All In This Together
The Roadmap to Recovery - You Will Be Safe Here
I remember reading this piece of poetry earlier this year from Damian Barr, a columnist and author of “You will Be Safe Here”, and it really resonated then as it still does now.
As we continue to struggle to find our own way out of our current restrictions and as we contemplate the roadmap to recovery, it is still so important that we work together as a school community to enjoy calmer seas and to reach the shore safely.
Image credits: © Barbara Kelley
I heard that we are in the same boat.
But it's not that.
We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.
Your ship can be shipwrecked and mine might not be.
Or vice versa.
For some, quarantine in optimal: a moment of reflection, or reconnection.
Easy, in flip flops, with a whiskey or tea.
For others, this is a desperate crisis.
For others, it is facing loneliness.
For some, peace, rest time, vacation.
Yet for others, Torture: How am I going to pay my bills?
Some were concerned about a brand of chocolate.
Others were concerned about the bread for the weekend,
or if the noodles would last for a few more days.
Some were in their "home office".
Others are looking through trash to survive.
Some want to go back to work because they are running out of money.
Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.
Some need to break the quarantine to stand in line at the banks.
Others to escape.
Others criticize the government for the lines.
Some have experienced the near-death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it, and some believe they are infallible and will be blown away if or when this hits someone they know.
Some have faith in God and expect miracles during 2020. Others say the worse is yet to come.
So, friends, we are not in the same boat.
We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different. And each one will emerge, in his own way, from that storm.
It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance.
Not just looking, more than looking, seeing.
See beyond the political party, beyond biases, beyond the nose on your face.
Do not judge the good life of the other, do not condemn the bad life of the other.
Don't be a judge.
Let us not judge the one who lacks, as well as the one who exceeds him.
We are on different ships looking to survive.
Let everyone navigate their route with respect, empathy and responsibility.
We have certainly weathered the storm with construction of our senior school and next week will see the building handed over to the College by the builder, the Lloyd group.
We have been able to gain approval from the Department of Education for the completion of a new locker area too, utilizing unspent funds from the project contingency and a small school contribution. This will be finished during October and will not cause any disruptions to using the new spaces.
The senior school facility is a great addition to our College physical environment and provides students with purpose-built learning spaces and also links well to the upper room areas of the Ringwood Training building, increasing the options and opportunities that we have for student learning. Please enjoy the short video clip which highlights some of the features of this building.
Thank you to all those families who took the opportunity to participate in this week’s interviews online across year 7 to 10. They have proven to be universally popular and will be a feature of the landscape as we move forward post COVID too, I expect.
Whilst there are always improvements that can be made, the technology and MS Teams enabled all parties to provide a more personalized experience without the hassles of running around the college, waiting, or finding car parks to name but a few!
I am extremely grateful for the efforts of our staff in ensuring that this new reality worked so well. It was also wonderful to reflect on our shared experiences of schooling during these times and better understand each other’s perspectives and circumstances too.
Next week, on Tuesday, Elevate Education will be running a final event for term 3. It is targeted at year 11 and 12 students and families.
Over 2500 parents enjoyed last week's session on smart work.
Event Title: Elevate Education – Exam Prep
Date: Tuesday 15th September
Time: 6pm AEST
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: Free
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Best of luck everyone for the final week of term 3. Classes conclude at 230pm on Friday September 18th.
Michael Phillips, OAM
Principal