I was lucky to be the recipient of an email from one of our wonderful Barbreck mums, who sent through a great social media piece regarding the impact of our current lockdown.

The piece asked the question, “What if instead of behind, these kids are ahead?”

This was just the positive message I needed having just received notification of an extension to the current lockdown.

While schools focus on educating the whole child, it is sometimes fitting to take a step back and think about what really is important for children to learn, in regards to the world they are growing up in now and, the future in which they will be adults.

The blog poses a series of questions about children currently experiencing lockdown conditions, including:

• What if they have more empathy, enjoy family connection, can be more creative and entertain themselves, love to read, love to express themselves in writing?
• What if they learn the value to just be: to be resilient, to be content?
• What if, among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in life?
• What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet?
• What if they notice the birds and the dates different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
• What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less?
• What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home?
• What if they learn the difference between want and need?
• What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?
• What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers…librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics and health care workers?
• What if they are ahead?

Whilst it is easy to find negatives in situations, there is little to be gained. Instead, if we look to the positives, there are worthwhile rewards.

Thank you to all our students, parents and St Catherine’s staff for your ongoing positivity and commitment during this extended lockdown.

Please continue to liaise with your daughter’s classroom teachers and myself if you have any questions or concerns. St Catherine’s School’s portal mystcatherines will continue to provide the most up to date information on calendar changes and other timely advice.

Out of School Hours Care – Week 7 Activities

Upcoming activities for Term 3 Week 7 detailed here.

St Catherine’s School offers an Out of School Hours Care program to all ELC and Junior School families. The program is implemented by our provider ‘After the Bell’, and operates within the ELC building. Parents are reminded that if you need to use the Before School Care or After School Care service, registrations need to be made in advance with ‘After the Bell’. Please allow up to five business days for your registration to be processed before your child can begin attending the program. Registration is free. All families are encouraged to register so that you can use this service in the event that you are unable to pick up your child.

Before School Care – 7.00am to 8.45am

After School Care – 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Registrations can be completed via the ‘After the Bell’ website.

Please phone 9758 6744 for all enquiries.