Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

The 2020 school year has been completed.  What began as a year filled with significant plans and goals was soon affected by the bush fires and floods that preceded the restrictions and worries brought on by the first global pandemic for over a century. I think it is fair to say that Australians have, to date, managed the coronavirus spread well, when many countries were devastated by its impact. The impact on our community saw us in lock down across the Easter vacation, living five weeks of home schooling and trying to conduct school activities while meeting the government restrictions.

Prep O quietly celebrates the end of the 2020 school year.  Now it is off to Year 1.

I don’t need to describe what life was like this year as we have all needed to make significant changes to our daily lives and routines – preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. What resulted for our community was a level of unity and partnership that is… well, unprecedented. We widely showed care and respect for others’ health and well-being and followed new routines to support this.

And while school continued, it was very different. Attending school each day is usually the simplest routine for students and teachers and no doubt, parents as well. To change this created a very new approach to learning that was simple for no-one. Designing and delivering effective lessons that respond to the needs and interests of the learner, and concurrently meet curriculum requirements, requires high-level professional skills. I continue to be thankful to our families and teachers during the period of home schooling and congratulate you on your partnerships to achieve this. Thank you to our families for your commitment and courage in the face of significant challenge. You were amazing. We were vulnerable together as we waded our way in this new space. And while we were in there, we discovered some new and innovative solutions that were adapted to our regular school and learning routines.

Our school team was focused on expressiong our gratitude and promoting well-being for our children and their families.  The pandemic brought this need to the forefront of how we operated.  

Our P&C Association is always incredible but this year, the members were even more remarkable. While most of us were very busy managing the challenges of home, work and coronavirus, they added a layer of school volunteer into their mix and I am extremely grateful for their continued support and contributions. Not many schools can enjoy this level of support.

Thank you to the school staff who have once again shown amazing competence, professionalism and commitment. The loyalty they show for the school and community and the partnership we enjoy with our P&C Association and families that makes Coomera Rivers different from most schools. A school is a reflection of the community that it serves. Our community is amazing and we believe that our children should have nothing less than any other school – public or private. Coomera Rivers will never accept anything but the very best. When a community unites to create this, it results in a culture and spirit that is pervasive and formidable.

Despite the challenges of coronavirus, our school has continued its move towards a new approach to learning called Deep Learning. Our intention is for students to become contributing members of society. Developing them into tomorrow’s civic leaders is a highly complex task. We know that our children will be best placed to make these contributions if we teach them how to do them now, especially when we can partner with families and our community. Building their character, global citizenship, capacity to communicate and collaborate, honing their creativity and instilling critical thinking are the central characteristics of what we do. We call this focus Good at learning – Good at life. Regular readers of the school newsletter will have read the dozens of stories that gave students these opportunities.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to thank our students. They have adapted quickly to the changes and disappointments of missing camps, and having their families join them for sports days and other annual events.

I would like to thank the graduating students for contributing to the success we have enjoyed this year and sharing our learning journey together. I hope that you will look back on 2020 at Coomera Rivers with fond memories. I would particularly like to thank our student leaders, and in particular, Ruby, Zack and Hannah for their wonderful representation across the year. The standards they maintained for others to emulate have been of the highest calibre. And while they led the Year 6 badged leaders, the leadership shown across the Year 6 cohort ran deep and powerfully.

Congratulations on conquering a year filled with challenge. We have adjusted to a new normal and will continue to meet more challenges as we move into and beyond 2021.    

Important dates for 2021

I hope that all of our families can enjoy a safe and enjoyable summer vacation.  I look forward to resuming again in late January.

Merry Christmas

Vic