Reflecting on 2021
Dear Families,
My complacency in thinking 2020 was a challenging year and that we had moved past the chaos of the pandemic had a rude awakening. 2021 was one of our most difficult years.
Firstly, I was away for big chunks of time. Some planned long service leave and an unexpected complication from past cancer surgery resulting in serious illness for months, in a significant development year where we were launching:
- A new Senior Campus
- Distance Education Learning
- A new digital student learning management system to support The Silkwood Way
- The first of our Advisor Silkwood Way learning design guidebooks
It knocked out months of planning and work time I had scheduled.
Then came the challenges of navigating a school through ever-changing government rules responsive to the pandemic and the complicated landscape of dealing with people with differing views and needs in response to this.
There is no sugarcoating how stressful this year has been for our Team. Terry, Belinda, Paulette and Greg were my unsung heroes. Despite their large workloads, they went to extraordinary lengths to make sure things kept moving and on track, giving me the time I needed to recover whilst supporting our School Team and community.
Adventures still abounded, amazing personal interest projects developed, entrepreneurship flourished, the rhythm of music flowed, and our young people grew and progressed their goals.
The end of year senior exhibitions were dazzling, showcasing just what an amazing journey these young people go on. Once again, the tears flowed when each and every student confidently talked about the unbounded possibilities they saw for their futures – this is truly the uniqueness of The Silkwood Way. Although proud of their certificates, university placements and academic results – it is the journey and the confidence in knowing they can achieve their dreams that stand out. Year 12 is one of the most magical and transforming years – it is here we see the complete reflection of young people achieving the Silkwood Aims.
Whilst all this great learning was happening, the Leadership Team kept focussed on progressing our strategic goals, and despite the roadblocks of pandemics, illness, and the unexpected, the organisation achieved what it set out to do – great big plans inside one small year, and we did it!
I am not sure why this should catch me by surprise as amazing things happen every day at Silkwood, and I am immensely proud to lead a team that cares enough to make that amazing happen. I am honoured that families continue to believe in the Vision, trust us to support their children and work in partnership to make this amazing happen. I often lie awake at night in awe of our little community – a tapestry of wonderful folks supporting young people to turn their dreams into reality.
Despite the roughness of the 2021 year, I am looking forward to all the exciting new things arriving next year and understand the future always has and always will be uncertain. There is no doubt there will be more twists, turns and things we need to face as a community in responding to government responses to the virus.
