Have you ever found a surprise twenty-dollar note in an old wallet or a pair of pants you haven’t worn for a while? It’s not actually new money, you already had it, but it still feels like a bonus and something new that you didn’t know you had!
It’s been a lot like that when working and living in our current climate during the COVID-19 pandemic. As many of our extra-curricular activities and ‘add-ons’ to life have been stripped away, the little things that we’ve always had, but have taken for granted, are amplified: the joy of a good book, the chance to spend quality time with our immediate family, the appreciation of going outside for a walk, the love of a pet and many more. The appreciation of these little joys that have been hiding away, waiting for us to recognise that we’ve had them all along, is something that we can continue to lean into, and more importantly take forward with us into our post-isolation lives.
“The knowledge that God already knows the outcome of this situation and wasn’t at all taken by surprise by COVID-19 is a great reassurance to me during this time.”
We also take with us the understanding that we have a Mighty Creator who is with us in everything we do. The knowledge that God already knows the outcome of this situation and wasn’t at all taken by surprise by COVID-19 is a great reassurance to me during this time. I encourage you to continue to lean into your faith and take opportunities to pray and rejoice for what we still have. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us to “rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Don’t get me wrong, we have faced many challenges during this time. The isolation from loved ones, the huge task of supporting learning from home, and the inability to celebrate milestones or properly mourn for those who have passed away. It’s important to acknowledge these things, and talk to others about our challenges and concerns to ensure we are caring for all aspects of our well-being, including our physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual health. God has created us to be social beings, and our relationship and connection with Him is strengthened by our interactions with and care for others. It is also important to acknowledge these hardships with your children and give them opportunities to let you know their challenges and fears during this time. In this process, we need to reassure them that there will be an endpoint to this pandemic and we are blessed to live in a country that is keeping us safe through social distancing and high quality medical facilities. If you or your children are experiencing excessive stress or anxiety during this time please don’t hesitate to contact the school for support and advice.
“Having the opportunity to teach face to face and experience the moments when new concepts sink in is priceless.”
Our isolation and imposed restrictions also magnify the things that we previously took for granted and are looking forward to coming back to as restrictions are slowly eased. Things like going to church, visiting our extended family and grandparents, birthday gatherings, playing sport and many more. As educators, it’s great to hear many of our students say they can’t wait to be back at school! We are greatly looking forward to seeing our students again, too. Having the opportunity to teach face to face and experience the moments when new concepts sink in is priceless. We have greatly missed the personal engagement with our students and are looking forward to the buzz that is created within a school by having students in their classrooms, interacting with their teachers and peers.
I again thank you for your partnership in the distance learning program. I pray that you can find a few ‘hidden twenties’ from the experience of working with your children in such a different context.
Andrew Nash – Head of Primary