Critical care of community: responding to community needs in crisis

At the core of the Loreto Normanhurst mission is a holistic approach; we encourage each student’s fulfilment of her academic and personal potential in an atmosphere of freedom, care and respect. It was this mission that was at the centre of our decision-making at every step of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Our online learning platform, FACE Online, ensured that all student assessment and learning activities in the virtual space were delivered via common Learning Management systems and Zoom video conferencing, as we were committed to maintaining our FACE Curriculum incorporating Faith, Academic, Community and Extra-curricular. Our staff were required to be agile, and to pivot rapidly to a remote learning approach. Due to our existing processes and ICT structures, we were able to respond effectively and efficiently in providing our community with clarity and consistency.

To ensure our students continued to meet their personal potential, and maintain healthy, robust and authentic relationships with their teachers and peers while engaging in a remote manner, all students had access to their Advisors and Tutors via Zoom. One to one conversations were still conducted as well as Tutor group meetings, in order to maintain connection and wellbeing.

Assemblies headed online, and Music Festival choir rehearsals continued virtually under the leadership of House conductors. Our Student Council shared their lockdown hobbies and homegrown social justice tips via video. Our Pastoral Care team launched our 2020 Time Capsule and encouraged students to share their ‘View through my Window,’ and our Sport Department kept us moving with home workouts and interhouse fitness challenges.

Having a unified message and clear modes of communication were imperative. But constant evaluation was crucial to ensure our community felt heard and valued in the midst of a crisis. Fortunately, our Ignatian tradition already prioritises reflection and discernment. When responding to the crisis, we adopted an iterative process of evaluation, reflection and response, using the metaphor of an infinity loop to guide our path and listen to our community.

As a community, we have emerged stronger and wiser as a result of this crisis. We have experienced communal learning and growth, as our common values, existing structures and mission provided us with a platform that offered a stable pivot-point. Indeed, the Loreto Normanhurst community is proud of our communal strength.