Principal’s Welcome, Week 4 Term 2

Despite the trials and tribulations created by the pandemic we are continuing to operate as normally as possible (what is normal these days? – see below). Over the last two weeks we have run our inter-house cross country during Home Group sessions. I have included the results below. Well done to the students who made the effort to not only participate, but to compete. Nothing worthwhile happens without effort – which is one of our core school values. It also takes “teamwork” (another school value) to claim the prize of best house and have your house banner raised higher than the rest, in our school atrium.

House Cross-Country – Results

Winners were –

The challenge continues

I am constantly amazed by the strength and resilience our teachers and students show daily in dealing with the challenges of covid. In the current phase of the pandemic the impact is complex. While the vast majority of people are fully vaccinated, a positive test still means an absence of a week. When you combine the impact of multiple students missing from a class with the impact of one or two teachers being absent, the net impact over the course of a week is huge. Some students are absent, and some are returning after a week. It is very difficult to maintain continuity of the learning program under these circumstances– especially if the teacher is absent for a week as well. As we head from autumn into winter the impact of flu and gastro will only exacerbate this situation. It is vital therefore that parents don’t send your child along if they are showing any signs of illness. We have heaps of RATs available and the protocol of testing twice a week and not returning until asymptomatic is still an expectation.

Year 7 Camp

We have the vast majority of year 7 students out on camp this week. This is a great opportunity for students to get to know each other and their teachers and to build strong, positive relationships. Reports are that the camp is going well.

Glenn Davey

Principal