Community and Remote Learning Online (CARLO).

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.  We are 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.

We’ve 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.  So we are being pro-active in our care for those whose well-being is being affected by this latest stage in the Covid story.

As you will know, we operate the House system at St Augustine’s Priory in which each girl and member of staff is allocated a House to belong to which then compete with each other throughout the year.  Our four Houses are St Gabriel, St Michael, St Raphael (the archangels) and St George, the patron saint of England.

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 the Venerable Carlo Acutis, an accomplished young computer programmer who died of leukaemia at the age of 15 in 2006. Born in London in 1991 and brought up in Italy, Carlo demonstrated a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, which led to him using his skills to create a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles.  As Mrs McDermott, Head of RE, commented, ‘Carlo used the internet for good’. 

Here at St Augustine’s Priory we believe 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 our 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.

We believe that having Carlo Acutis as the patron of our new House is fitting in this time of blended and remote learning and will enhance and strengthen our community.

Carlo Acutis will be beatified at the Papal Basilica of St Francis of Assisi on Saturday 10^th October 2020.  As Mrs Raffray, Headteacher, commented on this extraordinary young man and his work, ‘Carlo Acutis is ‘virtually’ a saint’.