From the Principal

Welcome to our first Term 2 newsletter....what a different beginning of term it has been!  

Firstly, I would like to extend a huge thank you to our school community for your ongoing patience and support. The combination of designing, planning and supporting online learning for both our home learners and those needing to come to school has been an enormous learning curve for all of us. We are so very grateful for the level of understanding and resilience continually shown by our students and families. 

We also understand that at home learning can be very stressful for families and that there are concerns about children falling behind. Please remember that all children across the country (and many internationally) are in the same situation. At this stage the health and wellbeing of everyone is the most important factor.  

Please don't be overly concerned if your child is unable to get through everything assigned to classes as all children learn in different ways and at various rates. It's always better to do one or two things well than to try and rush through everything.  

In a classroom teachers are trained to monitor and support this, the school structure is set up to adapt and support where and when necessary. Reading, talking, exploring points of interest and thinking about numeracy and literacy in everyday life are very important, and in this environment, can be enough for students if that is all they get through.  

A stressed family is not good for any family member so please remember to try to take onboard the advice above and remember that we are here to support you.

School life is also very different for our at school learners at present as they are required to learn differently, sometimes in different areas and often with 2-3 different teachers across a day....they are all doing incredibly well coping with all this. 

We understand that children are missing school-life, and particulary their friends, however, it is our job as adults to help them understand the necessity of the current regulations and the longterm gain that comes with hanging in there and seeing this through.

Staff news.....

• We welcome Mrs Kate Andrew back in a fulltime capacity this term.  
• A huge congratulations to Mrs Vanessa Abernathy who is having a baby.  Vanessa is hoping to complete term 2 with us before beginning maternity leave.
• Luke Petersen is our fulltime groundsperson for the rest of this year. 

Some organisational things....

1. If your circumstances change and you are not listed for hard copies of work, but require something from the teacher, please give the teacher concerned 24 hours notice as organising this needs to be scheduled alongside other duties. 
2. If your work circumstances change and your child needs to return to school please email norwood.primary@education.tas.gov.au giving us at least 24 hours notice.
3. Thank you to our school community for following our structure for drop off and pick up of students. This enables us to adhere to the current social distancing regulations.