COVID Challenges

COVID

Challenges

2020 was the year of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Weren’t things meant to be back to normal in 2021?

After successfully negotiating the COVID-19 challenges of 2020 we could be forgiven for approaching 2021 as if this was all behind us. Quite the contrary, of course, with many continuing and new challenges to respond to in 2021. To fully appreciate the impact of COVID-19 at a school level, I provide this timeline of challenging events or circumstances that have impacted the boys, staff, families and operations at Toowoomba Grammar School.

2021 – January

Back to normal?

2021 – Term 1

• Unfortunately, not!

• COVID Response Team (CRT) – The

School CRT was established to address any COVID matters.

• Boys in PNG – borders closed for international arrivals, meaning our boys in PNG faced a year of remote learning. • Staff meetings and assemblies – still impacted with staff required to socially distance. Streaming of assemblies continues for staff.

• Parents were permitted back on campus, as was the case in most schools.

• Most school activities are back to normal until Week 10. COVID cases in SEQ lead to lockdowns. Three year groups en route to camp had to turn around and come home. The School remains open until the end of term, but lessons were not viable. With Camps

Week cancelled in 2020, we looked for our camps to be rescheduled in 2021.

• The Year 2 Camp, on school grounds, was postponed due to COVID restrictions.

2021 – Term 2

• We return to school with mostly normal operations.

1

2021 – Term 3

• COVID-19 cases during the winter holidays put QLD on high alert.

Mask wearing in SEQ becomes the new normal.

• Sport and Activities resume with some spectator restrictions and maskwearing requirements.

• Saturday, 31 July, Round 3 v Nudgee

College, following a concerning outbreak in Brisbane, GPS Rugby and Basketball fixtures underway on

Saturday morning ceased immediately.

Over the School’s public address system, all players, parents and staff were asked to go home immediately.

TGS teams playing in Brisbane were also recalled home.

• Following the announcement by the

QLD Government, the GPS Association abandoned Rounds 3 to 6 for the 2021 season. At TGS, we could still train, given we were outside the SEQ LGA.

Some internal matches were held at home during the abandoned rounds.

1. Mills Oval at sunset, photo by Grant Vickery

• Also on 31 July, the Toowoomba

Eisteddfod ceased all afternoon sections due to the change in COVID conditions, impacting instrumentalists in both the Junior and Senior School.

• NSW COVID-19 cases and situation worsens – border closures in place limiting movement to and from NSW.

• Mask-wearing requirements for all secondary students and staff who are located in or have recently visited SEQ LGAs.

• COVID vaccinations are encouraged by the government – boarders were offered special clinics given the living circumstances in boarding.

• QLD borders remain closed to NSW and VIC – some boarders unable to return home during the September holidays (again).

2021 – Term 4

• We return to Term 4 a little nervous about the recent COVID-19 cases in SEQ.

• Brisbane Council changes Ekka

Show Holiday, impacting Year 12

External Exams and GPS Track &

Field Championships. Exams and

Championships are rescheduled accordingly.

• School Camps postponed earlier in the year were finally held this term

• Various end-of-year activities, including

Year 12 Final Assembly and Speech Day are all before us at the time of writing this article. We hope they can be held.

The Key Challenges – In Reflection

From the outset, I acknowledge the significant challenges students, staff and parents faced given the current circumstances in NSW and Victoria. With our experience, we have learnt the following and have been presented with some critical challenges along the way:

• New and common terms emerged: social distancing, unprecedented, remote learning, isolated, quarantine, • Isolation wellbeing – in our brief period of closure in 2020, it quickly became apparent the potential risk isolation poses to wellbeing. This concern remains for students working online at home and for staff working in a new and challenging online environment – it’s a feeling of isolation for all. We gained an appreciation for the incidental social connections and face-to-face engagement that occurs at the School.

• Routine, engagement, connection – for boys, this is so important. When

“normal” is taken away, you quickly appreciate what you had. Term 2, 2020 and Term 3, 2021, when our normal was most disrupted, highlighted the importance of routine and engagement in activities that enhance connections with peers, staff and the

School. Connections with others are vital for wellbeing, and our boys are better when they are engaged.

• Technology and screentime – while we have been blessed with technology to “pivot” to online learning, we also learnt to be mindful of the increased screentime for boys and staff in a remote learning environment. Have some harmful technology habits developed during this period?

• Remote learning – yes, we can do this well, but teaching face-to-face is no longer taken for granted.

• Border closures – for some, this has meant being at home with family, a good thing, as well as presenting new challenges. For others, especially boarding students, it has meant not being with family as usual. Border closures have been very difficult for the boys and boarding parents, who could not visit their sons or have them return home as often.

• International students – we must acknowledge our small number of students from China and Hong Kong who have been unable to go home or see family since January 2020. These boys have been amazing and have maintained a remarkably positive outlook over the last two years.

• School events – for the boys, connections to the broader School community are essential. The change to events in 2020 increased our appreciation for the special events we have at TGS. When School events are unable to proceed, the detriment to community spirit and parent connections is profound.

Over the last two years, we have learnt plenty about what we value at TGS. While the COVID situation has thrown many challenges our way, the circumstances have led to new thoughts and positive initiatives. I wish to acknowledge the great effort, understanding, and cooperation of all School community members during this worldwide pandemic.

But can 2022 be back to normal, please?

Mr John Anderson Deputy Headmaster