St Andrew's News

St Andrew's News, Issue 3

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Friday 27 March 2020

From the Principal

Dear <<First Name>>

“Your children are going to remember how their family felt during this Coronavirus panic, more than anything specific about the virus. Our kids are watching and learning about how to respond to stress and uncertainty. Let’s wire our kids with resilience not panic.”
(Kelly’s Treehouse)

I hope that during this time of uncertainty you are keeping well and staying positive.

At present we are all facing uncertain times. Living in uncertainty for many of us creates worry and anxiety. One of the skills we focus on at St Andrew’s is having a positive mindset which means making positive thinking a habit, continually searching for the silver lining and making the best out of any situation in which you find yourself. This may seem difficult at present but I would encourage you and your family to try and do this.

In light of the ever-evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we have had to postpone a number of our upcoming events up until the end of May, in addition to our 170th Anniversary Gala Ball on 27 June. We have provided a list of event changes below.

Here at St Andrew's it has been 'school as usual' to date with the exception that our teachers have been very busy working on the plan to transition to full distance learning, which we will be trialing in Week 11. We are very appreciative to our community for their continued support and cooperation as we work together to successfully navigate this unprecedented situation.

We have also seen some lovely things happening around the School, some of which we have shared below in our Around the School section. Please be sure to have a look at how our students are doing their best to inject some joy and fun during a difficult time.

We hope you enjoy this issue of St Andrew's News. Take care, and stay safe.

Kind regards

Deb Dalwood
Principal

Changes to Upcoming Events

Please find below a revised list of our upcoming events (as at 27/03/20) up until the end of June, that have been cancelled or changed as a result of the current situation (further updates will follow early next term).

April 2020

JP Grandparents Day 3 April - postponed
Class of 2019 Reunion 7 April - postponed

May 2020

Past and Present Staff Celebration 3 May - postponed

June 2020

Gala Ball 27 June - postponed

Around the School

Students Get Creative With Their Greetings

St Andrew's students have been coming up with some creative ways to greet each other while observing social distancing. You can have a look at our video on Facebook if you'd like to take some inspiration from our students. Watch video >

Letters To The Elderly

At a time like this, it's especially important to show our older community members, who may be feeling socially isolated, that we are thinking about them. To inject a bit of sunshine into their day, our students have written letters and made artwork for the elderly living in residential care in our community. In their letters, students have shared things like what they’re learning about at school, fun things they like to do, their hopes and dreams, and places they'd like to visit. > See some of our Year 4 and 6 students with their letters and works of art

Seesaw Training for Distance Learning

This week, EALD Teacher Jade Peartree, ran a training session with our teaching staff to help them understand how they can make the most of Seesaw for distance learning. As a Seesaw Ambassador with formal Seesaw training, Jade runs professional consultation and development sessions with teaching staff each year. > Read more on Jade's personal teaching blog

SchoolTV: Special Reports

Coronavirus: A Guide for Parents

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having an adverse effect on many aspects of our life -– everything from travel restrictions to shopping habits, even the closure of schools! SchoolTV has produced a video, which provides parents with guidance on how to talk to children about COVID-19 and help them manage their emotions during this period. > Watch this Special Report

Special Report: Preparing for Remote Learning

With the increasing spread of COVID-19, countries around the world are implementing preventative measures. For some it means the closure of schools and a movement towards remote learning with children transitioning to online lessons. > Watch this Special Report

Scholarships

The 2021 Bright Futures Scholarship is still open and is available to students who will be in Year 3 in 2021. Families who are not already a part of the St Andrew’s School community are eligible to apply.

Please read Bright Futures Scholarship Notes for full information, including the registration process.

For all enquiries, please contact our Registrar Helen Charles on 8168 5511 or registrar@standrews.sa.edu.au

A Thought-Provoking Prayer

Prayer for A Pandemic
By Cameron Wiggins Bellm

May we who are merely inconvenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors
remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home
remember those who must choose between
preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children
when their schools close
remember those that have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips
remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country,
let us choose love during this time when we
cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace
of God to our neighbour.

Amen

Old Scholars' Association

Although we have postponed a few of our scheduled reunions, we will be keeping an eye on how the situation progresses with the aim of rescheduling them later in the year.

We are also currently working on ways to stay connected with our Old Scholars community.

If you are a St Andrew's Old Scholar and you have a nice story you'd like to share with the St Andrew's community to brighten our day, please get in touch with our Community Liaison Officer, Suzette Black, at sblack@standrews.sa.edu.au.