Open for business

We had high hopes for the academic year of 2022 after the warm and settled weather of the summer holiday, but it quickly became apparent with case numbers rising that Diocesan needed to plan for students and staff to be off site, either recovering from COVID-19 or as a household contact. This year we were determined not to have to shut the School and to remain open for as long as possible. This meant that (once again) staff and students had to learn how to move seamlessly between an online and onsite workspace, and this was often simultaneously taking place.

Unfortunately, the School had to take the early and prudent approach to EOTC Week and once again this was cancelled. While we were keenly aware of what is lost, we did not want to repeat the 2020 experience of having to cancel the day before the week began. As it turned out it was the right decision because by the time we reached EOTC Week, numbers out with COVID-related absences would have made it impossible to run the camps and activities.

Head prefects Emma Parton and Ella Riley had this to say about Term 1: “The hybrid learning system has been working very well for the students. We are so grateful for the amazing job that the teachers have been doing to include isolating students in their lessons, as it makes them feel that they are still a part of the school community and aren’t missing out on their learning. The way they have adapted has meant a seamless transition from in-person to online learning. We ourselves have isolated and we felt no disadvantage by being at home. Furthermore, it is amazing that school is a ‘constant’ in such a turbulent and uncertain time. Thank you, Dio for making the hybrid learning system possible. We and the rest of the school community are so grateful!”

And a fairly typical comment from a parent: “I just wanted to say I thought the support my daughter received for home schooling was amazing. She said the Teams classes worked really well and the teachers all made a special effort to ensure those isolating at home were keeping up to date and not falling behind. Teachers even arranged meetings with her separately. She even said some were still actively supporting the girls when they too were sick with COVID. Just wanted to give great feedback and thank the staff during this trying time for everyone – especially schools and teachers.”

The biggest hurdle for the School was managing the contact tracing – once students and their families had alerted us to a positive case, finding out who was considered a close contact (from the bus, the classroom or lunchtime) and then communicating with parents and managing the data base. We were very pleased when this requirement and extra responsibility for schools was suspended.

It has been satisfying that the movement to the orange setting of the Protection Framework has meant gatherings on site, sport recommencing, choirs singing inside and not outside, and families and the wider community being welcomed back to Dio. While we do not know what the year, or indeed the next few years, holds in store for us, there is no doubt that the words of Roman historian Titus Livius will be relevant: “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out”. Dio girls and staff have become experts in this approach over the past two and a half years!