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22 September 2020
One of the greatest challenges of self-isolation is exactly that sense of isolation, which can make people of all ages feel cut off from their friends and relations. St Augustine’s Priory is therefore delighted to announce the launch of ‘Carlo’, a new ‘virtual’ House for all students (and staff) who are required to quarantine or self-isolate.
St Augustine’s Priory has been conducting research into this new phase of being at home and reports are that it is very different to lockdown, where everyone was in the same situation. The school is being pro-active in its care for those whose well-being is being affected by this latest stage in the Covid story.
This Ealing Catholic independent school for girls operates the House system in which each girl and member of staff is allocated a House to belong to which then compete with each other throughout the year. The new House, ‘Carlo’, is an additional ‘virtual’ House for all students (and staff) who are required to quarantine or self-isolate, helping people to keep in contact and feel part of the wider community. Students will be able to earn House points, which will go towards their virtual House as well as their in-school House.
‘Carlo’ is named after Carlo Acutis, an accomplished young computer programmer who was born in London in 1991, brought up in Italy and who died of leukaemia at the age of 15 in 2006. As Mrs McDermott, Head of Religious Education at St Augustine’s Priory, commented, ‘Carlo used the internet for good’.
St Augustine’s Priory believes it is essential to the well-being of all those in self-isolation or quarantine that they remain an integral part of the school community. Although excellent academic progress is ensured through the school’s blended learning programme, one of the ways that the well-being of pupils and staff will be maintained and supported will be through belonging to ‘Carlo’.
Mrs George, Deputy Head Pastoral (Seniors) said, ‘Carlo Acutis was an inspirational young leader whose life showed a great devotion to what mattered’. ‘Carlo’ is also being used as an acronym, standing for Community and Remote Learning Online, a tribute to this young man whose passion for computers was only rivalled by his loyalty and support for his friends.
St Augustine’s Priory believes that having Carlo Acutis as the patron of their new House is fitting in this time of blended and remote learning and will enhance and strengthen the community of this all-through school.
