From the Principal TRINITY – A STRONG COMMUNITY IN LOCKDOWN
The past few months have certainly been very testing for everyone. As a society and as a College community, we have all been required to navigate unchartered waters with respect to the global pandemic associated with COVID-19. We have had to conform to various societal restrictions and adjust to the many frequent amendments to health, travel and social advice as our federal and state governments, in consultation with respective health authorities, have focused on minimising and preventing the transmission of COVID-19. I am sure that I echo the sentiments of most when I reflect upon how lucky we are to have been living in Perth throughout this time. What has been particularly alarming has been the rapid acceleration of the pandemic and the effect it has had on aspects of our College life. I first mentioned the coronavirus in a College newsletter on 28 February and then soon after, sent the first formal letter to all families on 17 March. Since then, in rather rapid succession, I have sent another ten letters to families (and students and staff) providing various updates as our context has changed. Amidst a backdrop of changing school operations, increased hygiene measures, our school closure, the implementation of a Remote Learning Program and then our school resumption, we have positively and successfully maintained our teaching and learning processes while keeping all within our community safe. This has been the focus for Trinity College. Throughout this most unusual time, we have consistently prioritised the health and safety of our students, staff and all within our community. In doing so, we have considered specific guidelines and advice from various health, education and school governance authorities at both a national and state level. There has certainly been plenty of advice to consider! In fact, a most recent check pointed to a total of 45 memos and seven government directives that needed to be discerned and then implemented within our Trinity context. Over the past months, we have seen our College largely shut down as we transitioned into remote learning and then resumed again as we implemented a phased return to direct learning. I am most grateful for the understanding and remarkable support of our College community as we adapted accordingly.
It was most humbling and very satisfying to see the smiles on students’ faces as they returned to campus to be with their mates and teachers. It was a very real reminder about the important role of relationships and community within our College. While teaching and learning can be done effectively in a remote manner (and our College has certainly achieved this over the past months), holistic learning is best achieved through the respectful, purposeful and real interaction of people. It is in the shared effort and caring relationships of people – students, staff and families – that community is formed, and it is this strong sense of community and support that makes Trinity College such a great school. It is not buildings that make a school, for they are just shells without some scuff marks and the excited voices and energy of students to bring them to life. It is not programs or good digital connections that make a school, but rather the shared work of the staff and students in working towards making such learning relevant. This obviously happens more effectively when delivered in a face-to-face manner. I sincerely acknowledge the difficulty that the changing nature of ‘school’ and ‘mode of instructional delivery’ presented to all within our College community. While I appreciate the general understanding of the circumstances that we all found ourselves in, I am also very grateful for the patience, support and trust of our families. Likewise, our students should be commended for their adaptability and willingness to remain engaged in their learning, whether remotely or within the classroom. Generally, they have remained positive and applied themselves to the various tasks presented to them. I am also incredibly proud of the teachers and support staff who have continually adapted and worked incredibly hard over the past months. Such an enormous shift in teaching pedagogy has been handled most professionally and in a manner that has demonstrated their genuine dedication to the students in their care.
TRINITY NEWS – WINTER 2020
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