Making Our Way Back…
As with the first weeks of learning about COVID-19 and remote learning, the weeks leading up to the return of school on-site brings a mixed bag of thoughts and emotions…we may be excited to see friends, we may be concerned about whether it’s safe to do so, we may be curious about what changes have been physically made to the school as we see in supermarkets, etc. We may be all of these things and more! In developing a healthy curiosity and confidence in our return to school, it is important that we stay connected and continue our conversations.
This weekend may be a good time to take the route to school, and take a look from the outside to see what is the same or different since you last saw our school grounds. The route to school may also help trigger any questions or concerns, but it will definitely help our brains to adapt to the new changes we face. Together as a family, organise lunch boxes, drink bottles, rename your winter gear, etc. so that the things we are in control of are prepared and ready for our weeks ahead.
If you or your family have any concerns it is important to be sharing these with your homeroom teachers, so we are able to support our community for a smooth transition back to school.
We are really looking forward to seeing everyone’s faces back in the neighbourhood and would like to thank our families for their support and willingness to engage with remote learning and relationships. We are proud of the skills, learning and commitment that we have each demonstrated in 6 weeks!
History in the Making
This week we have tuned into the tips and tricks of interviewing from the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), to enable us to begin our own interviews. We are planning to co-create a three-part series, ‘Walking in Your Shoes: Moments of Isolation’, in which we ask people three questions about their experiences of isolation during the current pandemic. We have considered the various perspectives of this event and we are curious to learn more about the individual perspectives and experiences that are shaping this moment in history.
As we begin planning our interviews, we will be discussing our selected perspectives and looking for known people that we may be able to interview. For example, if your child is keen to learn more about a medical perspective, you may be able to connect them with a relative, family friend or colleague who can offer experiences from a hospital, clinic, or consultancy in the medical field. We have advised students that they are welcome to interview people from their own family or friendship group if individuals are able to offer varied perspectives (e.g. someone who is a doctor, and someone else who has been managing online learning); however, we are also encouraging students to reach outside their immediate relationships so they are less able to predict the outcomes of the interviews and learn more about the varied perspectives of our community.
We ask that families support their children by being present during any online interviews. We are not expecting you to take any role in the interview process, other than to ensure your child is set-up and safe in their online environment. We have asked students to plan and arrange a time to interview people for next week.
Pivotal Moments in History
Using five varied provocations ranging from short films, artworks, photographic essays, and timelines we have begun to inquire about moments that have changed the course of our history. We have begun looking at what questions or wonderings we have about how humans leveraged resources and opportunities during pivotal moments related to politics, war, nature, natural disasters, society and health; and space exploration. Your family may hear more wonderings or questions, such as
● What is…
● What if…
● What makes…
● Would you be…
● Is it possible…
● How do we know what…
● Should we always/never…
● What is the difference between…
We encourage families to share any of their passions related to the concept of change and development with their child… and possibly our neighbourhood!
Wise men learn by other’s mistakes, fools learn by their own. -Norweigan Proverb
Each week during remote learning we have collectively unpacked inferences made and commented on various cultural proverbs, sayings, and idioms. Using cultural sayings as a provocation has offered us a way to learn more about our culture and societal beliefs and question whether these ‘pearls of wisdom’ are still true or valid for us today.
Discussing these proverbs may also enable families to discuss their own cultural connections or beliefs, as well as learn new sayings that will help inform their understanding of some older generations and their perspectives.
Until We Meet Again
It is always hard to say goodbye, and I don’t quite think we’ve seen the last of this young lady, but we wish Indigo and her family, (including Tao from our 3/4 neighbourhood) well as they move back to Bryon Bay in a few weeks. Safe travels and we hope the transition back to your home goes smoothly. You will be missed in our neighbourhod.