Letter from the Editor

CASSIE TWEMLOW

The pandemic also drove change in teacher practice. For many teachers the period of At Home Learning helped them to see the incredible potential of digital tools for learning. Our teachers all became much more proficient at using digital technologies to connect with each other and their students, to create and share learning. The pandemic also helped to shift the teacher-parent relationship. At Home Learning enabled regular communication and opportunities for parents to get more of an insight into the work teachers do for their children and has lessened the divide between school and home. This connection has had some lovely flow on effects. At Home Learning also helped to strengthen the teacher-student relationship. Many teachers commented on knowing their students so much better than they did before. And knowing them differently. The experience reminded teachers that they teach the whole child. When they focussed first on how students were feeling at the start of the lesson it has made them a better teacher for the rest of the lesson.

2020 may not have been the year we were all hoping for, but, as this edition of Plus Ultra reveals, the learnings and lessons from the pandemic experience have been incredibly powerful, and many good things have come out of it. As we reflect on 2020 and we look forward to 2021 may we be reminded of the words of Pastor Gerhard Dohler, the founding Chairman of the St Peters Lutheran College Council, and after whom Dohler Building is named.

"We must learn to lean entirely on our God. With Him nothing is impossible to us …. Therefore, let us go forth in God’s name."

editor "A year like no other," and versions of this, are what people have been sprouting for the last nine months. And they're not wrong. But with lockdowns and cancellations come learned lessons and embracing what we have.

Whilst there are still not many of our usual events of Semester 2, we celebrate our heroes, the challenges we've faced and the hardships we've overcome. Our College 'essential workers', the Housekeeping Team, learned their way through COVID-19 restrictions and rules, taking numerous courses to boost their skill-set.

We hear from Old Scholars on the pandemic frontline, to how our boarders cope without being able to get in (or out) of College boarding because of domestic and international border closures. And how about all the other departments and College events? In this edition we learn how Ironbark had to alter a lot of plans and change regulations to ensure students were still able to visit and how campus events across both Indooroopilly and Springfield changed to deal with the 'no audiences' by livestreaming their events.

A big thank you and congratulations to those students who submitted artwork for the 2020 commemorative 75-year Review. Until next year, hold your loved ones tight! I wish everyone safety and happiness for the few months ahead.