In the last few weeks, whilst we have been waiting to see if we were going to be affected by a lockdown, the staff and Pastoral team have carefully considered the support that we could offer our students and families. Staying connected with teachers and peers is important for our students.

Connection begins each day with Homeroom. Even though this meeting is not in person, the format is familiar to everyone. The same friendly faces are there, we have an opportunity to share prayer and each others news, a joke or a short game. Homeroom teachers can troubleshoot any problems students may have or direct them to their Pastoral Coordinator. Our House Captains and Pastoral Coordinators drop by to offer encouragement. So far the feedback we have received has been very positive and Homeroom continues to be an important experience in everyone’s day. Hopefully, everyone has read Mrs Heffernan’s emails to our community outlining the expectations around students using online learning environments.

The Pastoral Coordinators are continuing to monitor the needs of their House groups.  When and where needs arise they will contact students and families to offer support. To contact this group please use the College number and leave a message that will be passed on. The Pastoral Coordinators have been issued a College phone to use during lockdown to return calls.  In addition to this Tania Chalker our Student Welfare officer and Naomi Bee, the College Counsellor from Catholic Care will continue to work remotely to support our students. Naomi can be contacted via the College number and will return your call.

There are a lot of resources and ideas around to help us all cope with the changes and restrictions lockdown brings.  The following four words are worth considering; 

Routine – rather than allowing ourselves to stay in bed all day we are advised to create a routine that provides structure to our day and through this a sense of comfort. In lockdown, our routine can include waking at a regular time and getting up, getting dressed and completing our usual tasks that get us ready for the day.

Exercise – working from home via online learning and work can make us more sedentary than we are used to. We need to take a break from screen time. Within the current restrictions, we need to get up and move, play with the dog, learn some new dance moves, do some gardening.

Connection – being with our friends and family is very important. Covid restrictions require us to be physically distanced from each other. We can still be social. We can connect via Zoom/TEAMS for dinners, games nights and a chat with friends. Checking in on each other is so important.

Create – by nature human beings are creative. Lockdown offers an opportunity to draw, paint, colour, design, build, cook, write, choreograph. Rumour has it that Sir Isaac Newton invented calculus during the plague. If Mathematics is not your thing then some may like to use this time to learn to sign in Auslan via the TikTok app released by Optus

How To Access The Optus #SignYes Filter

1. Open the TikTok app.

1. Search ‘SignYes’ in the discovery tab, or when selecting a lens to find the filter.
2. To activate the filter, make the Auslan sign for ‘Yes’ (moving your fist up and down).

4. The filter will now teach you how to sign each gesture and explain its meaning

To close, we have all seen the harrowing scenes of the recent events in Afghanistan. Can we please keep in our prayers the people of Afghanistan particularly the women and young girls who in the past two decades have felt emboldened to get an education, become professionals or walk on the streets not accompanied by a man. The women now fear for their lives. We often take our freedoms for granted. Access to education is part of the Universal Declaration of Human rights and the education of girls is fundamental to the success of building strong societies as educated mothers go on to teach their children.

Pope Francis encourages us all to pray for peace in Afghanistan and a future of hope for all.

Louise Ibbett
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care