Principal Report

Principal Message Week 3 Term 2 2020

I would like to take a moment this week to celebrate the great things that are happening at our school.

Yes, there is no doubt that things are tough and I have to admit that there have been times this week that I have thrown my hands up in the air and said “Enough!” However, in the midst of all of this, there has been hope and yes - joy!

I am very proud of how we have responded as a school community to the COVID-19 crisis. Having to move to emergency remote leaning within a very tight timeframe has not come without significant challenges. I feel very fortunate in the knowledge that we have a dedicated staff and a committed community because, without this, the move to remote learning would have been a much more difficult and daunting prospect.

COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on our lives and will continue to do so for some time to come. Now more than ever we need to pay attention to our own and our children’s wellbeing. We are living in a time of great uncertainty and with that comes greater anxiety. We must address this for ourselves and our children and ensure that we provide them with support, reassurance, consistency and continuity. We can do this by establishing a sense of connection and community spirit and by focusing on generosity and togetherness, things we do well as a community.

I am very grateful for the support that we have received from you, our community and I am indebted to staff for their willingness to jump into the unknown but I am most proud of how our children have embraced their new ‘normal’.

I began by saying that I wanted to celebrate the great things happening at our school. I know it has not all been perfect and I am not shying away from the technical issues and glitches but there are many things to celebrate.

Firstly, it has been wonderful to see our children embracing the opportunity to engage with their peers and teachers each day. That morning session whilst sometimes, from an outsider’s point of view appears to be slightly chaotic, mimics the morning rush into the classroom. It is familiar and once everyone is over the initial ‘hype’ it settles quickly into the routine of a typical day at school. Actually, under normal circumstances, I don’t often get to be a part of this as much as I would like to. So, I am enjoying participating in these sessions as it reminds me of why I became a teacher and highlights just how important relationships are when it comes to the education of the whole child.

Secondly, as the week progressed I have seen how creative, intuitive, resilient and adaptable our children can be. I have enjoyed what I call my ‘virtual learning walks’. Usually, I do visit classrooms weekly often accompanied by various staff and conduct a learning walk. What is a learning walk? They are a way for all staff to gain an understanding of how the school is working towards improving learning outcomes for all children. They enable staff to gain new insights and helps build a shared understanding of pedagogy across the school. Now with remote learning in place Seesaw is the perfect vehicle for this. I am amazed at how quickly the children and staff have adapted to the online environment. Whilst initially the challenge of learning how to navigate Seesaw may have been the main focus, it has quickly moved to children and staff pushing themselves to apply their newfound technological skills to take risks and be creative with learning and learning opportunities.

Lastly, it has been wonderful to see how we have all come together in this space to share, learn from one another and keep that wonderful community spirit that we have as a school alive. We are the ‘Little school with a big heart’ and each time I log into Seesaw or join a Zoom meeting I feel that wonderful and intangible sense of connectedness and belonging that outwardly permeates our school. Wellbeing is central to who we are and to see our children smiling, actively participating and wanting to engage and be engaged is truly remarkable.

So, I thank our children, our staff and you for ensuring that our school and our community continue to grow and learn from one another and are there for one another during these unprecedented times. Knowing this gives me great joy and hope for the days ahead.