From the Principal
Dear Parents
It is great to have the College energised by the presence of students once again. Although the start of school was disrupted, it seems that our students and teachers have quickly adapted to the rhythm of learning and the wide range of Student Life offerings available at the College.
COVID-19 at the College
With COVID-19 now widespread in our community, it is understandable that the virus will be present within the College. Each day we become aware of students and staff who have attended the College one day and then tested positive the next and are isolating. The College has been notifying parents when reported positive cases are in the same year level as their children. With cases increasing, communicating the same information daily now seems unnecessary. Therefore, the College will no longer communicate each time a positive case is reported. With this in mind, we ask parents to continually monitor their children for COVID-19 symptoms.
COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalisation. Nobody should attend the College if they are unwell or display any of these symptoms:
| Most common symptoms:
· Fever · Cough · Tiredness · loss of taste or smell
|
Less common symptoms:
· sore throat · headache · aches and pains · diarrhoea · a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes · red or irritated eyes
|
| Serious symptoms:
· difficulty breathing or shortness of breath · loss of speech or mobility, or confusion · chest pain
|
The most up-to-date COVID-19 information can be found on the Queensland Health website.
Farewell James Patmore
Next week we will farewell James Patmore. James has been instrumental in the development of sport and physical education on our Primary Campus and, more recently, the introduction of GBC Primary Sport. Although we will be sad to see James leave us, we wish him well as he pursues his sporting passion as Director of Cricket at the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie).
My best wishes
Steven Morris.
From the College Chaplain:
It has been wonderful to start meeting some students on the campuses this week. Although the leadership induction ceremonies will still need to be ‘Covid-altered’, I’m sure all the student leaders will be keen to make this year very special for their year-group and all of the other year levels too, and I look forward to working with the leaders in a range of settings and activities from here on. I’m trying not to volunteer for absolutely everything but it is difficult when there are so many fun ways to meet people and develop new skills on offer.
It is still a little too early to tell whether the pandemic has peaked, or if there is another wave to come. It is understandable that students, staff and parents alike would be concerned, even fearful, about what may still happen over coming weeks. In response, I was reminded this week of the number of times in the New Testament when Jesus tells people not to be afraid. Whether it’s to fishermen who are worried about walking away from their livelihood, or people caught in a storm at sea, or the witnesses to his rising to new life who think they’re seeing a ghost, Jesus is the ultimate source of calm and reassurance. In fact the whole Bible uses a phrase meaning something like “Don’t be afraid!” more than 360 times. In the same way, I was happy to share at assembly this week one of my favourite Christian sayings: “God loves you – and there’s nothing you can do about it!” As always, don’t hesitate to contact me at the College if you’d like to ask me something or if I can be of service to you and your family this week.
Peace in Christ
Reverend Jonathan
