Dear Parents

 It’s hard to believe we are back here again in Remote Schooling just after restrictions were eased. In the last newsletter of Term Two I highlighted all of the extra-curricular opportunities available to our students this term and already many of them have had to be rescheduled. This unfortunately is our reality at the moment. We currently live in a very unpredictable world where it is hard to plan for next week, let alone the future.

 What would have been a busy weekend in my household filled with sporting events and family outings, turned into a very quiet, flat weekend. I don’t know how your children are coping with another lockdown, but I know that mine are struggling. The questions are coming that I don’t have answers to. Dad, why are we locked down again? Why is it happening in Victoria again? Why us? How long will it be for this time? Why is it every time we plan a holiday it gets ruined by COVID? I hate COVID dad. As a parent it’s hard to watch them struggling with something that is out of our control. All we can do is be there for them and let them know that it’s ok to be upset, annoyed and frustrated with what is going on. They need to know that it's affecting everyone and that their friends are most likely feeling the same as them. It’s also about trying to find a positive while being looked down, even if this means playing the playstation on a weekday or walking to McDonalds for a slurpee just to get out of the house. They need to know that it won’t be forever and we will get that holiday, or day trip one day. It is important that we continue to plan for the future despite the setbacks and disappointments as that ‘one day’ will eventually come and when it does, it will be wonderful. 

A huge thank you to everyone in the school community for the way they have embraced learning from home once again. Your support and understanding as always is greatly appreciated. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing staff here at St Mary’s who enacted their remote learning plans last Friday morning with minimal notice. The staff here go above and beyond what is expected in their role description. The students are always at the forefront of every decision made and their dedication and commitment to their job is unquestionable.

Let us all hope that next Tuesday afternoon we are given the news to open up the school to everyone and that the term can go ahead without any more negative news. Maybe, our students in Grade 5 and 6 can finally get to camp!

I hope you all have a safe weekend.

Jason