31 Mar 2020
Dear Students & Parents,
Over the past week our learning community has moved to an online format as we best try to maintain a positive educational experience for all. It has amazed staff how well many students have grasped the opportunities presented and have dived in to attempt a variety of new and challenging learning formats online. We have had success and failure on both sides and we as teachers are learning also.
As students your wellbeing is the most important thing. We, your teachers, understand that it is very difficult to try and complete a variety of lessons, while learning new content on new and sometimes very confusing online platforms. We know you are doing your best and that your parents are supporting you to the best of their abilities.
Please remember that it is okay to get it wrong. It is okay to get confused and frustrated. We are mindful that you don't have your peers at an arm’s length to bounce ideas off or a teacher who can answer every question as required in real time. We are in the business of teaching and as such we will continue to learn as we progress and improve all of our understanding of online learning.
The executive of BCHS has heard many of the issues you are facing and as such have tried to simplify our expectations over the remaining days of this term. As such our recommendation to all students and parents are as follows:
- Students in years 7-10 should expect to be completing approximately 2 hours of online work per day.
- Over the week you should expect to complete approximately 2 hours online work total in each of your core subjects of English, Maths, Science and HSIE. In PE they should be aiming for one hour online and perhaps some activity for one hour. In the other KLAs, one hour per week is the target. You will have favourite subjects that you would like to spend extra time on and that’s okay. We can give you extra work but you need to make sure you are working across all your subjects attempting set tasks. Your teachers will be checking in on this. Teachers will be modifying Google Classroom lessons so they provide engaging content for scheduled periods to reflect this.
- These lessons will be set for the week by staff, so students can select when they choose to complete them and on which days. They will be due at the end of each week, though maybe submitted earlier.
- Staff will be available for contact via online learning platforms during their timetabled periods. This is the best time to send them a message to seek clarification or ask a question. It is incredibly important you check in with your teachers at least once per week.
- Hub teachers will try and contact each student in their class each week to check in on your welfare and to assist you with any issues that may arise.
- Year 11-12 students are expected to be completing activities set by your teachers. They may host online meetings to support you and help build your understanding of content and requirements. These will be scheduled by staff during some of your timetabled periods. It is important you maintain all course work provided and seek assistance when required.
We acknowledge this is a huge shift in the way we learn. We all will make mistakes and we are all learning. Be patient and we will be okay. We want to ensure we remain connected, happy and safe.
Make sure you are doing some exercise, when we move we release endorphins and endorphins make us happy! Dance, do some sit ups, or simply play handball against a wall. Go for a walk with a member of your house, whatever you do, make sure you keep moving.
Find joy in reading a book, listen to music or talk to someone you don't talk to enough. Listen and connect with people and maintain a social life, while respecting safety constraints.
If you need more work, let your teacher know, though remember everyone is in this together and your wellbeing is the most important thing. You are all doing the best you can and that is OK! Support each other and together we will all get through this.
Regards,
Jesse Coates