Whilst lockdown and remote learning has made it difficult to maintain a sense of school community face to face the themes we have presented over the last 3 weeks have enabled us to communicate with a purpose. With this in mind, we will continue to promote a theme each week until the end of the term. 

This theme will be reflected in the children’s learning plans, additional family activities, within our assemblies, with the School Captains & Vice Captains interactions and on social media.

Week 7: Book Week

Week 8: Paralympics

Week 9: Gratitude Week

Week 10: Caring for Ourselves & Others (Social Emotional Learning focus)

All parents and families are invited to join wherever & whenever they can.

Memo to Parents & Carers: Don’t feel guilty & don’t panic about remote learning!

Education researchers and directors including Pasi Sahlberg (UNSW Gonski Institute for Education) & Professor Jenny Gore (University of Newcastle, Teachers and Teaching Research Centre) are making a call out to parents across NSW not to panic and certainly not to feel guilty about what you can’t seem to get done in remote learning. 

This echoes Good Samaritan’s message to make the learning plan work for you. Sahlberg admits that children just can’t do this every day. He is also the father of school aged children and is managing learning remotely as well.

When school does return as full cohorts face to face our focus will remain on what children can do, what they have achieved rather than a deficit model of learning loss. Researchers are already communicating that the idea of learning loss can become exaggerated. Perhaps the loss comes more from the ‘schooling loss’ - that is the loss of carnivals, camps, assemblies, plays, band, parent helpers, parent workshops, P&F functions - the things that can’t be translated in a home or remote environment. 

What’s the most important thing for parents to focus on right now? Wellbeing - it’s the number one thing. The mental health and wellbeing of students, parents and families is paramount. Sahlberg emphasises that play is a ‘powerful means of learning’. Play is fun and empowering for all involved.

Remember: Don’t panic, take it all in your stride, make the learning plan work for you & play with your children!