Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan, 

What a wonderful week we’re enjoying having all the children back learning face-to-face. From arrival to dismissal there are smiles, laughter and fun as the children connect and engage with each other again. 

A recent Sydney Morning Herald article reported that parents juggled, on average, 14 hours of remote learning each week with one child throughout the lockdown. The article went on to say:

‘The work-school juggle was the greatest source of stress for parents (34 per cent), but that was followed by the pressures of social isolation (27 per cent) and their child’s lack of engagement and motivation to do their lessons (19 per cent).’

As we settle back into the classroom and school routines, we are taking into account the social and emotional reconnection for students as they return to a learning at school structure. Our teachers have been planning learning experiences that take into account the skills that students have developed throughout remote learning. This is aimed to maximise engagement in learning and motivation to learn.

Your juggle of remote learning has given the children experiences that they may never have had if schools had not needed to deliver learning remotely. They have experienced what it means to be hopeful and that, although things may seem grim, they do not stay the same forever.

The Gospel of Blind Bartimaeus tells a similar story of hope. Life for the blind beggar was pretty grim however Jesus’ faith in Bartimaeus won over and he was able to see again. This extraordinary period of everyone’s lives has tested our faith and hope but when I see the children return to school with a spring in their step and a smile on their faces I know that, once again, hope has won.

As we journey together, with Jesus, enjoy the week ahead,

Toni Sillis

Principal