Welcome to Week 2. As I write this newsletter I am reflecting on the past two weeks and some of the highlights:

• Some students have returned to school and it has been wonderful to see their faces as they have a chance to personally connect with their friends again.
• I have been looking over teacher’s shoulders as they run Zoom lessons and I am so impressed by what they are doing to engage their students. I just had the pleasure of seeing some of a Year 8 History lesson on the Aztecs with Mr Quinn and his class happily working together online.
• Each Year group has had the opportunity to attend a Zoom Year Assembly.  I have been part of these assemblies as House Leaders develop creative activities to engage the students and to support their wellbeing.It has been quite funny to see how many dogs and cats are joining these assemblies with their owners!

You should have already received an email outlining the plan for next week as we gradually transition back to full face to face teaching.

Students who do not fall within these groups for a particular day, but need to be at school, may attend as needed as is the current situation. During Week 3, students will be supervised doing online learning, however, there will be staff to assist them with their learning as required.

A decision for Week 4 will be made by assessing attendance and the lack of COVID-19 in the community.

Our goal is to have students return to normal face to face lessons as soon as it is safe to do so. Please be assured that the College has a variety of safe practices in place:

• Over the holidays all classrooms were given a detailed clean including a carpet shampoo and air conditioner cleaning
• Students will be encouraged to continue social distancing of 1.5 metres. Staff are also expected to social distance 1.5 metres from students and each other
• Hand sanitizer is readily available in all classrooms
• Playground seating is cleaned at the end of each break
• Desks and toilets are cleaned twice daily

I think we are all considering what we will change in our lives as a result of this pandemic. It is a sad time for everyone but can also be a chance for reflection, growth and opportunity. Pope Francis’s message sums it up nicely.

“We have realised that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us are now called to row together, each of us in need of comforting each other.”

Stay safe and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns

Kathy Holding

Principal