Dear Parents

I hope this newsletter finds you well and you are all coping with the restrictions. It has been somewhat ‘rolling along’ as normal as possible from an education experience. I thank those families for various forms of feedback from phase one remote learning. With this new to us all it was obviously going to be difficult planning the most effective way to learn with the majority of teachers and students at home. Interestingly enough engagement and strengthening the home and school partnership were the two key areas that families felt needed to be evaluated. As a staff we did this and I believe this is part of the ongoing success of remote learning in phase two.

While at school it has been impressive to see the teachers at school google meet or zoom in at different times during the day. Communication between parents, children and teachers has been excellent. I hope you all feel the same way as this has been one of our main learning intentions- to ensure we keep communicating with all families to meet their needs. We have also condensed the work requirements for the children. This allows for some free time after lunch. I hope the children have had the opportunity to get outside and run around.

A big responsibility for all of us is wellbeing. We need to look out for one another and be there in times of need. Mental health is such a big issue in society and we have to find ways to keep connecting with each other and supporting those who are struggling. The school is always here to support the community and assist in a variety of ways.

Families who have a child commencing in Foundation in 2021 will be contacted by email next week. This will be in regards to Orientation and child safety which will be a focus in Term Four. If you know of anyone that is intending to come to St Mary’s next year but is yet to hand in the enrolment form could you please be in contact with them.

Has the coronavirus pandemic changed us for just now or will it reshape our lives into the future? It is an interesting question to play out to see whether parts of the new normality, such as home offices and reduced mobility, will remain. Our experiences of corona time has given us a training in temporal thought and flexibility. Humanity will weather this crisis, but there are others ahead. Perhaps then, it will be comforting to know that we can, and must, trick time and plan for the future- even if we feel stuck in the present.

Next week we move into our seventh week of term. We will continue to be here for you all.

Have a great weekend.

Jason