I trust in this new environment we are all living in that the message of Easter had a chance to arise within your family’s isolation reality! The Easter message is one of hope and it challenges us, in these difficult times, to Live with Joy (Young people searching for hidden Easter eggs!), Live without Fear (We will come through this time and the community sacrifices we are all making is having a difference to health in Australia), Live with New Eyes (Working with your child at home will open new possibilities, new discoveries, new challenges and confirm your belief in your child).

My key tip is to focus on what matters; values, care, doing your best and having a go. If some gaps in learning do occur teachers and schools will identify them and make up for it and “in the grand scheme of 13 years’ of education, it is not going to be the end of the world.” (Age Newspaper advice over last weekend.) This though is gold. With significantly altered programs and resourcing changes, it is important to prioritise and trust your school. Our staff are all here to help. It is one step at a time.

For the on-line remote program and students in your home, your child’s teacher will contact you this week and help you get started. The learning plan to guide the work will arrive today. One step at a time, tomorrow will come.

The school on-site program attendees will also receive correspondence today; the key points are, arrive at school from 8:50 am, in uniform, with snack and lunch and the package sent out over the break. The program will start in the hall and then move to the classrooms. Noting teachers and support staff helping with the on-site program will not be the child’s normal classroom teacher. Classroom teachers will be working contacting the home students. Pick-up can happen from 1:00pm with all students finishing at 3:00 pm. The normal After School Care program will commence at 3:30 pm.

General Program Context

To achieve the necessary community health goals of reducing travel, protecting our health system, staying home and saving lives, schools in Victoria are being asked to make additions to their school operating models for Term 2 and transition to flexible and remote learning.

Schools must also provide a ‘Care and Supervision’ option for students that cannot stay home due to family work or are identified as vulnerable.

Additional to the above, the Victorian Premier and Education Department, along with the Chief Victorian Health Officer and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria has advised all schools for Term 2 that “any student who can stay home must stay home” and “staff must work from home”. These two requirements will have a significant impact on program delivery. All schools in Victoria are required to offer this program.

Tomorrow

From Wednesday 15th April, 2020, the on-line remote learning will start. Importantly this new mode of learning will be new for everyone. It will be a gradual step by step process. Success will build on success, mistakes can be reviewed and learnt from and it is not a race!

A final reminder is no issue is too big or too small. The Leadership Team at St. Joseph’s will be available each day to answers questions, clarify and help. Our teaching teams are highly skilled committed people. These teams have already demonstrated high-level commitment and support to your precious young people and will continue to do so. I trust all goes well these next three days.