In the midst of the COVID lockdown, it has been pleasing to see and hear from our young people, who in the main, are committed and interested in their Blended Learning Online Program.
It was a pleasure to be part of the Year 5 zoom meeting on Friday and to listen to some of the students as they talked about their lockdown joys and struggles. A new pet dog; a cooking experience; learning to try new skills at home; enjoying the Olympic Games. We settled on talking about this COVID time as a ‘TRAINING EXPERIENCE’.
Much of school education is exactly that - training in new skills and preparing for success in learning in the key areas of literacy and numeracy; of sciences and technology; training in performance and practical and physical areas of learning, and importantly, training in collaborating and working with others. Training for success has always been at the heart of good schooling. Learning from our failures and mishaps in order to achieve success is such an important component of a wise training program.
Much will be written and talked about from these Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, which are the pinnacle for those who have trained successfully at the highest level in sport. We all enjoyed that special moment in the final event of the decathlon for Ash Moloney where Cedric Dubler spurred him on - that exact example of putting someone else in the spotlight and supporting a colleague to achieve their best outcome. And, everyday, here at Thomas Hassall and in the best schools, our young people are growing towards success in the key skills, and growing towards successful futures.
We might talk about self-discipline as an important ingredient to achieve the benefits from a good training program. In times such as the COVID pandemic, for everyone of us, there is no doubt that we are finding that each day needs its own set of routines and then bringing that measure of self-discipline so that our goals are achieved. Let me bring every encouragement so that we might all continue to bring our best efforts to the daily routines at this time.
Year 12 students are being tested aren’t they? It seems that there is a new announcement each day about their HSC program. The College made the decision to move to an online Trial HSC exam early last week, and we called a webinar for students and families last Tuesday evening to talk through the issues. It has been a reasonably hard time for our Year 12 students, yet they need to remain optimistic, and self-disciplined at this time don’t they? For it also seems reasonable to assume that universities need them too in 2022; and employers set to grow their businesses post COVID, will need our successful and resilient young people for new work ahead.
Let’s stay resolute as a College community at this time. Reach out to us should you need additional support, and let me also, on your behalf, commend our teaching and support staff, for their continued commitment and effort.
‘.. for everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to receive a crown, that will not last, but we do it to receive a crown that will last forever’. 1 Cor 9:25
