F E AT U R E
DOING THINGS
DIFFERENTLY
As COVID-19 cases climbed in Western Australia throughout Term 1, so too did the number of restrictions imposed on our school in a bid to keep students safe. Things may have looked and felt a little different on campus, but the essence of life at St Mary’s was far from lost, thanks to the ingenuity of our staff and student leaders. The following pages are dedicated to celebrating the ways in which they adapted, pivoted and reimagined ways of doing things during a period of great change.
CHAPEL Chapel is such a significant aspect of life at St Mary’s, and thus, finding a way to maintain the School’s strong tradition of worship sat atop the priority list when increasing restrictions were introduced throughout Term 1. At first, Fr Richard Pengelley pre-recorded short messages for our students. However, when it became apparent that inperson gatherings would not be possible for some time, we quickly transitioned to live-streamed chapel services, with one class of students attending chapel, while others observed them virtually while social distancing in classrooms. In many ways, these online worship opportunities were the glue that held the school together throughout this trying period. They offered our staff and students opportunities to cast their thoughts beyond Western Australia’s pandemic dilemma and think of those enduring war in Ukraine or the devastating floods in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.
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FIDELITER Feature: Doing things differently
