Reports
HEADMASTER’S REPORT DR ALEC O’CONNELL
HEADMASTER
W
HEN YOU HAVE A CRISIS like COVID-19, you go back to basics.
At Scotch College, we’re very fortunate that our ‘basics’ – or foundations – are incredibly strong. I am speaking of course, about our community. If you have a strong, supportive community, you do not need to create hasty crisis management and wellbeing strategies. You are blessed with a natural fallback. This is not to say that our community did not struggle during the COVID-19 crisis, or that it will not continue to face pandemic-related difficulties in future. Comprising students, families, Old Scotch Collegians and staff, our
community has seen us through one of the most substantial challenges that the world has met in recent decades. It was remarkable to witness the support and empathy offered up by so many in our community. From parents reaching out to us, offering their help and faith that we knew what we were doing. One mum said to me, “I didn’t agree with it all, but I liked that you knew where you stood”. COVID-19 reminded us that it is trust and respect that makes a community.
educators that make up our teaching staff. Scotch has provided 1:1 devices for many years now, and we have spent more than a decade developing digital learning. As the pandemic hit, we combined our strengths and intellectual property – digital infrastructure, quality teaching and courses – and delivered online learning through Microsoft Teams. Thank you to all our staff who worked diligently to meet the challenges and unexpected boons of online learning.
In Summer Term as COVID-19 arose, we prepared to move to online learning. We looked to our teachers and the digital infrastructure that was already in place. We benefited greatly from the resourceful, innovative and experienced
Throughout this period, our students were fantastic. They demonstrated great resilience and the adaptability that defines their generation. Overall, they maintained a solid work ethic, although I know for a fact that they enjoyed the
Headmaster Dr Alec O’Connell at the Highland Games 4 | REPORTER 2020
