From Cressida
Our amazing team.
Team Preshil
As online learning draws to a close, I wanted to celebrate the achievement of our online program delivered by our amazing team of teachers (above). While each of us faced the challenge of adapting to a changing world, our teachers were also required to re-imagine the learning space from physical to virtual. In addition to the learning programs developed, their focus was directed to the wellbeing of our children and their families. This was demonstrated through weekly communications and phone calls.
Recently Dan, Amir and I were interviewed by Anders Furze from The Age newspaper about how our online program incorporated student wellbeing. Amir’s instagram page @howwellisyourbeing was profiled, as was our emphasis on continuance of our school culture and relationships based teaching. You can read the article on our facebook page here.
Transitioning Back to Arlington
It’s beginning to feel a lot like a community again with the numbers of children on campus. Once again I’m enjoying visits from many of my friends coming to check up on the snake in the pot. Last week it was beautiful to see The Pines being used for Bush School by the children in the Kindergarten and the Fives.
We understand that for some children the prospect of beginning again at school might be daunting, and might be a source of worry. As a team we have been working with Amir Tatai, our Wellbeing Coordinator, to develop strategies to support children and families to reconnect in their own time and in their own way. If you have concerns or questions about this transition, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me or with your child’s teaching team.
We have also been contacted by families who do not feel ready to end their physical distancing measures. I want to reassure all families that we support this decision and in no way will a continued period of physical distancing be an issue for your child. Online learning has ended for our children from the Kindergarten to the Loft Room, and will end for children in the Sunroom and Peppercorns from next week. For families continuing with physical distancing, logging in to Seesaw and Storypark will enable you to view some classroom activities that are underway, but activities will not be set for children through these platforms. Instead, we encourage you to continue to upload the projects your children are working on to share with our teachers.
Semester One Reports
As our teachers spend time reflecting on the learning across Semester One, we have been delighted to receive feedback from many of our families reflecting on the learning that they were witness to across this time. Many parents who have chosen to make a contribution have done so sharing considerable pride in the learning that their children have demonstrated and achieved. I wanted to share some examples of these reflections, and once again encourage all our parents to consider making a contribution to the Semester Report by completing the google form here.
You can also send by email to me at the address below.
“I think this experience has proven that he is capable of self directed learning, which will be invaluable when he enters senior school next year.”
“..we are grateful for this moment in time we had with you.”
“He really persevered and tried his best. I could not have asked for more..”
Cressida Batterham-Wilson
Acting Head of Arlington Campus