DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Mobile Phones

Our students are to be commended for the way they adapted to the new rules regarding mobile phone use. Whilst there were some breaches of our new policy, for the most part our students complied with the expectations. Walking around the yard at recess and lunchtime it was wonderful to see students interacting with each other without the distraction of phones. Now that we have returned to online learning I imagine it will be difficult for students to self regulate and resist their phones. I encourage all students to put aside their phones for the day by physically leaving them in another room. There is some wisdom to the adage ‘out of sight, out of mind’, but perhaps only if the phone is turned off!

Email etiquette

Being in remote learning offers a timely reminder about online etiquette. Communication skills are essential for establishing and maintaining positive relationships, as well as ensuring success for study and work. Here are some tips for good online etiquette:

Email:

• Begin all emails with a salutation, eg. Good morning Mrs Howison  or Hello Catherine.
• Use language that is courteous and clear.
• Sign off emails with appreciation, eg. thank you, kind regards, yours sincerely.
• Part of email etiquette is also responding to emails in a timely manner.

Google Meets:

• Turn the camera on to greet the other people in the Meet. You might turn it off later but initially, turn it on to say hello.
• Keep your microphone muted unless you are speaking.
• While in a Google Meet for a lesson, remember not to eat or drink on camera while other people are speaking - this is a good rule of thumb in face to face settings that also applies to the online world.
• Choose your language carefully when you post comments in the chat.
• Use the Raised Hand icon when you can to ask a question, calling out in a Meet is the same as calling out in a classroom, try not to do this.
• When the class is finished and the Google Meet is going to end, leave the Meet in the same way you would leave a classroom, say thank you and goodbye.

Keeping Up with the Latest News

We are living in a time where everyone is keeping a very close eye on the news. It is important and even more so for our young people,  to ensure that we have accurate information that is not sensationalised. There are two trustworthy news sources that you might consider for your children. One is The Daily Aus - this is Australia’s leading social-first news service that is designed specifically for Australians. You can find it here or at https://www.thedailyaus.com.au/.  The Daily Aus can be accessed as a website or on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok and aims to provide viewers with the context of news stories. 

The other source you might try is a daily podcast called The Squiz, which is a short podcast covering the headlines of the day, with a promise of ‘your shortcut to staying informed’. The Squiz also offers a specific podcast of news for younger people called Squiz Kids.

You can find out more about The Squiz here or at https://www.thesquiz.com.au/

Work on with Constancy and Courage

At the moment many of us feel like things are totally out of our control and this can cause anxiety and distress. This morning in Homeroom I spoke with students about making an effort to let go ( to a degree) of the things we cannot control and focus on the things that we can. Even in remote learning we can put positive effort into our work, the way we connect with people, our health and our relationships. Our staff are doing an amazing job of providing continuity of learning for our students, creating activities that engage students online and providing support in a variety of ways. We are certainly very grateful for the generosity and commitment  of our staff, especially in remote learning where many are working from home and juggling home learning for their own children.  Mary MacKillop said ‘work on with constancy and courage’ and in times like these that sentiment is so apt. Keep moving forward with constancy, doing the best you can each day. That is all any of us can do and it is enough.