Deputy Principal - Student Development and Wellbeing

I write this  Parent Corner introduction surrounded by silence, except for the occasional voices filtering through the walls as other members of the Leadership Team connect with the outside world through the delights of video calls.  The day is filled with online meetings and the welcomed disruptions of checking in on the children of essential workers.  It has only been Day 3 of Learning from Home and, I can confirm, I didn’t sign up for education without the joy of young people as part of the noise of the everyday.  In fact, I recall over a year ago writing a Parent Corner item just as we were about to welcome our young people back on campus.  We were preparing for the celebration and the delight that things could return to what was then termed 'the new normal'.

It would seem that, while it looked like we were on a trajectory that was unlike other states, we did, as many voiced was sure to happen, finally succumb once again to the 'P  word' in our own backyard (that’s 'pandemic', in case you weren’t here last year).

It would be easy to fall into the pits of despair knowing that our young people, for the most part, are unable to attend school and do what we expect them to do - learn - but let’s not forget that we have been here before and, as such, we are able to ensure that your children are abled through technology and the expertise of teachers to continue their learning in the best way possible, given the circumstances.

There will, as we know, be children who will find this time challenging and those who will be able to thrive.  We need to remind our young people that, no matter what their sway, resisting the change is never going to enable them to move forward.  As the adults in their lives, we need to encourage each and every one of them to embrace those actions and strategies that are going to keep them moving forward.  As a result, I encourage you to take the time to read the advice provided by your child’s relevant Pastoral Guardian on ways to best support your child through Learning from Home.

Change is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our capacity to cope.  The resilience word is thrown around a lot, but change is actually a perfect way to grow our coping mechanisms.  Change should also help us appreciate the positives and to consider how fortunate we are that we can still continue to learn and grow because of our access to technology.

On Tuesday morning we had the pleasure of addressing the Year 7 cohort through our Teams platform.  The students were inquisitive and responsive, as noted in the chat.  Of particular interest was the question around the wearing of the college uniform when partaking in on-line lessons.  As a college we continue on a journey of improving academic rigour and student potential.  We can’t let the impact of the P word interrupt this flow, and one of the best ways to maintain rigour is to encourage routine and normality in amongst the change.  Wearing a uniform sets us up for attendance at school and for the normalisation of the learning that is to take place.

One of the things that can hamper learning is our young people’s difficulty with maintaining boundaries and respect in the use of social media and online learning platforms such as Teams.  Through notices on the app, we have provided all families with a copy of the protocols around the use of technology.  Your child has also been provided with a copy of A Guide for Students to Learning From Home.  In this guide it clearly states the respectful practices around internet use via live streaming and chat.  As the learning is taking place at home, we would be appreciate your assistance in reminding your children of these expectations.  We do not want to be in the position of removing your child from the live stream because they have forgotten how to be respectful to the teacher and to other students.  As stated, a teacher is the only one to initiate a video or audio call.

Staying safe online is also a consideration when young people are constantly engaged with working on-line.  Last year I posted the eSafety Commissioner's link with the hope that you would find time to access the wonderful strategies it has to support parents to assist their children to stay safe on-line.  A more up-to-date version is provided here.

All in all, we have been very fortunate in Queensland - and dare I say as a college - to not have to have endured the long periods of lockdown as we are witnessing in other states. Let us pray that all in our community stay safe, and the impact is as shortly lived as possible so we can have our children back where we love them to be … Mount Alvernia! We miss them!

Annette Butterworth