We all find ourselves in a situation that no one could have anticipated, having to adapt and alter our expectations and behaviours to fit a new normal.

It’s not easy. And we expect that there will be a significant period of transition as we all learn how to best learn and connect under these new conditions. Every family will be in a different situation - with increased pressures causing new levels of stress - and, as a school, we want to emphasise that in times like these it is the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing of our students and their families that is our primary concern. If life is chaotic for you right now, we get it. And whilst the school will be doing its best to provide the most effective means for learning, it is up to each family to set their own expectations for what will be realistic during this time to actually make things work.

Over the past few weeks we have been researching and exploring how best to do learning under these new conditions. Other countries have learned a lot in a short period of time, and we are seeking to learn from their lessons. Here are some tips we’ve come across for things you might want to focus on to make this Learn from Home experience as seamless a transition as possible.

Design a Space

This doesn’t have to be a separate room or soundproofed studio. But if you can, finding a place for each child to set up as their own study area (with as few distractions as possible) is ideal. Allow them to take responsibility for the zone, keeping it clear and neat so that when they sit down to study or log into Zoom, they will be in a healthy framework for learning.

Gather Materials

You will need some kind of device that connects to the internet in order that each child can access their learning materials for the day. Depending on the age and year level of the child, this may be for only a short period of flexible time or for the full duration of their normal classes.

Whatever the case, be mindful of online safety and what filters or systems you might need to consider downloading so that you can rest in the knowledge that your child will be accessing appropriate content. Google Family Link is a great free way to give your children appropriate access to the internet for their learning.

No matter what year level your child is in, there will still be a lot of time allocated to students to do learning activities that do not require a screen. Making sure there are supplies like paper, pencils, pens and a water bottle handy will go a long way. Recess and lunch-time will also still be part of your child’s day. So, now might be the time to get your children making their own lunches. It’s worth a try, right?

Consider Mindset

Learning in any environment is challenging, however learning from home is bound to be even more so. Learning will be very different to what students are used to and being able to create new rhythms and routines will be essential. And with any challenge and anything new, having a growth mindset is essential.

Each of our children will respond differently in this period of change, so keeping those communication channels open will be even more important. Talk to each child about their feelings about learning from home, what they are worried or concerned about and how you can address those fears before their learning begins. If they are anxious about falling behind, reassure them that there is no behind right now, they just have to do the best they can.

We’ll be sharing lots of ideas along the way to help our students develop a positive growth mindset, so stay tuned!

Connect With Others

While it might feel like we are all islands in our own homes, this couldn't be further from the truth. The BHCS community is pulling together like never before and your home is an interconnected puzzle piece in a larger picture of hope and imagination. Reach out to your child’s homeroom or subject teacher and let them know how your child is going - you don’t have to wait until there is a problem. Your teacher will appreciate the additional insights, particularly considering they can’t use their own eyes and senses to get a handle on your child right now.

The Courage to Grow

We chose our theme as the Courage to Grow this year, not knowing perhaps how much we would come to need it. Change presents a challenge for all of us, and whilst we may mourn all that we have lost, every experience of loss also comes with an opportunity.

So in this time of change, we all have a choice to make. Will we embrace the disruption with courage in order to grow into the kind of people we hope (and God wants us) to become? Or will we surrender to survival mode?

In this time, we all have the opportunity to learn afresh what brings our children life, we get to participate more directly in their learning and growth, and no matter how difficult that may be some days, we are all in this together.

And if we can find the courage, in a time of great uncertainty and struggle, there are a lot of opportunities here for growth. May our connection become deeper, our character stronger and may we come to value and love more fully what truly matters in life.

A message of Hope