Redeemer Lutheran School reception teacher gave stability during shutdown
When Barossa schools were told “don’t come Monday”, community fears escalated. But teachers there – and across the state – rose to the challenge. SEE SA’S TOP TEACHERS.
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Looking after a class of reception children is a daunting task at the best of times, let alone when a coronavirus outbreak brings the world around them crashing down.
For reception teacher Renae McDonald, from Redeemer Lutheran School at Nuriootpa, it was an opportunity to strengthen the bond with her young pupils.
Making sure she was in close touch with families to provide a consistent explanation about what was happening with COVID-19, she worked on helping provide stability in a troubling time.
“We had to meet them at their point of understanding,” she said of her students.
“And we provided a constant when almost every other aspect of their lives was being turned upside down.”
Ms McDonald has been nominated by readers in The Advertiser and Sunday Mail’s Top Teacher series which recognises those who have gone above and beyond in helping South Australians through the pandemic crisis.
Across the state, teachers stepped up to the challenge.
Charlotte Holland and Nik Skrob at Ingle Farm Primary School not only made videos for students but also for parents in their home languages.
Tom Davidson at Kangaroo Inn Area School at Millicent devised alternatives lessons using real life for outdoor education and mathematics.
Ann Marie Tillet at Para Vista Primary School took on a leadership to make videos showing preschool teachers, singing and reading as well as going through literacy and numeracy exercises.
Redeemer was among all the Barossa Valley schools ordered shut because of clusters of cases.
Being a tourism region, the effect was intense and added to the already widespread downturn.
Redeemer principal Andrew Kelly said Ms McDonald brought a quiet confidence to dealing with the situation.
“She was incredibly humble in the way she led other staff into working through how we would cope,” he said.
Ms McDonald said communication with families was the key.
“We wanted them to feel like we were walking beside them,” she said.
“And we’ve had great feedback from the community. Not only about the content that’s been provided to children but parents have said they feel like they’re being heard.”
The shutdown has had unexpected benefits for staff who’ve learnt the value of online resources and for students, she said.
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“The students’ resilience and independence has grown and shone,” she said.
“That’s been a lovely spin-off that we didn’t anticipate.
“Through our team — and I can’t emphasise enough it was incredible collaboration by our team — we were able to provide continuing excellent learning opportunities for kids at home.
“We had a mandate from our principal that we needed to learn to dance differently.”
When Barossa schools reopened this term, “it was one of the most special days ever”, she said.
Now, school attendance is back to normal although parents have to use the kiss-and-drop zone and can’t take children to the classroom.
She was drawn to the profession because of her own experience of being inspired by teachers when she was a student.
“Being be to make a difference and help shape them into the little people they become is really exciting,” she said.
OUR TOP TEACHERS
These were among teachers nominated by Advertiser and Sunday Mail readers:
■ Greg Brown
Christies Beach High School Inclusive Education Unit
“Taken a load off parents’ and carers’ minds”.
■ Hannah Lace
Colonel Light Gardens Primary School
“In this, her first year teaching at the school, we have felt so comfortable sending our son to school.”
■ Tamsin Martin
Coomandook Area School
“The go-to person in the school for support with delivery of digital lessons and always helps with a smile”.
■ Michael Keough
Encounter Lutheran School, Victor Harbor
“Extremely passionate with his teaching methods”.
■ Naomi Guglielmo
Good Shepherd Lutheran School, Angaston
“Shown resilience and flaunted her enthusiasm and quirky nature in her approach to teaching from home during what is, for most people, a remarkably bleak time”.
■ Mikaela Cacciotti
Ingle Farm East Primary School
“Had so much extra work but was just concerned about the kids”.
■ Charlotte Holland
■ Nik Skrob
Ingle Farm Primary School
“Provided video lessons not only for student but also for families. They co-ordinated with Bilingual School Support Officers to provide videos in a number of home languages”.
■ Donna Wallis
■ Heidi Kerr
■ Christie Gapp
■ Rozanna Clarke
Kalangadoo Primary School
“We had a mixture of families with and without internet access, so the teachers worked seamlessly around this.”
■ Tom Davidson
■ Amy Williams
Kangaroo Inn Area School, Millicent
“Tom is a secondary maths, science and Outdoor Ed teacher … He developed engaging and challenging activities related to local events, eg Bushfires, Lunar activity and Tides and virtual camp planning”.
“Amy Williams is an Early Years who had little previous experience with the online platform we used so she spent many hours upskilling herself and working with other staff collaboratively to develop their skills.”
■ Melissa Day
Mitcham Primary School
“A dedicated individual who keeps us parents informed via app-based comms”.
■ Penny Harris
Morphett Vale Primary School
“Our children were reassured they were safe, she got them to focus on the helpers and gratitude and she helped the kids write letters for heroes, like nurses, supermarket workers, truck drivers and other essential workers.”
■ Kate Nolan
Mt Barker South Primary
“In her own time, she worked hard to make sure students had the extension work they needed”.
■ Mark Elkins
Newbery Park Primary School, Millicent
“Took a leadership approach to supporting our younger students and families by developing numerous ‘How To’ fact sheets for online platforms”.
■ Ann Marie Tillet
Para Vista Primary School
“Connected with every preschool child and their family with videos of her and the other preschool staff singing, reading, and running through literacy, numeracy and science activities and family activities”.
■ Joshua Bradbrook
Paralowie R-12 School
“The online resources developed and used by this teacher to engage students in undertaking their Research Projects was beyond reproach.”
■ Michelle Williams
■ Isabella Dihm
Penola Primary School
“Isabella and Michelle spent many hours filming short video clips for students to view at home while working face-to-face with children in their classroom.”
■ Deb Hampton
Pimpala Primary School
“It is a joy to watch her energy, excitement and enthusiasm and our children are relishing the opportunities and voice she is providing.”
■ Catherine Bitzer
Portside Christian College
“Often works long hours, with very little breaks during the day helping often very difficult children in a rapidly changing teaching environment.”
■ Olivia Chapple
Pulteney Grammar School, city
“Continually goes out of her way to help students achieve their best”.
■ Bryce Ingham
Reynella Primary School
“His tasks are richly connected to the curriculum and provide multiple entry points for students ensuring there is always a balance of explicit instruction, physical participation and ‘thinking time’.”
■ Ian Dales
Saint Ignatius College, Athelstone
“Exceptional use of online platforms has ensured students have not fallen behind”.
■ Emma Macleod
Seaview Downs Primary School
Emma has kept us all informed on what every day looks like and provided excellent support for children that attended class or stayed home. The development of my daughter is a testament to her outstanding teaching.
■ Emma Petersen
Seymour College, Glen Osmond
“She was always available to us. She is wonderful and she made learning from home much easier and effective.”
■ Marilyn Grosser
Springbank Secondary College, Pasadena
“Brings out the best in her students because she embraces the innate strengths in them”.
■ Leonie Harwood
St Johns Grammar, Belair
“Has shown true leadership with humour and skill, while keeping the whole community aware of the school’s decisions and direction.”
■ Gina Robb
St Martins Catholic Primary School, Greenacres
“Provided a calm learning environment for both students in school and at home”.
■ Lezanne Rademeyer
Stradbroke School, Rostrevor
“Created a calm but vigilant hygienic environment for the kids still in class while assuring them to not be afraid, despite her own real concerns about personal safety and health”.
■ Rebecca Werner
Sunrise Christian School, Whyalla
“Hand delivered Easter gifts to every child and a second time during the holidays with a hand written note into the mailbox”.
■ Ian Benjafield
The Heights School, Modbury Heights
“He brings laughter and personal anecdotes to the class, bringing a jovial atmosphere so often lacking in education today.”
■ Amy Craig
Trinity College Gawler
“Very supportive of her students and their parents while we try and home school our children.”
■ John DeHaas
Unity College, Murray Bridge
“Video called my son every day, went over his work with him to make sure he understood and was able to do his work at home”.
■ Skevi Datsopoulos
Vale Park Primary School
“Prepared school work before, during and after school – including holidays. Not easy with 2 kids under the age of 4.”
■ Caroline Fishpool
Wirreanda Secondary School, Morphett Vale
“As principal guided all of us, day by day with updates. We are all at school now-full steam ahead. I feel so safe- we have everything we need to keep us safe.”