​I know that many families will have seen my communication regarding Lowther Hall Senior School teacher, Mrs Cathy Moloney, who passed away this morning. In these strange times, the most fundamental processes of life and death have been challenged as we seek to navigate our way through the world without the comfort of physical closeness and the capacity to engage in the rituals of happiness and sadness that help us to mark occasions of significance. I am sure that many of you will, like me, be thinking of Mrs Moloney’s family and friends as they seek to celebrate her life and mourn her death within the constraints of these COVID-19 conditions.

This week I am celebrating our amazing teachers! When I think about the way in which they have transformed their entire way of working to be able to deliver everything remotely, I am truly in awe.

​At Lowther Hall we value respectful relationships which give rise to everyone having a voice. I spoke to the Senior School girls about this aspect of the School’s Values Statement in their assemblies this week and reminded them of the ways in which we try to foster the development of student voice through committees, voting processes and cross age programs.

​As usual, the Lowther Hall community has adapted to this week’s new reality of Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions quickly and effectively. There is now only a skeleton staff on site in Leslie Road to supervise those students who are learning at school and to maintain essential school operations.

​It can feel hard to stay positive and optimistic when high numbers of COVID-19 cases are being reported each day. As well as dealing with feelings of despondency and “zoom fatigue” we are all expending energy adapting to the new measures introduced to try to keep our community safe.

​Congratulations to Year 7 student, Lucy, whose composition A Trumpeter's Delight has been selected for Artology's Open Fanfare program at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) to be performed by the Queensland Youth Orchestra!

We officially launched ‘live streaming’ at Lowther Hall this week! Our students tuned in for the Whole School Assembly, which 'united' us online despite being physically apart. We look forward to presenting more live streamed events to our School Community in the future.

We have introduced a face mask option as part of our school uniform. From August 16, girls aged 12 years and over may wear either a disposable white or blue mask, or the fabric Lowther Hall mask. It is optional for girls under 12.

​In our current climate, every week brings new challenges and this week we are all adapting to the Premier’s announcement about the compulsory wearing of face coverings.

As I write today, we are all back in “remote” mode as our school undergoes a deep clean! I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the speed with which they have adjusted to the various changes and challenges that the start of Term 3 has already brought in its very first week!