In my Year 8 class last week, we reflected on blessings – and even wrote some of our own. Similarly in my Year 7 Tangara class, we have been reflecting on the people we are thankful for who have supported us throughout the last few months. These processes have led me to be even more conscious of the members of our community who I feel particularly blessed to have had contact from in recent weeks:

Blessed are the teachers who have “zoomed”, “see-sawed”, “videoed” and “weeblied” their way through remote learning with the very best interests of the girls at heart.

Blessed are the parents who have helped their girls manage their learning at home and who have worked in partnership with us to keep the learning going.

Blessed are the girls who have embraced the opportunities they have been given. Who have logged on, followed up, zoomed in, reached out and shared their beautiful smiles each day.

We are so fortunate to be part of such a positive community! 

This week, remote learning has continued to roll both in classroom and cocurricular contexts. I know that many of you enjoyed the Celebration of Song on Tuesday evening – the first in our “online” concert series. If you missed it, there is still the opportunity to view the concert via LowtherLink. On Monday evening last week the Senior School Debating students participated enthusiastically in a virtual debating round and in Raymond House the girls have been enjoying engagement in their various clubs. On Thursday night I was pleased to be able to join the cast of the Senior School Production via Zoom to mark what would have been the opening night of 42nd Street. This has been such a difficult time for the whole performing arts industry and there are many professional theatre and ballet companies, choirs and orchestras who are really struggling without the opportunity to present to an audience. I know that our girls have been very disappointed not to be able to move ahead with their production on schedule this year, but we remain hopeful that as things progress and restrictions ease, there may be the chance to stage the show in some form! Fingers crossed! 

Over the last few days, many staff have begun coming back to Leslie Road to prepare for the return of the girls from next Tuesday. Teachers have familiarised themselves with new social distancing routines and the various changes to the physical site that have taken place. Parents of girls in Years K to 2 and 12 should now have received correspondence from the relevant Head of School outlining the specific requirements for these year levels who are returning next week. I would like to thank all those families who responded to the survey I sent earlier in the week asking for feedback about our return to site plans. I am pleased to report that the vast majority of respondents said that they were very happy with the measures that have been put in place in order to try to make the site as safe as possible for the community. We expect that as each group returns, we will adapt and adjust our procedures in response to need and feedback. Thank you for all your support as we enter yet another phase of change!