Greg Whitby: Thanks to everyone who is helping to keep the learning going strong

The school holidays are a good time to take a moment to stop and reflect on the great work that school staff, students, parents and carers are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

School staff, students and parents have done an extraordinary job of adapting quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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First term usually comes to a close with Easter hat parades and egg hunts: all this has changed in 2020.

Yet this seems like just the right time to say thanks to students and their families, and of course our terrific teachers.

Students, and their parents and carers, have done a really extraordinary job of working with schools to keep the learning going strong.

This hasn’t always been easy and it’s important that schools hear about all the challenges.

Switched-on schools have provided opportunities by video conference for parents and carers to upskill in the technologies their children are using to continue their studies at home.

Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School Lawson principal Lisa Samojlowicz doing a Facebook LIVE post next to the school’s goats. Source: parra.catholic.edu.au

Smart schools stand out when it comes to keeping their communities connected. This can include using social media to stay in touch or sharing a daily video update with students and their families.

A big pat on the back to the principals who are able to maintain a sense of the fun for kids in these tough times too. This can be as simple as sharing a daily joke with students.

In some cases, staff have made a good old-fashioned phone call to every family at their school to check in. This contact is so important in identifying students who need more support.

This can include those who may not have access to technology or internet access. In these cases, schools can step in with extra resources from library books to loan computers.

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta executive director Greg Whitby.

What many kids are really missing about school is catching up with classmates, and this one takes a bit more thought when it comes to safe ways to socialise online.

It’s such a strong reminder of the important part that school plays in their social lives, and in ours too: whether we’re mums and dads or teachers.

With the holidays now here, I know everyone needs a break too. We’ll all be ready to get back into learning together before you know it!

Greg Whitby is the executive director of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta.