Junior School Report

The Start of Term 2 for our Junior School students and families has been a new experience.  We hope you are all rested after the break and ready to take on the new challenges. 

It has been lovely seeing all our students in their home environments, asking us questions, showing much enthusiasm and engaging well in the chat sessions on Google Meet and attending to the work being provided.  Your teachers miss seeing you all in the classroom, however this is a nice way for us to engage and communicate regularly under the circumstances.

Teachers and coordinators are working to support you every day in your remote learning and we are all working together as one to support each other. Coordinators are regularly contacting families and students to see how they are managing their online classes.

Remember to always communicate with your teachers if you are having and issues or difficulties. All work requested must be submitted online. Please contact your coordinator if this is an area you need help with.

Many students are enjoying the lessons being delivered online and participation is terrific. The feedback form students on how they are managing their learning is nice to hear. Here are some reflections from students on how they are managing their remote learning.

   “Yes, we have ourselves and all of our resources at home, so now what? It is important to know how to structure your days to avoid problems like losing work, being late to classes and even headaches and stiffness. Here are some tips and strategies to help form an effective learning plan at home.

To avoid feeling tired, grumpy and unproductive at home, I set a designated space just for my learning. This space is well lit and (unlike my bed, a sofa or the middle of a living room) helps me concentrate on my work. It contains all of my school supplies and work, so when I need to find anything school-related I know where to go. It is important to keep a water bottle near and have breaks from the screen at the end of each period. Although it may be tempting to check your emails or watch a video during the 10-minute break provided, take your eyes completely off any screens in that time. This goes for recess and lunchtime as well. Hydrate yourself, stretch, get some fresh air. Even do a mental-health-related activity like a 5-minute meditation. This freshens your mind and helps manage stress (which can be common in these situations). A rule that I follow that has helped my eyes work better is that every 20 minutes you've been concentrating on a screen or book (whether it's doing homework or in general), look out somewhere 20 metres far (from a nearby window) for 20 seconds. Just this much time can stop your eyes from straining.

Like everything, even online schooling has its pros and cons. We are all faced with challenges in life and often blame them for our actions. We cannot control the challenges but what we can control is our perception towards it; how we handle it. So, this school term especially, let’s think about the positives and do the best we can.” - Maybel Verma

“This term at St Albans Secondary College we have changed locations and started working from home. Congratulations to everyone for completing week 2. As predicted there would be some difficulties such as slow internet, crowded houses and difficulty communicating with teachers.

But there are some positives such as keeping ourselves and others safe, being more concentrated on our work more and having more time to ourselves. I personally like to work at home because I feel more concentrated and relaxed even though I really actually miss seeing actual human beings and my friends. My family and I are looking forward to keeping each other company and having that reassurance that we’re all safe.”- Anna Binjaku

   “Online learning is going well, but it has its challenges at the same time. Although it is weird talking to my friends and teachers on a screen, it’s great seeing some familiar faces and being able to interact with them.

It is a different way of learning and we are all still getting used to it.

A tip that I would give someone who is struggling with working online is to keep trying and not give up. It helps to be self-motivated and to know your schedule. Remember you can always ask for help from your teachers or coordinators if you can’t solve the problem yourself. There are lots of people who can help.”

- Bisrat Abrah

Advice from the Year Level Coordinator Mr Moore

Students may find it helpful to have a clear distinction between their home environment and their school environment.  This can be challenging when they are working from home.  One way to help enforce this distinction is by recreating the morning commute.  This can involve getting dressed into appropriate clothing, possibly even the school uniform, then leaving the house and just walking around the block.  This can help set the stage for a productive day at school.  Again at the end of the day, log off the computer, walk around the block and change your clothes.  This might be just changing jumpers.  Good luck. 

Parents and students can email us at junior@stalbanssc.vic.edu.au.

A voicemail can also be left by contacting the Junior School office.  

Good luck with all your online learning, stay in touch regularly and contact your coordinators if help is needed.   Stay safe and look after yourselves and your families.

Lauren Honeycombe

Junior Sub School leader