Different Times

What a journey we are on. Everyone, children, parents and staff, are learning new skills and exploring different learning experiences. It is important to be thankful for the way everyone is accepting and responding to the changes we are going through. There is much anxiety and apprehension right across our community as we walk through unchartered paths and the uncertainty doesn't help. We have been told that the best way to get back to normality is to slow down the "curve" by self-isolating, social distancing and keeping our hands clean - three very easy things that all people can do. We have seen many news items where people are refusing to do this. Why? Maybe because they are a little inconvenient? Probably. Too restricting? Probably. Too boring? Probably.

Will they work? Probably. Are you following the 3 easy suggestions? Hopefully.

Just remember -- that the school is open and welcomes any children whose parents are working and staying at home would be impractical.

Home Learning

How is it going? 

Throughout the past week, I have been in regular communication with principals from around our diocese, and it is clear that parents and carers are feeling incredibly anxious and overwhelmed in regard to their children’s learning in the foreseeable future.

While teachers acknowledge that parents are the first and primary educators of their children, schools have a very important role in fostering the academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the children. Face-to-face teaching, which is the optimal way of doing this work, requires a level of personal interaction that cannot be replicated through technology. Online teaching can never replace classroom group learning because students learn from their peers as well as their teachers. The classroom offers students opportunities to assist one another to solve problems, and this is what helps to build children’s skills in collaboration and independence.

During the week, teachers will be arranging a time to call each of their student's families to touch base and see how things are travelling.

We look forward to what the new terms brings.

School Fee Support

Parents would have received via COMPASS a message from the Director of School offering a way to relieve the financial stresses during this difficult time. Parents can apply for support through two schemes which could defer payments or provide some reductions dependent on your current situation.

Both schemes require an online application.  The links to these applications can be found in the letter sent to the parents from the Director on Wednesday via Compass.