Head of Secondary School
Reflections from Lockdown
After almost six weeks, our students and staff are (reluctantly) mastering how to learn remotely. They’ve found strategies to support their engagement and wellbeing. They’ve identified the losses – and the gains. Below are some reflections from across the Secondary School community. We can’t gather together at this time, but we can still connect as a community, through our common experience.
Alex Gibbs – Yr 11
I’m learning remotely in my bedroom on a homemade desk. I have my laptop and I do all my lessons here! There is plenty of natural light and a window beside me so I don’t feel too cramped. I don’t experience too many interruptions. I have my phone with me to help out in lessons, and my family keep to themselves during the day so it is an easy enough environment to in which to learn. My favourite subject to learn remotely has been ESS. I’ve really enjoyed our current unit on Biodiversity and Conservation. We have a small class of only 7 so it has been enjoyable to present different parts of the unit to teach our peers. Overall, I’m really missing the class discussions and debates most because it is so much harder to have them over Zoom! I found them really important in understanding different points and learning new things.
In order to look after myself I’ve been trying to get out for a run every afternoon, up to North Head, and my favourite lookout spot over the beaches. The worst thing about this lockdown is being limited in seeing friends. It’s been quite difficult to catch up with some of my friends given restrictions surrounding how far we can travel, so I can’t even meet them to exercise. The best thing about lockdown is all the extra time that I have. Not having to commute in the morning and the evening saves me more than an hour each day. I’ve been able to use that saved time so I’m not as stressed when studying and can take breaks more often.
Ms Peterson – History Teacher
I teach in my spare bedroom on a desk overlooking the Blue Mountains and a jacaranda tree that I’m looking forward to blossoming soon. I have a second desktop set up which took me three weeks to get going as I kept buying the wrong cord to successfully connect it to my Mac (technological know-how is not up there with the things I’m good at!) I have two house plants in my space to help brighten things up as well.
I am new to Redlands and it has been really impressive to see how motivated students still are, even online. They want to learn and they want to do well. So far, I haven’t had any epic fails. I do however struggle on the daily to share two screens at once and do other technological tasks that my students do so naturally.
To stay well, I go outside daily – whether that’s just to sit on my veranda or go for a walk. I am also making time to exercise every day, which I don’t always do when school is happening as normal. And, I’m eating way too many sweet treats! The best part of lockdown is having so much more time. I have read so many more books in the past two months than I would normally and I have started new hobbies. But the worst thing about lockdown is not getting to see my friends and family. I am really missing getting to interact with staff and students in natural, normal ways. A conversation on Zoom will never be the same as a conversation in real life (although thankful that Zoom exists so that some form of conversation can still be had!). I’m missing too just being able to walk around a classroom and write on a whiteboard!
Liam Petersen – Yr 8
I am learning from my bedroom where I have a desk, which I mostly use for my school work. However, I sometimes sit outside for Tutor. I use a stand for my laptop as it is more comfortable, and a bluetooth keyboard and trackpad. I have a colour-coded folder for each of my subjects organised on my desk for easy access. Luckily, I don’t have any distractions, and I don’t leave my phone in my room during school time. My two brothers and parents are all on Zoom in different rooms and we try to respect each other’s workspace. The best thing about lockdown is that I get to spend much more time with my family, and I have more free time in the morning and afternoon as I no longer have to commute.
In terms of classes, I look forward to Music and English the most, because my teachers make the lessons fun, interactive and engaging. I also enjoy PE because I can spend time outside exercising and get away from my desk. The worst thing about lockdown is missing talking to my friends and classmates face to face. I also miss playing team sports on the weekend and training during the week. I also miss jazz band and choir.
In order to stay well, I always take the ten-minute stretch breaks to get some fresh air. I either bounce on the trampoline or spend time with my dog. During the lunch breaks I love to play table tennis against my dad. I try to do exercise every afternoon, and participate in most of the fitness sessions. I also play my saxophone to give myself a mental break. In the evenings I read my book, and I’m currently reading the Lord of the Rings.
Millie Winton – Yr 8
Here is a bit about how I’ve been surviving online learning. Most of the time I sit at my desk in front of a laptop, yet that can get a bit tiring so I sometimes move outside to learn. If I’m being honest, having a sibling can get slightly annoying in lockdown, but at the end of the day I’m happy I have someone to spend my lockdown with.
My favourite subject to learn via Zoom would probably have to be music. Although sometimes Zoom isn’t that great for playing music, it’s fun to relax and still be able to play our instruments in lockdown.
Lucky for me I’m locked down in the northern beaches, meaning each day has been the perfect opportunity to go for a surf or swim – personally I think we should keep surfing in PE when we go back to school. For me the worst thing about lockdown is not being able to see my friends, seeing them over Zoom just isn’t the same as real life. One of the main things I miss from school is sport, sadly I doubt that we will have any more AFL but I hope we can go back soon to start up the summer season.
The best thing about lockdown has been coming up with fun things to do with my friends over the weekend. It sucks not being able to see them but movie nights in tents in our backyards on Zoom are still always fun.
Joel Keith – Yr 11
My learning environment is at the rear of my house near the backyard and close to my kitchen area. I have a wheely chair so I can move around quite freely. My desk is equipped with a monitor and a pile of books that are almost always unorganised. There is a heater off to the side of me which is the best thing to happen since the lockdown began as it keeps me from freezing in period one and two.
My main distractions are the kitchen being behind me, which is a bad (or good) for two reasons: the first is that I can walk in and help myself to food or snacks at any point of the day. However, when my parents loiter around in there it can be very loud and hard to deal with (although they might be making a meal which makes it much more bearable).
My favourite subject to learn via Zoom has been Physics. Whilst I apologise to Mr Wrighter for the delay of homework, I have found these lessons fulfilling and the recent introduction of the physics party system has been particularly effective. It is always fulfilling because you’re working on something new or trying questions constantly which makes the time go slightly faster.
To reward myself I try go for a daily surf. Even if there is no reason for a reward, just getting out and doing exercise makes my day that much better. It keeps me somewhat sane and means that I can spend time in a space that isn’t always stressful.
To me the worst thing about lockdown is that we have been trapped for almost two months now and it seems like the road to one thousand cases is a real goal. It is a real struggle to try and push all the negative thoughts about cases and schoolwork to the side, so to do this I try and keep my conversations away from coronavirus and schoolwork. Aside from seeing my friends I really miss the learning space; I feel that I work very ineffectively when I sit at home all day and not being able to bridge the gap between school and home is a massive problem for me. When you see your own or your sibling’s workspace it feels like school is invading your house.
The best thing about lockdown has been the time of extended reflection and a gain in resilience. We have to remind ourselves that this period isn’t a normal thing to be going through, even just coping can be an immensely hard task. Resilience is demonstrated by even just making it through the day, albeit with various breakdowns.
Week 7
We’ve learnt a lot about how are students are coping and their preferences for Remote Learning, from their responses in a number of surveys, over the past couple of weeks. It is our intention to continue to seek feedback and adjust our programs and practices, as long as we remain remote from each other. We know our students become fatigued by the end of the day and that afternoon classes are more challenging. We also know that students feel a greater benefit from Zoom Free Lessons when the time periods are larger. Next week, students will be working independently on Monday and Friday afternoon.
The Week 7 Timetable can be found here.
Essential Worker?
If you are sending your child to school next week because you are an essential worker, please complete this registration survey to log their attendance. Please do not send them to school if they are unwell.
Book Week 2021 is approaching – and what better time to read!
There are many benefits to reading. A recent article by The Conversation, Margaret Merga extoled the benefit of reading for teens.
Apart from the educational literacy benefits, reading offers an escape from a world of stress. In the safety of home, the mind is free to roam the world, encounter, and “slay dragons”. The book week slogan “New worlds, old worlds, other worlds” is so apt.
Encouraging children to open a book and read will have enormous benefits for their wellbeing and resilience. The positive role models in books give readers the confidence to believe, that whatever life throws at them, they can cope. They see strong role models in confronting and unusual situations. They gain other perspectives on life and this increases their understanding of the world and tolerance of other ways of being. As Atticus Finch says to Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, you never really understand another person until you see the world from his or her perspective.
So, please encourage your child to read …to open a paperback or to borrow an eBook in Sora. These Year 7 students are reading a collection of books together, even though they are apart.
Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811