It seems that every news bulletin or current affairs broadcast devotes time to the Covid-19 virus, with reports ranging from the historical, comparing it with the Spanish Flu pandemic post World War 1 (where I learned that it most likely originated in the USA, not Spain) to the absurd … the great toilet roll run-out.  No doubt this will accelerate with the World Health Organisation this morning declaring it a Pandemic.

Within this, we need to find reliable sources of information upon which to base calm and balanced decision-making.  I have used the phrase, ‘calm preparedness’ to describe how I am going about planning contingencies. Two priorities exist in my planning:  make sure that students and staff are not exposed to unnecessary risk, and minimise disruption to learning. Indeed, my decision-making always places the students at the centre of considerations.

In relation to the spread of Covid-19, I worry that young people may experience anxiety given the reporting that they hear and see, or as a consequence of decisions made by education systems.  As an educator (and a parent), I value whatever tools and reliable information that I can utilise to calm a concerned person. If your child is worried or anxious you may find the following snippets helpful in engaging them in rationalising their thinking.

(Covid-19) is highly infectious and produces mortality rates in excess of those caused by more familiar forms of coronavirus, such as those that cause the common cold. However, ....  most coverage has downplayed the fact that human beings have lived with various forms of coronavirus for millennia. The more familiar we are with a risk, the more likely we are to manage it through a measured response ... (An) estimated 1 billion cases of flu (caused by a different type of virus) lead to between 291,000 and 646,000 fatalities worldwide each year. That is the norm for flu. Yet, our familiarity with this disease means that the world does not (panic).

Dr Simon Longstaff AO (Executive director, the ethics centre)

and

(Covid-19 infection) in children appears to be relatively rare and mild. A large study from China suggested that just over 2% of cases were under 18 years of age. Of these, fewer than 3% developed severe or critical disease.*

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

*as a comparison, a child who gets bitten by a tick has a greater chance of getting Lyme disease.

I’ll keep you in my prayers

Frank Pisano

This term we have been inviting caregivers to set up their own Engage account. Engage gives parent/guardian access to see what teachers are communicating in SEQTA with students, such as timetable, lesson notes, homework and assessment due dates. 

At this point, all parents and guardians should have received two emails:
1) Welcome to SEQTA Engage, and 
2) SEQTA Engage - Supporting Documents

If you have not yet received a Welcome to SEQTA Engage email, please contact the school so that it can be organised. You cannot set up an account without this invitation.

For ease of access, the supporting documents Starting Out and User Guide are now located on the College website.

We hope you enjoy trialling SEQTA Engage!

Mrs Sandra Far
LMS Integrator

Over the weekend (29th Feb - 1st Mar), several students from St Brendan-Shaw College represented the school at the North West schools regatta at Lake Barrington. It was a very eventful weekend for the school, with both the girls and the boys doing extremely well in all their events. The main highlight for the weekend, however, was when the U16 girls made SBSC history by racing the schools first-ever eight, and even though they only trained in it once, they smashed the other crews and won by 6 seconds. We also had Lachlan Nield participate in his first-ever race which he did extremely well in.

Special shoutout to those who placed 1st or 2nd during the weekend;

1st - SG U16 4X+ (Sophie Grave, Jessica Welch, Ella Spaulding, Catherine Greenhill, Cox: Ruby Skirving)
1st - SG U14 4X+ (Sarah Welch, Jarrah Behrmann [sheffield], Lilly Barker, Isabelle Ritter [sheffield], Cox: Wylie Jackson [DCS]
1st - SG U15 2X (Olivia Yeates, Luka Mansell)
1st - SG U16 8+ (Olivia Yeates, Ella Spaulding, Jessica Welch, Ruby Skirving, Meg Castles, Sophie Grave, Luka Mansell, Catherine Greenhill, Cox: Sarah Ellis)
1st - SG U14 1X (Sarah Welch)
1st - SG U16 2X (Ella Spaulding, Catherine Greenhill)
1st - SG U16 2X (Ruby SKirving, Jessica Welch)
1st - SG U16 2X (Sophie Grave, Layla Hocking [TAR])
1st - SG U15 1X (Meg Castles)
1st - SG U14 2X (Lilly Barker, Sarah Welch)
1st - SG U14 4+ (Ella Spaulding, Catherine Greenhill, Sophie Grave, Ruby Skirving)
1st - SG U16 1X (Ella Spaulding)
1st - SG U16 1X (Catherine Greenhill)
1st - SG U16 1X (Jessica Welch)
2nd - SG U15 2X (Sarah Ellis, Meg Castles)
2nd - SG Open 2X (Claire Ellis, Catherine Greenhill)
2nd - SB Open 1X (Harrison Nield)
2nd - SG U15 4X+ (Sarah Ellis, Luka Mansell, Olivia Yeates, Meg Castles, Cox: Sarah Welch)
2nd - SG U15 1X (Sarah Ellis)
2nd - SG U15 1X (Luka Mansell)
2nd - SG U15 1X (Olivia Yeates)

Overall it was a very successful weekend for SBSC, with everyone qualifying for the school championships on the 14th and 15th of March (this coming weekend), and a huge congratulations is to be said for the whole team for their amazing performance. 

Claire Ellis and Harrison Nield
(rowing captains 2020)

Team:
Lilly Barker
Meg Castles
Claire Ellis 
Sarah Ellis 
Sophie Grave
Catherine Greenhill 
Luka Mansell
Harrison Nield
Lachlan Nield
Mitchell Nield
Ruby Skirving
Ella Spaulding
Jessica Welch
Sarah Welch
Olivia Yeates

Hi All,

I can confirm that the St.Brendan-Shaw College Senior Secondary Ball will be on Saturday 16th May, 2020 and held at the Devonport Country Club.

Further information to follow.

Thanks.

Ross Hubble

Open Information Night for students starting in 2021 will be held on Wednesday 265h March at 6:30pm in Westcourt.  All current and prospective families are most welcome.