Dear parents,

Firstly, I want to congratulate the teachers at St Michael’s who are finding creative ways of engaging with their students remotely. As I have said previously, this is a journey that will evolve, we are all living and working in a way we haven’t experienced before. Already there has been a significant change from an initial learning phase where routines and expectations could be established into a teaching phase where more explicit instruction is starting to be provided. Each learning team are investigating ways of engaging with students and again more opportunities will evolve and be rolled out over the coming weeks.

The following really resonated with me over the past week as I heard from some families about the pressures they are under as they manage the demands of isolation, working and supporting your child(ren) with remote learning.

COVID-19 Kids – what if? 

When people say kids are going to be ‘behind’ I say, behind what?? Not each other- they’re all in the same boat. Only ‘behind’ the age expectations of a curriculum that currently has limited context due to these extraordinary circumstances. In front on so many other more important fronts I say. 

What if instead of “behind” this group of kids is advanced because of this.

What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.

What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet? 

What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? 

What if this generation is the one to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home?

What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less? 

What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home?

What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?

What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place? 

What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life, who has a fine sense of empathy and care and concern for fellow humans. 

What if he or she truly learns what really matters in all this…

Stay safe everyone,

Jodie