Principal's update 5 July 2020
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
I write this on Saturday afternoon the 4th of July reflecting on how opportunities are opening for us to get a haircut or visit a restaurant and yet much remains uncertain. I know some in our community have faced the loss of a loved one over the past few months – our prayers and thoughts are with you. Others of us have struggled through the loss of many plans we had for our lives. So as we reconcile ourselves to the fact that life has changed let’s bear with one another, be patient with each other and encourage one another.
We received government guidelines on Thursday about how schools need to manage schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic from September onwards. I believe we have a way forward to maintain close management of student-student interactions when we return to the school site. When we combine a reduction in the mixing of students on-site, through discrete bubbles, with rigorous hygiene routines we will limit the spread of the virus. The safety of our students, staff and wider community is paramount and therefore it is vital that we consider the new guidance to: meet the needs of students; accommodate the changes needed in terms of staffing; make timetable adjustments; manage the use of break and lunch and schedule regular opportunities to wash and sanitise hands. Over the coming days we will work through the complexity of the guidance to ensure plans are robust, safe and shared with everyone over the coming days and will share our detailed plans during the course of the next week. Please anticipate detailed September plans this coming week. We will link a survey to these plans to enable us to receive input from the whole of the Grace College family as we work together to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Please note the following:
- This week is Virtual Sports Week! Please see the video links below and being shared over the course of this week.
- Congratulations to those who have been working diligently online and applying themselves fully. May I encourage you to continue to use the weekly Engagement Report as a way of getting regular feedback from teachers. A summary annual report will be emailed home before the 17 July.
- A reminder that the uniform is available online through Michael Seghals, see the link details below. The ties will be delivered and sold by the school from the 20 August.
- We have arranged 3 staff training days for the next academic year. These are scheduled for 7 and 8 September and 4 January 2021
- We are planning a phased return to school introducing year groups each day. While some students are not expected in school on the 9 September we expect all students to make full use of the excellent learning resources online ahead of their return date.
The first day in school by year group is:
- Wednesday 9 September – Year 7 and 11
- Thursday 10 September – Year 8 and 10
- Friday 11 September – Year 9
- Monday 14 September – Sixth Form
As a school community we need to adapt to and embrace blended learning. This is a combination of face to face tuition and online learning and will be a feature of learning next year. I wrote last week indicating that we would be setting a homework task to be completed before the first lesson students have in September. These tasks will be shared well before the end of this year, via a “Whole Year Group” Microsoft Team and will be uploaded so that students can complete this in good time before school opens on the 9 September. Students must ensure they complete this work at some point before their first lesson in each subject. I would suggest they utilise the time they have, at home, on the two staff training days; unless a family is away on holiday in which case the homework task could be completed in the preceding weeks.
In closing, please look out for further information regarding September opening plans and other details regarding the new year. I know it has been difficult for many of us but let’s stand together and provide each other with ongoing support through these difficult time.
Mr M Hall
Principal
