What a year 2020 has been!

At the beginning of the year I had many wonderful plans and I will admit some of them were quite ambitious. I wanted my Year 7’s to be immersed in our Secondary community of love, to thrive as they tackled their academic studies and to be curious, creative and fearless as they flourished in 2020. As we began the journey of 2020 those plans quickly had to be put on hold.

This year has been a year of continual change, learning to be flexible, adjusting plans and building resilience.

I have been constantly amazed at how the Year 7’s have tackled the events that have come their way this year. They very quickly adjusted to Secondary College life and were practicing online learning before the end of term 1. They then spent most of term 2 learning from home via PCConline. Term 3 was disrupted by a short 2 week return to PCConline and term 4 has been a particularly busy term.

I have been so proud of the resilience the Year 7’s have develop this year. My grand plans may not have come to fruition this year, but God’s plan was greater and though this year has been tough, I have rejoiced in the community of love the students and staff have nurtured to support the Year 7’s in both their tough and joyful times this year.

Through the many challenges 2020 has brought us I have learnt some wonderful lessons from my Year 7’s:

• Never give up
• Laugh
• Break a task into small pieces and keep going
• Check your email and Google Classroom every day! Every single day
• Tik Tok dance moves
• Learn something new everyday
• Set small achievable goals
• Smile
• You are never too old for fruit snack
• We are all in this together
• There is nothing like a cold popper or Zooper Dooper on a hot day

Overall, 2020 has been a wonderful year full of laughter, joy and blessings. It has been wonderful to watch each of my Year 7’s grow into a more mature and independent young adult and I am so grateful to have spent the year with them.

I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas

I wish you and your family a blessed holiday break. May your break be a time of restoration and family connectedness as you take a reprieve from the daily routine of school runs, homework and assessments? May you have a joyful break and enjoy both spiritual and physical renewal and find rejuvenating rest in the mind and spirit of your family.

Amen

School Holiday Activities away from devices

• Darling Downs Zoo
• The Brisbane Botanical Gardens and Sir Thomas Planetarium at Mount Cootha
• The Queensland Museum and Science Centre
• The Ipswich Railway Workshops
• Brisbane City Council Chill out programs (check them out) FREE
• Abbey Museum at Caboolture
• Karawatha Environment Centre FREE
• Make a kite and go and fly it in a local park FREE
• Find a local river or creek and enjoy some water play, dam building and creek fun. FREE
• Take a trip to Springbrook National Park and visit the glow worms. FREE
• Head to New Farm Park and enjoy climbing the trees FREE
• Go to Scarborough Beach Park – Climbing trees is good for the soul. FREE
• Go for a drive up to Mount Tamborine- take in the views- pack a picnic – enjoy the fresh air and if you fancy take the treetop walk or book the kids into some thunder egg seeking at Thunderbird Park.
• Head out for a picnic at the Cleveland Lighthouse. FREE
• Climb Mount Coolum at sunrise FREE
• Daisy Hill Recreational Centre FREE
• Go and visit the islands (Lamb island, Russell Island, MacLeay Island, Coochiemudlo Island, Stradbroke Island)
• Walk across to King Island on low tide. FREE
• Go to White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate and enjoy many of the walks. FREE
• Head to the Boondall Wetlands, visit the Nurri Millen art totems, do a spot of bird watching and go for a bike ride along the mangrove boardwalks. FREE
• Visit the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre and walk through the bush tucker garden. FREE
• Visit the Dandiiri Schools and Community Library and enjoy exploring some of the nearby cafes and shops. (Dr Tailby loves visiting some of the local Vietnamese cafes) FREE
• Head out to the Wivenhoe Dam on a day trip. FREE
• Visit Slaughter Falls for a bbq and then make the walk up to the summit at Mount Coot-tha. FREE
• Visit the Kumbartcho Environmental Centre at Eatons Hill for a play on their fenced playground and a walk through their lush grounds. They also have a native plants nursery onsite and a fairy garden they kids will enjoy. FREE