PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

We are all back!  Same, but very different

After months of remote learning, Term 4 is when teachers and students return to the familiarity of their classrooms for the first time in months. And while the classroom may look the same, every student who walks through the door will be different, scholastically and emotionally.

For many learners, returning to the classroom will have the same anxieties as their very first day of school. The first few weeks will be spent relearning social skills, readjusting to the school environment, and rebuilding daily routines. Teachers and families need to know that it’s ok to go slow; everyone needs time to debrief and recalibrate.

After so much isolation, focusing on activities that allow students to collaborate and reconnect should be given priority. Allowing them to share their experience of home learning – both good and bad – were a great way to kick things off. We have openly discussed the changes, as many elements of the school experience will feel different for returning students. Socially distanced classrooms, changes to playground rules, face masks and an increased focus on hygiene, all have an impact. Help your child to embrace these changes by discussing what to expect, rather than just outlining the rules. They’re living through an uncertain time with ever-changing expectations; having open and honest conversations with them will reintroduce predictability and transparency to their worlds.

No-one truly thrived during lockdown! While learning gaps need to be identified, students should know that they’re not being “examined” and that teachers just need to understand where they may need additional support moving forward.  Both parents and school need to take the pressure off students; let them know that it’s ok to be behind and that there will be time to catch up. Schools will also strip the curriculum of anything ancillary for the remainder of the year. Get back to basics and focus on literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional positivity…...and plenty of fun when possible!