Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As we reach the end of another week of remote learning, I thank parents and carers again for your support of our students in what we know are challenging home situations with both parents and students working remotely. I thank our students for their ongoing engagement with learning and their strong attendance in virtual meetings.

Some students may have struggled to complete and submit all of the set work last week and parents will have heard from a Leader of Learning and Wellbeing if that is the case. Please know that we are there to support your child and reach out to us if they are finding things challenging. 

Many of us did a very informal survey of our Mentor groups this week and it was not very surprising to learn that, for many of our students, remote learning is not their preferred way of learning. They miss the company of friends and the collaborative environment of being physically at school. I admire their fortitude as they nevertheless do their best.

We heard today from our Chief Minister that it is unlikely that schools will return to face to face learning before next term. This means potentially three more weeks of remote learning. We await further news next week. Given the likelihood of an extension, I advise that our Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews scheduled for the last week of term may potentially be postponed until we return in Term 4 to enable them to be held face to face. This will mean that we will run two sessions in Term 4 rather than one. Obviously arrangements for these events will be subject to any COVID restrictions that may be in place.

Similarly, we were looking forward to welcoming our 2022 Year 7 students and their families into the school for an information evening next week. We will postpone this event until next term also. We will be communicating with all families next week and, in the meantime, sending them several forms to be completed regarding choice of language and the Year 7 Band Program.

In these uncertain and difficult times, it has been humbling to see the generous support to others being offered across our community. Our hearts go out to those who are ill at the present time or suffering in other ways. Rest assured, you all remain in my prayers.  

Catherine Rey