Yes it has been a challenging year so far with rain, ongoing COVID, influenza, and limited casuals for staff on sick leave and the added pressure of a world in a state of uncertainty. On top of that we are all being inundated by the constant stories of teacher shortages, teachers leaving the profession, teacher workloads, and teacher stress, anxiety and burnout. If you think there are a lot of these articles in all forms of the press, imagine how a teacher feels with this relentless negativity! Yesterday’s article (Teachers the Fall Guys for a Failing System) in the Sydney Morning Herald linked here, might be of interest.
At Claremont College we have exceptionally hard working and dedicated staff who are not immune to the constant barrage of stories about all the things we are doing wrong. However, this is a story of all the things our staff are doing right or as well as we can, despite the current challenges.
Our staff like most school staff are all onsite post COVID. If there has been any anxiety around returning to work, working from home, as is still the case in many businesses, has not been an option for educators. When students or parents have post COVID anxiety or fatigue, we are also providing a support system for others.
Staff wellbeing has long been a priority for us and even more so in the past two years. Together we look after each other in many ways including implementing the following strategies:
- We have ‘Pelan Pelan Week’ in the middle of each term, which means to slow down, focus on our core business only, avoid incursions, excursions, meetings, and extra-curricular activities. The purpose is to look after everyone’s physical and mental health. We come together for morning teas and make time to connect with each other. This term we celebrated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee across the Pelan Pelan Week.
- We provide abundant ongoing professional learning, based on the needs of the staff, new curriculum documents or new school-wide initiatives, every Monday, the first day of every term before students return (with 3 days in January), an additional PD Day in Term 1, Job-embedded PD Days, and some Thursday afternoons and optional PD as well.
- We have more TLA (Teaching and Learning Assistant) support than any other school, to provide ongoing support for staff and students.
- We are fortunate to have a full time School Counsellor, which is rare for a school of our size.
- We have 2 Deputies, who support staff, students, and parents, which is also rare for a school of our size.
- We do fun things such as Tuesday treats every week, and our Social Committee organises staff get-togethers.
- Every week we have staff shout outs, to acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond in some aspect of school life.
- We focus on Team building initiatives using Gallup Strengths, Patrick Lencioni’s ‘The Ideal Team Player’, ‘Open to Learning Conversations’ and fun team building activities.
- We love to grow leadership throughout the school no matter how big or small.
- We celebrate each individual’s achievements, such as those who have achieved a postgraduate degree, or have progressed to the next level of their accreditation.
- Our Collaborative Teaching models ensure that staff are connecting with each other, learning from each other, and supporting each other every day.
- We use the 5 ways for wellbeing (Giving/Kindness, Be Aware, Keep Learning, Exercise, Connect).
- And we use prayer and daily news items so that we are all looking out for each other.
In fact, we care very much for our staff even when they leave us! We consider every member of our staff, past or present, to be a member of our Claremont family, and we are always happy (ie sad but happy for them) for those who believe it is time to move to another school, to have some new experiences in another school environment or a new profession, and/or when they accept a promotion position in another school. We want our staff to grow and flourish and we encourage them to. We are aware that when staff leave us there is an element of disappointment and saying goodbye is often hard for staff and students, and some parents too, but this is life now. Longevity in a job is not the same as even a few years ago.
The current statistics for ‘Gen Z's (age 6-24) average length of time spent at a job is 2 years and 3 months. For millennials (25-40) that figure is 2 years and 9 months, while Gen Xers (41-56) were at a job for an average of 5 years and 2 months, and baby boomers (57-75) spent 8 years and 3 months at a job, according to CareerBuilder’.
And finally, speaking of change, next term Mr Thomas will return to school in his ‘normal’ position as Principal, while Mrs Cameron and I will return to our ‘normal’ position as Deputy Principals, and as mentioned in last week’s newsletter Mrs James will be returning to her ‘normal’ position as Executive/Classroom Teacher on Year 1. On behalf of Mrs James, Mrs Cameron and myself it has been our honour and privilege to serve Claremont College in our positions during the time Mr Thomas has been exploring the High School expansion project.
To our wonderful staff, and our beautiful Claremont families, Mrs James, Mrs Cameron and I, wish you all a safe, restful, enjoyable and rejuvenating term break, and we look forward to seeing you all in Term 3.
Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Mathew 11:28-30
Mrs Janelle Ford
Co-Principal
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Website: www.claremont.nsw.edu.au
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