From the Principal
In one of my early addresses to our students, I talked to them about the amazing Red Tingle trees in the south of Western Australia. Trees that grow up to 60 metres tall, strong, powerful, soaring and majestic. Trees that are hundreds of years old, that have lived through drought, flood and fire, many with their internal structure blackened through fire and hollowed out in the middle.
Standing inside these trees, dwarfed and enveloped by their size is a most memorable experience. There is a sense of deep peace, a real awareness of the strength of their root systems and a feeling of timelessness, the trees rock solid in their foundation and connection to the earth.
I used this metaphor with the students to encourage them to realise that in times of challenge and difficulty in our lives, we can be reminded by these trees, that we too have great strength and resilience and that we can draw on our roots and connections to support us; strong in the knowledge that our foundations will enable us to grow through the experience and strengthen our resolve.
As we work together through this challenging and uncertain period, I have once again reflected on this metaphor. As more of our families move to working and learning from home, without our usual social distractions and sporting programs to watch, how will we respond? This will no doubt be a time of significant change. During this period the metaphor of the Red Tingle tree can be a reminder that we all need to focus on our roots and foundations. The things that bind us and our families and friends together. We need to spend time nurturing the aspects of life that are most important and meaningful to us, even though some of this will need to be at a distance or online!
It has been inspiring to see how our school community has responded to this period of upheaval and I have greatly appreciated the constructive feedback and support from our parents and carers. Our staff have been completely committed to working creatively, often beyond the call of duty, to develop a purposeful and engaging remote learning program and we are continually looking to improve and refine the program. It has been fantastic to see staff looking to expand the number of ways that students can connect with them, in a myriad of activities, as this has been a strong positive aspect of the feedback.
On a personal note, I sincerely thank you for the many messages of support and encouragement which have been greatly appreciated. Messages thanking the staff for their dedication, professionalism and care have lifted spirits and reinforced the special connection to our wonderful school.
In closing, I understand that for a number of families, changes in business operations and job security will be at the forefront of your minds. A letter from the Board of Directors will be distributed to the community today, outlining our strong commitment to work to support families at this time. It is in adversity that our strength of community will shine through.
Mr Stephen Webber
Photo caption: Remote online learning in full swing with students and staff engaging purposefully and creatively.