End of Year Thanks
Welcome to the final Newsletter for 2020. I’m not sure how we summarise the last 12 months but I can say that there are probably many of us who are particularly looking forward to new beginnings in 2021. Having said this, there are so many great things that we can and must celebrate in regard to this year.
Please find below the transcript of my principal’s address at our End of Year Mass which captures our 2020 school year.
Fr Roderick, staff parents and most importantly you the students. I make it a custom to say a few words at the end of year thanksgiving mass.
2020 – what a year. When we started this year the last thing on my mind was:-
- Remote learning
- Sanitizer
- Social distancing / COVID app
- Using facemasks
- Or more importantly worrying whether I had enough toilet paper
These concepts were all foreign to us but have become part of our lives.
The recent weeks have only served to highlight, what I tell everyone I meet, about why I love being a Principal at OLV.
OLV is a great school to lead because it is filled with girls and boys who love their school, parents who support their children’s learning and an incredibly capable and talented staff. The efforts of staff, students and parents over the past few weeks, stand as clear evidence of the truth of this statement.
This year we have had to think and do things differently. I have had to make decisions, change the decision, then change it again all in the space of a day.
I am so proud of all our students and staff for the way we have all embraced the challenges of this year. The constant throughout the year apart from Corona virus, was that teachers continued to teach and students continued to learn. At Our Lady of the Visitation School despite what was happening in the world around us, we tried to keep things calm and the message to students was they were safe.
I have seen a growth in the students’ independence. This was a by product of parents not being able to be with them in the class for morning routines and not being able to attend swimming and other activities. They were all – every student, able to get on and do with what needed to be done. I also think back to Wednesday in Week 6 of this term when I spoke to the students about the state closing down. Again, they took it in their stride, stayed clam and did what needed to be done.
I am incredibly proud of the way our staff have worked tirelessly over the year to prepare our community for the move to remote learning. This has been a massive challenge – one which normally would only be enacted over a period of years, not mere weeks. Parent feedback told me that this has been a great success.
They put the educational and welfare needs of our students at the forefront of all their thinking and they should be justifiably proud of the results. I also believe that across our society, there has been an increased understanding of the work teachers do and I always knew it, but this year educators were classified as essential workers.
I would like to thank the many people who have worked so hard this year to ensure that our school offers a quality education.
I thank the many parents who have supported all the changes we have implemented this year. As much as it has been a challenging year for us - it too must be for our parents who have trusted our staff especially the Drop Kiss and go. On behalf of all staff I thank our parents for the confidence they have in our school.
The School Board this year have been supportive and reflective in their role. Under the leadership of Cameron Wadrop they have provided me with guidance and a sounding board, Thank you to all Board members. Their vision on entering the process of a Master Plan will ensure our school will be a contemporary place for learning in the years to come.
Thankyou also to Father Roderick for his work in the school and for his involvement in the lives of our staff, children and families. I
To our OSHC, Sue, Jess and the team, we are so lucky to have an OSHC service that provides such quality care. I thank them for their efforts and planning.
Thank you, also, to all the staff (teaching and non teaching) who have also worked so conscientiously to serve the school community. Their hard work, care and commitment to all students is outstanding. All staff are wonderful people who do their work in their own unique way but they all make a difference in the lives of our children.
To Monica and the Preschool staff, I believe we have the best Preschool, which provides a great start to children’s formal learning.
Year 6’s – I will speak to you tomorrow night but as you leave OLV I know you are well prepared for your future learning.
I extend my warmest wishes to the students and families who are also leaving our community. I hope that you leave OLV with fond memories. All members of our community have made valuable contributions. It is through these contributions that OLV has thrived and developed over the years.
I wish you a joyful Christmas and hope you have an enjoyable break and look forward to working alongside you in 2021.
2020 school year will always be remembered for its Corona virus disruption. But at OLV it will also be remembered as the year that we were all put to the test, where we emerged a more confident, prepared, and flourishing school.
We have a number of families that will leave our community this year. Each one of you have walked alongside your child in their learning journey and Our Lady of the Visitation School has been privileged to have had you be a part of our school community. As you leave OLV please know that you and your child have shaped this school to be what it is today. We wish you well as this next chapter begins, may the spirit of OLV live in your hearts forever.
I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the staff at Our Lady of the Visitation School for the wonderful job they have done this year. We are very fortunate to have such great staff and I consider myself very privileged to be working with such a hardworking and capable group of people.
I would also like to say a big thank you to all the parents who have helped out in any way this year. As a school we are very fortunate to have many parents who help us in a variety of ways and without your support the school would not be able to offer all the opportunities that it does for the children. Your support and assistance is essential to the school and we really appreciate all that you do.
As we move into the Christmas season we should take a moment to say thank you for the many blessings we have and there will be no better opportunity to do that than attending Mass over Christmas with the family to help celebrate the birth of Jesus our Saviour. You are invited to attend the Christmas Eve mass at Our Lady of the Visitation Church which several school staff members are coordinating. In amongst your family celebrations please make the time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, holy and safe Christmas. I hope you have an enjoyable time with your families over the next few weeks and that you all come back happy and well for the start of the 2021 school year.
May God’s shining light, be with you and your family during this festive season. Please take the opportunity to rest and recharge, spend some quality time together and we look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
Merry Christmas.
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