Selamat Menyambut Ramadan Al-Mubarak, to our Muslim families.

As we move into another extension of the MCO, we are all getting used to this new normal. The initial shock has subsided and we are getting accustomed to being in isolation. This is hard on everyone, but extra challenging for our Muslim families at this important time of year.
This is a good opportunity to remind all readers to think of others and to make sure that their well being is being catered for. These circumstances affect all of us in different ways. Parents are challenged and stressed about work situations and children sense this. Children are equally stressed and challenged as they have lost close contacts with friends. We all need each other to get through this.

On a positive note, it is great to see and hear about the superb activities and lessons that students are experiencing through online learning. Last week the learning arrangements in Primary and Secondary were altered in response to our own findings during the period leading up to the school break. Another survey will be sent out this week to parents and students, asking for feedback.
We had a challenge in school last week, with the hacking of our interactive video channels and had to suspend them for a day. Unfortunately we are not the only school to have had this negative experience, and it is very sad that some people want to disrupt the lives of others in this way. New protocols and security measures have been put into place and teachers are actively involved in Face2Face sessions with students again.

A very important matter that I know many parents are considering, is that of returning to the campus. We do not have a timeline for this, but we are putting plans together for when that eventually happens. Some countries have started to reopen schools, but under conditions which do not reflect that which existed before the lockdown. The dual challenge of managing the health and safety of our students and staff, and the education of our students, will be foremost in our plans.
It is obvious to say that it will be a long time before arrangements get back to the ‘old normal’. As I wrote at the start, we are all in this together and we can make the best of the situation by being adaptive and looking for positives.

Stay safe and healthy by staying at home.

Peter Wells