Dear members of the MLMC community
I hope you are all well and thriving in these most interesting times. In the last newsletter I indicated that operationally here on the Hill thus far in 2022 we have been able to maintain our core programs while keeping all the students on campus. However, it has been necessary to cancel some Staff Professional Development and some College excursions. You may have seen or heard on the news that other schools, both Catholic and government, have found it necessary to have school closure days or have some year levels stay at home. Thankfully we have not yet found that necessary, although some days it has been close. It is only the dedication of the staff at the College that has prevented this scenario and to them I owe my thanks. Please understand that some days we have up to 20 staff absent with either COVID-19 or influenza and when sick they are often away for two weeks at a time. We have advertised extensively for more teaching staff and casual relief teachers, but to no avail. It would appear that a teacher shortage is on us.
I also thank the students for their flexibility and understanding. I understand when you have different teachers every day and often your work has been set for you on a Google Classroom page, that every lesson might not be as engaging as normal. Understanding that often up to a third of the class might be absent, we all simply must persist.
These times require us to think laterally, creatively and to be solution focused. Recently I came across a small article which was reported to be written by Jacquie Sewell in 2001, but I do not know where it was published. It is called ‘Learning about life from a jigsaw puzzle’ and it reminded me of the importance of always remembering the big picture and always persevering in being solution focused.
Most of us have grown up working with jigsaw puzzles and have experienced the frustration of looking for that difficult to find piece. Then of course, there is the satisfaction that comes from successfully completing the puzzle. There are many things to learn from considering the process of doing a jigsaw puzzle and how it compares to the decisions and tasks we encounter each day. Consider these:
- don’t force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally
- when things aren’t going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return
- be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration
- perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece
- when one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4)
- the Creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook. Refer to the creator’s guidebook often
- variety is the spice of life. It’s the different colours and patterns that make the puzzle interesting
- working together with friends and family makes any task fun
- establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order
- don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising
- take time often to celebrate your successes—even little ones
- anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can’t be rushed
- when you finally reach the last piece, don’t be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you’ve made and enjoy a well-deserved rest.
In reflecting on the above, I tried to consider which was my favourite or which was the most important. I know I refer to the creator’s handbook often and I understand the importance of patience and not rushing. I certainly believe in the importance of establishing boundaries and that boundaries provide a sense of security and order. I also believe in the routine provided by boundaries and how routine helps to build resilience. Every sports person knows that.
As has been the case over the last two years, I know in time when we reflect back we will see this period as a time of growth and resilience building. Our persistence to the task of education within genuine community is unwavering and it is the things we do as community that makes us strong.
Let us continue to work together in our supportive community, knowing that we are all doing our best to maintain the dynamic learning community that is Mount Lilydale Mercy College.
Similarly, we are all spending more and more time online and this too may come at a risk. Often parents are unaware of the risks or simply do not know what or how to deal with them. Parents may not be aware of the useful resources and support available through the eSafety Commissioner website. The eSafety Commissioner is Australia’s independent regulator for online safety and the world’s first government agency dedicated to keeping people safer online. The Commission started operations in 2015 and has one goal — a safer and more positive online experience for all Australians.
There is a wealth of accurate and up-to-date information available through the website for parents trying to ensure online safety for themselves and their children. The website is well-designed and the parent pages have clear sections dealing what the Commission identifies as the ‘big issues’ — cyberbullying, online pornography, nudes and sexting, online gaming, online grooming and time online. There are links to skills and advice to ensure that parents know the best strategies to help their children develop good online habits and practices and also to support parents when issues occur. There are also ways to report online harm, if needed.
Aside from the online resources, there are also regular free online webinars to assist parents in a range of areas. The next webinar will be on Tuesday 31 May and will deal with setting up parental controls on devices and apps to help keep young people safe online.
The eSafety Commissioner website should be one of the first places you visit when faced with the challenges of helping our children navigate an increasingly complex online world.
eSafety Commissioner website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/
eSafety parent resources: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
eSafety parent webinars: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
Whether you learn from jigsaws or the eSafety Commissioner website, I wish you every blessing in the weeks to come.
In the spirit of Catherine,
God bless each and every one of you.
Philip A Morison
Principal
