I would like to begin by acknowledging the amazing work of teachers and parents within the JPC Community. Our students, along with students across Canberra, have had to adapt to new ways of engaging with learning and this would not have happened without the strong partnerships that exist within our wonderful community.

The support and care of students has continued through what is an extremely confusing time and this does not happen without strong collaboration and communication.

Life is beginning to return to ‘normal’ for schools across Canberra. This week, Year 12 students have been welcomed back to face-to-face classes with other year groups eagerly awaiting their return date over the coming weeks. The ACT Roadmap is seeing more activity within the wider community with restrictions easing and stores, restaurants and attractions commencing their planning for the return of customers. Checking-in, wearing a face mask and sanitising hands are becoming part of daily routine. In general, life seems considerably calmer than what it was just a few weeks ago when the second outbreak began. In saying this, we know that the future remains unknown and that the success stories of today may quickly become headlines of tomorrow.

So what are our young people saying about the planned return to ‘normal’…

For the students that I have had the joy of speaking to this week since returning from the term break, their immediate responses to getting back to school have been excitement, eagerness and for some a little bit of silliness (not an uncommon thing for adolescent boys and girls). Students who may have struggled to put together half a dozen sentences in Semester One have been recounting their teachers with experiences in isolation. They have shared the highs and lows of spending more time at home while navigating a different form of learning and how they remained connected without the routine and structure of time together at school. Many friendships have been strengthened through the ability to talk virtually about thoughts and feelings with friends and in response the responses of comfort, support and reassurance have provided a deep sense of connection. There was excitement about the chance to continue these experiences with the ‘wall’ of technology removed when they return to classes.

Why is the routine of school so important for young people?

Despite the many positives, the realisation for some families that they are returning to school is bringing on feelings of anxiety and unease. This has been for a variety of reasons with the two main ones being a sense that their child has fallen ‘behind’ in their learning and concerns that schools may not be safe (hygienically) when all students are back in classes.

In response to the first of these concerns, the resounding message from teachers to students and their families is: “Don’t”. Don’t think that you are the only one who feels they have fallen behind and don’t think that schools haven’t taken this time away in to planning for future learning. Teachers are walking back in to classrooms with confidence and dedication to their subject areas and this will see schools through the days, weeks and months ahead. Further to this, to ensure that the important work of teaching and learning can commence face-to-face, much consideration has been given to ensuring all students are safe at school. This includes but is not limited to classroom organisation, increased hygiene measures and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.

There is much research in to the effect of routines on young people and returning to the routine of school is vital to the wellbeing of our community. The Raising Children Network highlights that routines are good for children as they provide a predictable environment for young people to foster a sense of their own identity and interact positively with others. Schools provide opportunities for these things to occur on a daily basis and students need these to grow in to the people they will become. There may well be ‘bumps’ along the way as we return to the routine of school however our community, and all school communities should be confident that schools will always put the safety of students and staff at the centre of what they do.

Is there a better way to think about the reservations we have?

In returning to school, I would challenge the community to consider reflecting how they think about the challenges of change we have experienced. In 2020, at the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Indian author and political activist Arundhati Roy presented this summation on how our countries, our communities and us as individuals should step towards the future:

“Whatever it is, coronavirus has made the mighty kneel and brought the world to a halt like nothing else could. Our minds are still racing back and forth, longing for a return to “normality”, trying to stitch our future to our past and refusing to acknowledge the rupture. But the rupture exists. And in the midst of this terrible despair, it offers us a chance to rethink the doomsday machine we have built for ourselves. Nothing could be worse than a return to normality.

Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next.”

“We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.”

We must have faith in ourselves and each other. Faith that the lessons we continue to learn from this pandemic will set us up for an even brighter future. One in which we are more adaptable to situations and more present to each other. Our schools have begun to be filled with life and laughter and this will increase over the coming weeks. Learning, in all forms, is inspiring young minds to consider new and exciting ideas. Our communities are beginning to feel whole again and it is hoped that this will not be taken for granted again by anyone.

Mr Jacob Knowles
Assistant Principal: Drexel Mathieu