PRINCIPAL’S GRADUATION MESSAGE

Last week we had our Grade 6 graduation and fortunately I had the chance to speak to our children in relation to Living with Hope for our future and living out the 5 pillars of our WSABI (Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviors)

One of the core principles of an emerging new time during COVID-19 is the resurgence of HOPE.

Hope being the expectation of positive outcomes, the cherishing of a desire for the future and celebrating each other. Now is the greatest time in the world’s history where hope and positive change will be the only way forward.

More than ever, the leaders and teachers in our Catholic Primary School are charged with working together in humanity to develop hope in our students, optimism in our communities and the understanding that together we can create a solution-driven future for all.

Learning how to make a positive difference in the world is how children can develop confidence, optimism and hope.

 “I have said these things to you, that in my heart you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world”   John 16:33

Three years ago we introduced our WSAPB (Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviours) to the student’s, staff and parents of St Ita’s.

Our WSAPB framework is designed to support everyone in our school community to develop a positive, safe and supportive learning culture at St Ita’s. It assists us to improve the social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for all our children through the 5 pillars of Compassion, Inclusiveness, Respect, Resilience and Team work.

When our WSAPB is implemented well, students, teacher and parents have more time to focus on building healthy relationships and classroom instruction. All parties benefit.

One of the greatest WSAPB successes, was that we launched it prior to the onset of lockdowns and remote learning. Via the 5 pillars of Compassion, Inclusiveness, Respect, Resilience and Teamwork we were able to apply a glass half full, positive approach to the challenges that COVID-19 presented to us.

Please allow me to explain using each of the 5 pillars.

TEAMWORK

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted almost every element of our lives, and the education of our children has been no exception. In the blink of an eye COVID-19 required teachers, parents and students to rapidly adjust to new modes of learning.

In a matter of days, schools had to find and implement viable alternatives to the traditional model of teaching in the physical classroom.

The St Ita’s staff were absolutely amazing, working collaboratively to develop and implement a model of remote learning with no blue print provided.

After the initial shock of what was expected, teachers worked within their teams to develop a model of remote learning that allowed parents easy access to both the work and to their child’s teacher via video conferencing. This was a great example of what teams can do in situations that are high stress and tough.

RESILIENCE

COVID-19 has resulted in a very different form of school-led remote learning that comes with considerable challenges for teachers, students and parents, including:

• reduced one-to-one engagement with teachers
• difficulty in ascertaining engagement levels of students
• restricted ability to monitor individual student progress
• increased level of oversight required from parents and carers (particularly for younger children)
• increased social isolation and reduced ability to support student wellbeing
• interruption to learning support for those children with additional needs
• Differential levels of access to technology, including internet and devices, to support learning.

As it became apparent that many schools would need to provide an alternative to classroom-based learning, our school went into overdrive to prepare and transition the students, the parents into a very different learning model.

This involved collating several weeks of learning materials, making hard copies available online, and the adoption of online systems to store content and manage interactions with children and parents.

In addition to this, the preparations involved a logistical exercise for school leadership, managing a workforce that would be split between the classroom and home, and where possible, avoid teachers being expected to teach in ‘dual modes’ full time both remote and face-to-face.

One of the greatest challenges through COVID was faced by you the parent. In a lot of cases you were expected to work from home, whilst stepping into the role of Teacher.

During the lockdowns and remote learning, I received numerous phone calls and emails from parents outlining the challenges and the difficulty that remote learning presented to them. And I say this with the utmost sincerity.

The Students, Staff and Parents are to be commended for the way you have worked through the tough times of COVID. We have all shown amazing resilience to get to where we are now.

RESPECT

One thing we know for certain is that the pandemic will have lasting effects on all of us. Our health system, our education system, how States govern, our economy and the way we live our lives will endure long-term impacts from COVID-19. It will not be possible for some time to simply return to how things were in the past.

The pace of change since the pandemic began has far exceeded what those in the “know” expected or predicted. Rules and mandates have been introduced by our Government and Health leaders that have changed our lives significantly.

Simple things we once took for granted have been taken from us. Division is evident throughout our communities, and there are heightened levels of anger and aggression towards one another.

That is why it is so important to show Respect for one another during these challenging times. We need to be respectful of everyone regardless of their views and stances related to COVID-19

COMPASSION

As a developed country, have you ever stopped to consider how lucky we are that we have the opportunity to access medical support to deal with COVID-19?  I often wonder what it would be like in some of the third world countries that can’t access the supports needed to work through the pandemic.

How many have died? How many have suffered? How many children have been left orphaned? How many people are experiencing isolation, fear, anxiety? How do they deal with the uncertainties and unknowns both now and the future?

Sometimes it’s important to stop and think what it would be like to walk in the shoes of someone like this, who is doing it really tough. The definition of Compassion literally means: suffering together.

When we feel and understand distress in others, compassion gives us the courage and wisdom to do something about it. It motivates us to help, to be kind, and to give support to others who are suffering because we know instinctively what they need to ease that suffering.

This is what we have seen in our school community over the past 18 months. Compassion has a powerful energy. When there is so much around us that remains unknown, it is our compassion, kindness and humanity that gives us certainty and safety.

INCLUSIVENESS

We are all facing unique challenges at this time. The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 is causing increased anxiety about the unknowns and potential longer-term implications. It is important that people’s wellbeing, diversity and inclusion need to be at the forefront of how we deal with the pandemic going forward.

We need to be flexible and respectful of the fact that everyone is facing their own unique challenges. It is important that we do not lose sight of others’ needs amidst our own fears.

Be mindful of how others are being impacted:

• For many, mental health concerns may be amplified. Those who suffer from anxiety are especially impacted.
• Going to work or school form a core part of social interactions for many individuals, so those who live alone are now more isolated.
• Our friends, family, and colleagues who have children may be facing enormous needs for childcare and home schooling.
• Those who are of Asian heritage may fear an increase in racism and bias (which has been reported around the globe) because of where the virus originated.
• Individuals who are in high-risk groups (such as the elderly) may fear an increase in inter-generational bias.
• Anyone with underlying health conditions, disabilities, will be managing a plethora of new challenges.

To be truly inclusive is to be accepting of all regardless.

CONCLUSION

So as we say farewell to our Graduating class of 2021 my gift to them is this. Please feel free to take the knowledge of our WSAPB’s 5 pillars on the next phase of their learning journey. They will serve our students well during their secondary education and more importantly, they will be of enormous value during their journey through life.

 “How good and pleasant it is, when God’s people live together in unity."     Psalm 133