Impact of COVID lockdowns
It is true to say that the snap lockdown in the week prior to Easter threw a curve ball for those living in the Greater Brisbane area. While the three-day lockdown was unexpected, the reality is that we must be able to respond to the possibility of face to face learning interruption and seamlessly move to our Somerville@HOME remote learning system, as required. Perth recently managed a three-day lockdown period over the Anzac Day long weekend, with interruption to the travel bubble, as New Zealand and most Australian States closed their borders to Perth - and we will continue to see this change, as the pandemic continues across the globe.
There is much commentary via podcasts and opinion pieces about the impact of lockdowns on young people. Undoubtedly, this event continues to be life-changing for all of us, and I imagine it is especially disappointing for those graduating students in 2020, who missed out on a number of traditions. We were fortunate at Somerville House to have a reimagined Speech Night and a very special Valedictory Service. I also know that our 2020 students were remarkably resilient and we are so very proud of the achievements of the Class of 2020.
Special congratulations to Rachel Yang (2020 Old Girl) who was one of thirty-eight students in Queensland to recently receive a Distinguished Academic Achiever Award from the QCE. Rachel’s career goal is to be a doctor specialising in surgery. She said “It is a dream of mine to help with the development of healthcare in underprivileged countries and bring my skills to where they are needed the most.” Rachel is studying Medicine at the University of Cambridge this year.
The Australian highlighted the research undertaken by Mission Australia in their annual 2020 Youth Survey. The results revealed many of the 25,800 young people who participated in the survey were feeling optimistic about their futures and happy with their current circumstances. Most notably, the research indicated that students at girls’ schools obtained higher scores than the female average in the key areas of physical and mental health, overall life satisfaction, and educational and career aspirations. The survey results showed that girls from single-sex schools were last year, less concerned than other young females in co-educational environments about mental health issues and coping with stress. They also remained focussed on their studies and plans to attend university, and were confident in their ability to achieve their goals after leaving school.
Girls attending single-sex schools were less likely to report mental health concerns — 37 per cent compared to 43 per cent of all females. Study aspirations were also higher among girls attending single-sex schools, with 88 per cent planning on obtaining a university degree compared to just under 70 per cent of all Australian females.
Girls’ schools, like Somerville House, were able to rely upon established strong student well-being programs and technology platforms, and thus adapt as the situation continued to change. While girls managed their academic learning, they reported to be unsettled by not seeing friends. Indeed, our virtual rowing training, reimagined bespoke co-curricular programs, including events such as our virtual InterHouse Cross Country, provided some of the many touch points that proved an essential lifeline for the social connections they needed. Further, the WellbeingConnect@HOME connected students, teachers, parents and staff. This program, designed in consideration of the psychology of isolation from peers and the need for healthy mind and body practices created a routine and tools for connection. The student program supported the School’s choice to retain the usual sequential schedule, while also considering the impact of significant screen time.
The 2020 Youth Survey reported:
“Survey questions measuring the physical health of young people indicate that students attending girls’ schools are living healthier lives than the average of all females. In particular, girls attending single-sex schools engage in more sport, with 74% playing sport in 2020 compared to 69% of all females. This result speaks to the extraordinary lengths that girls’ schools went to last year to keep girls involved in internal and external sporting competitions, as well as PE classes and wellbeing activities such as yoga, many of which continued during lockdown.
Indeed, when asked to rate how happy they are with their life as a whole, the positive physical and mental health status of students attending girls’ schools, along with their optimism about future study and work plans, was reflected in their overall life satisfaction, with 61% reporting feeling happy or very happy with their life compared with 54% of all female respondents.”
While the findings of the 2020 Youth Survey show that, despite the extensive disruptions caused by COVID-19, girls’ schools are continuing to encourage student confidence about the opportunities that life after school has to offer them. After all, it is the ‘disruptors’ and the ‘changemakers’ who will shape the future – and with many Somerville House students feeling inspired by the current pandemic to seek out career paths relevant to the new innovations in science, health and technology – then we can be confident that our future looks bright.
Acknowledgements: Mission Australia. (2020). Youth Survey Report 2020: Data breakdown for the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia. Adelaide: Mission Australia.
theaustralian.com.au
Upcoming Events
This week, I will be travelling to Rockhampton for Beef Week and then onto the Longreach Show. I look forward to meeting with current and prospective boarding families at the various functions in those towns.
Happy Mother's Day to all mums this weekend.