Blog
Being There
This time a year ago Mrs Armstrong wrote a guest blog, in which she pronounced our students to be our 'key workers.'
That's true, of course, and never more so than now, when we return to the process of teacher-assessed grades for students in Years 11 and 13, but also the process of assessing 'where we are at' with all our students, from the very youngest (including those who are soon to join us from Year 6!) to our most mature.
Although I can't predict the exact outcome for each individual student, I do know that we will see a variety of experiences, ranging from those who found learning from home to be an improvement, to those who have been heavily impacted by illness or bereavement and every shade of the rainbow in between.
As teachers, that's what we're trained to do - assess what our students can and can't yet do, and support them on the learning journey that's the most applicable. Although it's a process that can continue via online live lessons, it is of course more effective when we can benefit from those supportive relationships face-to-face, when a student can 'drop in' to see a teacher just because they happen to be passing by their classroom. Or express a worry to someone who happens to be there.
We've learned over the past year that there are clear benefits to our increasingly online world. After all, where would we be without Teams and our other electronic learning resources?
However, is there anything as truly powerful as physically being there, to exchange glances, say 'hello,' ask for help - even just sit quietly? Together.
Welcome back for term 5 everyone! I hope you have enjoyed the increased freedoms of the Easter break, and I’m sure you’re raring to go, both with school and our lives as the world opens up once more.
