SA schools embrace ‘silver lining’ of global pandemic as teacher, family bonds are strengthened

On the eve of a new and uncertain term in South Australia, schools share some of the innovative ways they’re keeping students and their families connected like never before to reveal an unexpected silver lining.

Bringing Generations of Jazz to the school community: With the major event cancelled due to COVID-19, St Peter’s Girls’ School has created a music video. Pictured are ensemble vocalists Georgia Raftopoulos, Stella Rasheed and Emeshe Robson. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

FROM live-streaming assemblies and school celebrations to virtual school tours and sports days and even the establishment of “Uber libraries”, South Australian schools have been quick to respond to COVID-19 in creative and inventive ways.

On the eve of a new term that will see some students learning from home and others return to the classroom, the Sunday Mail previews some of the innovative initiatives that have been keeping students and their families engaged in school life and involved in extra-curricular activities.

Beyond the sophisticated remote learning systems, social media has been key in connecting school communities and is used as a portal to share everything from serious principal addresses and updates to lighthearted teacher-created parodies on YouTube.

School leaders from the public and private sector have also shared some of the positives to emerge out of the many challenges of the global pandemic.

Keeping school communities connected: Pulteney Grammar School student leaders pay tribute on Anzac Day, with images shared on the school’s Facebook page to keep families, students connected while social distancing applies. Picture supplied.

Craigmore High School principal Rosie Heinicke describes the way in which school communities have come together as one of the “silver linings”.

Her northern-suburbs school with an enrolment of about 1100 has a significant population of kids from disadvantaged homes.

“In times of crisis families, particularly those who are vulnerable, will often turn to the school as the consistent source of information, the consistent source of support in their lives,” she said. “We’ve seen greater collaboration and witnessed a strengthening in relationships between our families and teachers.”

She said students and teachers had embraced new ways of learning.

“It’s funny that it sometimes takes a crisis to push some of those really innovative and contemporary technologies forward,” she said.

“Some of the online pedagogical practices we’ve embraced, such as screen-casting, we now won’t let go of.”

At St Peter’s Girls’ in suburban Stonyfell, exploring ways to continue to celebrate the school community has been a priority.

St Peter’s Girl’s School celebrates some of its talented vocalists: Georgia Raftopoulos, Stella Rasheed and Emeshe Robson. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

”Connectivity is vital,” principal Julia Shea said.

“Education is about relationships – the human connections matter; perhaps more so now than ever before.”

Like so many others, the cancellation of next weekend’s Generations in Jazz event is a major disappointment for students at her school, with many preparing for the festival held annually at Mount Gambier since term three last year.

This week, the school organised for its vocal ensemble, Enchante, to have its performance captured on film, to share with the school community.

“We wanted to do something to make the girls excited to perform music again as it’s been very hard through a time of isolation,” choir director Sari Noble said.

“It’s a chance to bring the girls together, even though they’re recording individually, and to be creative in recognising all of their hard work in preparing for the competition.”

St Michael’s College principal John Foley said he was proud of the transformation of his Henley Beach school’s resource centre into a “Uber library” wth staff delivering text-book resources to students learning from home, making drop-offs from Largs Bay to Prospect.

A St Michael’s College, the school’s resource centre has been transformed into an ‘uber library’.

At Seymour College, a virtual sports day with a series of events was held at the end of term one.

“It was a wonderful day, with participation from girls in Prep up to Year 12,” principal Kevin Tutt said.

At Pulteney Grammar School in the city, principal Cameron Bacholer said his school’s transition to remote learning in the final weeks of last term would shape its future curriculum.

“I believe that our response gives students and teachers access to the best possible mix of online and face-to-face teaching,” Mr Bacholer said

“School, following the pandemic, will be changed forever, for the better.

“Much has been trialled, learned and created during the past month that will enrich teaching and learning for all students in the days, weeks and months ahead.”