Principal's Welcome - Week 5, Term 3, 2021

Dear College families,
I am imagining that like me you're probably feeling a range of emotions; tired, overwhelmed, frustrated or exhausted. And it's no wonder. Our brain craves certainty and in our current context where we are receiving daily doses of uncertainty as we navigate lockdown, navigate working from home and navigate online learning, your brain is in overdrive trying to find solutions for a whole range of unfamiliar situations. What you and I and our children are craving right now is some certainty and it's really important for an overall sense of wellbeing that we feed that craving.
In order to assist you with refocusing on what is certain from the College, here are some things that haven’t changed:
- We are prioritising wellbeing. We have chosen to modify content and assessment procedures. This of course means that the pace of learning may be slightly slower, but that's OK given what it could cost us if we tried to do match online learning with what happens in the classroom.
- We are prioritising connection. Norwest has always been great at community and you can be confident that despite the challenges that lay before us we are continuing to prioritise connection. I also want to encourage you to look for creative ways that you can connect as parents. Just as our students need to feel supported, you also need to know that you have a bunch of people on your team who are walking alongside you in this context.
- We are prioritising communication. We want to hear from you. Let us know what is working and let us know what is not working for you and for your children. If there are ways we can support you that help you prioritise your child's wellbeing let us know. If you see ways to foster connection let us know but also if possible initiate those ideas.
Finally, I want to remind you of one thing that always remains certain. Whilst I don't know all of the challenges you face today or will face tomorrow, God does and His promise to us is to never leave us. Psalm 46 says He is our refuge, our strength and our very present help in times of trouble.
Felicity Marlow
Principal