, we began a rotational system of staff working from home.  All VCE/VCAL teachers are on site for face-to-face teaching (unless on personal leave) when they are teaching VCE/VCAL classes and teachers of Years 7-10 can work from home as students are undertaking a remote learning program. All of the Education Support Staff are on a roster to work from home as well. This is one of the government’s strategies to reduce the spread of the virus so the Education Department has given Principals the authority to implement this practice.

 

Communication channels are still open. You can call and email the school during working hours and your enquiry will be directed to the relevant person. You can contact teachers via COMPASS email. The College will communicate to you via COMPASS and use our social platforms, facebook and Instagram, to update and remind families about what is going on at the school.  All key documents that have been posted on COMPASS can be found on our website.

 

This week’s parent teacher interviews were conducted via telephone for the first time. We have begun a review of this strategy and we will make some changes should we be in this situation again.  If you booked an appointment and missed a call, you can expect teachers to make contact with you via email and/or telephone in the next few days.

 

Whilst the current situation has posed challenges I am proud of the way the staff have created other ways to deliver programs that we would normally deliver in person.  We have conducted a VCE/VCAL information night and the course counselling for Year 10s via WebEx. We expect that other events that are usually scheduled in Term 3 will be delivered in these ways. Please stay tuned to COMPASS about these events.

 

When planning for Term 3 Remote Learning, we have considered the feedback from students, parents and staff from last term. The key areas that we aim to provide more support with are: 

  • Receiving feedback about learning
  • Amount of class tasks and assessment tasks
  • Communication
  • Wellbeing supports

Some parents have already commented to me that they have noticed a positive difference.  In the coming week your Year 7-10 child will hear from their Mentor Teacher who is there to support, assist, listen and guide during this time. If you need to reach out to the school I encourage you to contact the Mentor Teacher, sub school team or the wellbeing team.

 

The most important message we can give you right now is: be kind to yourself and those you live with, you are not alone. We are here, and we are all learning how to be in this new world. Life will go back to normal, and maybe we will all appreciate our world a little more.

 

Stay safe.

Pauline Barker

Principal