Into the Deep- Bellfield College’s Educational Strategies in the Shadow of a Global Pandemic
As the world witnessed the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus in early 2020 and its devastating effects on people, economies, and governments, Australia was swift to call for a major lockdown. Within hours, what was ‘normal life’ to Australians had dramatically changed and perhaps forever.
All gatherings were banned, borders were closed, and businesses shut down. Services that could remain operating were those providing people with the essentials only, including food, medical care and products, and schools.
While these extraordinary circumstances were difficult enough for individuals and businesses, they were particularly challenging for schools and educational institutions. At Bellfield College we understood that moving to online learning required extensive planning, precise strategies, and quick execution, all while ensuring that our teachers and staff were trained with the highest forms of digital literacy. It was this deep understanding combined with the clear vision of having our students, parents, and the College work hand in hand that ensured Bellfield College a smooth transition during this difficult time.
IHSAN: The Spirit of the Community
One of our major goals at Bellfield College is developing a holistic Muslim character that engages their intellectual, spiritual, and physical being for the service of Allah (SWT) and the betterment of humanity. This means that our students are taught skills that they will take beyond the classroom walls, such as civic and communal responsibilities, emotional intelligence, and communication skills. One of the main ways we do this is by incorporating these skills into our Islamic Education Program which we call Illuminations.
It was this vision that also powered one of our biggest projects during lockdown: the creation of the Illuminations Holistic Support Advanced Network, IHSAN. The goal behind IHSAN is to provide our students, families, and community members with support that goes beyond academic assistance for their children. Under IHSAN our staff offer support through counselling, mentoring, tending to social needs, parenting issues and much more regardless of the distances.
At the heart of this strategy is developing the Tri-Partnership model of the parents, students, and the school working together by developing these school-home relationships. Thus, we see it is vital that everybody takes on their fair share of work to propel our students forward as future leaders and active community members. IHSAN believes that what we are creating now is much more than a schooling experience, it is a community spirit that will connect us together for a lifetime.