Secondary School News

From the Head of Senior School, Anne Harris

I would like to congratulate our John Wollaston community for the way in which we have collectively responded to the very abrupt transition to online learning and learning from home. Never have students, teachers and parents had such a sudden and dramatic shift in the way education is delivered.

I am very grateful to the support and patience our families have demonstrated, the messages of encouragement and thanks that have been sent to staff and the willingness to try new approaches and stay positive in this stressful time. Our staff have been working at fever pitch to try and learn new digital learning platforms, redesign learning programs and gauge how well students are coping emotionally and engaging academically. I think we are all looking forward to the school holidays and a chance to digitally disconnect.

We will continue to listen to the feedback from our community as we navigate through an unknown time frame of learning from home.

Next week we will be trialling a new timetable in the Secondary school which will see lessons reduced to 45 minutes, short breaks between lessons and longer times for morning tea and lunch. Details on the changes to session times and scheduling of the extended Wednesday morning House Group session will come out through SEQTA Message.

Anne Harris

Head of Senior School

From the Dean of Pastoral Care, Kylie Virgo

As we finish our second week of online learning it is a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect on and celebrate how much we have achieved. Our staff and students should be exceptionally proud as to how well they have adapted to the online learning environment, overcome challenges, and found new and creative ways to keep connected and spirits up. It has been a great display of persistence and resilience by all. I would like to particularly recognise our Prefects who are the leading the way for our student community to remain connected during this time.

Along with the ongoing and wonderful support our teachers and Heads of House are providing, I also continue to encourage students to check in with the Wellbeing Tips and Activities that are posted on the Student Splash page. Additionally, please continue to remember that we are in this together, so at any time you require some pastoral support, don’t hesitate in contacting either myself or your child’s Head of House.

In times like this its a normal reaction to become anxious. Every mental health expert stresses the importance of controlling things that are within our control and taking steps to look after our wellbeing. Some of our ‘John Wollaston friends’ have some very wise advice that can be accessed via these links:

• Reach Out - https://au.reachout.com/collections/coping-during-coronavirus
• Maggie Dent - https://www.maggiedent.com/blog/coping-with-the-corona-chaos/
• Jane Genovese - https://learningfundamentals.com.au/worried-about-working-from-home-strategies-to-help-you-get-stuff-done/
• https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/blog/covid-19-online-safety-kit-parents-and-carers

Until next time, we encourage the John Wollaston community to:

Keep well, keep safe, keep connected and keep caring. We’re all in this together.

We will teach you in front of your screens

We will teach you now on Teams

We will teach you through SEQTA

You will remain on our radar

We will teach you here and there

We will teach you because we care

So just do your very best

And do not worry about the rest.

*Adapted from an unknown source especially for our John Wollaston community

Kylie Virgo

Dean of Pastoral Care