I think that I speak for most people when I say that I am both delighted and grateful to be back at school so soon after the snap lockdown on Friday night.  Despite being an optimist at heart, I feared that we might be isolated for longer than the proposed five days.  As much as we have become accustomed to, and accomplished in, adapting quickly according to the changing circumstances in which we find ourselves, most of us prefer the predictability and cohesion of a so-called ‘regular’ day. It has been uplifting seeing students and staff back together on campus, engaging in learning and teaching.

Fortunately, a good number of school events have been able to proceed during the first two weeks.  Others, however, such as this week’s camps, could obviously not go ahead, but we will be aiming to reschedule as many of these affected events as possible.  Further communication about new arrangements in this regard will be provided by the Heads of School and other key staff in due course.

One of my favourite events at St Paul’s is the customary morning tea for the Year 12 students of the previous year, and fortunately this was able to proceed as usual. The Class of 2020 returned to St Paul’s on Friday 5 February, providing an opportunity for them to reunite with peers and catch up with their teachers before they head off into the next chapter of their lives, which for most graduates of St Paul’s is university, although a number choose to go into employment, take a ‘gap year’ or study at TAFE.  I noticed a few of this year’s Year 12 students observing the gathering as they went to class, and they were probably thinking that this will be us in February 2022 before we know it.  One’s final year at school does indeed seem to go very quickly in the minds of many.  We wish both the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 the very best of success and fulfilment throughout this year.

Cameron Herbert
Principal