28 Apr 2020
School update- return to school.
The situation with Covid-19 is constantly evolving. What has never changed throughout this whole health emergency is your schools desire to have students return to school as soon as possible.
All teachers, but especially the dedicated student and community focused teachers we are blessed to have at this school, enjoy teaching. This is especially the interaction with students in the classroom. The teaching moment when a child’s face lights up when they finally understand a difficult concept they have been struggling with. In fact, without exception during retirement speeches teachers do not thank the occasional irrational, emotional parent, departmental management or the administration requirements of the job. They do, however, thank the students for enriching their lives and providing a rewarding career.
The current notion in the media that teachers are resistant to students returning to school I believe if this school is an indication; completely incorrect. Indeed, it is damaging a profession that has evolved quickly to provide service to students during this health crisis with limited concrete direction and without a firm direction or end point.
Criticism of schools for following the directions of the system they work within and their political masters is both irrational and unfair. Teachers were instructed by government to prepare for at home learning for at least a term and that is what schools have done.
During the school holidays the Premier of NSW changed from a term of home learning to staged re-entry of students and that is what this school is doing. If we are instructed to return to full time that is what with increased hygiene and social distancing, we will do. Please be very clear on the following points:
• All staff met on Monday and were united in our need to return to full time learning as soon as possible with the appropriate safe measures to protect your children, my children and the staff of this school.
• Any plans the school communicates to parents Monday next week will maximise students on site within the guidelines set by the NSW government who has responsibility for schools, not the media.
• This school has provided exceptional service during this health crisis and will continue to do so under the restrictions placed upon us by the system we work within.
• Many staff at this school are also parents. Therefore we understand the pressures of having children at home.
As Principal I am appealing to our community to support your school because we want to return to full time operations. This school was built to have students within it, not the current situation. I passionately want students back in this school and will do so as soon as possible. However, until May 11 students should continue to work from home as per the instructions of government unless they have no other choice. On Monday I will communicate a concrete sequential plan to reintroduce students to face to face learning. As many and as soon as possible.
John Southon
Principal