Contributing to a vibrant and innovative learning environment
SHOW RESPECT and CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS
PARENT / CARER ENGAGEMENT
Family Engagement
Research is consistent in demonstrating that families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and throughout life. When schools, families and communities work together to support learning children tend to do better in school, stay at school longer and like school more. Parent participation will foster a strong sense of community and will engender a welcoming environment for everyone.
As the first educators of your children your influence on their development and learning continues through the school years and beyond. As parents/ carers your primary role is being supported by positive, respectful and collaborative relationships between the families, schools and wider community to improve learning outcomes and positive wellbeing.
How To Engage
The St Peter’s community works in partnership with Catholic Schools Diocese of Broken Bay (CSBB). There are a range of opportunities for involvement and learning within the local school community, the broader community on the Central Coast and the Diocese:
✓At the school community level families are invited and encouraged to attend school functions throughout the year as we showcase student skills, talent and learning.
✓Parents/ carers are encouraged to engage in Parent Education Programs, Forums, Q&As, Workshops and Evenings offered by the College.
✓You can be a volunteer with the Parent Network, School Advisory Group or canteen.
✓Parents/ carers are encouraged to engage in their children’s faith, learning and wellbeing.
✓The Broken Bay Catholic School Parents is our local parent representatives to the Broken Bay Catholic Schools Office. The website has fantastic resources available for all parents. https://www.brokenbayparentcouncil.com/
✓The Broken Bay Catholic School Parent Hub is a wonderful resource for parents/carers. There is a Directory of services to provide parents and carers with contacts for a broad range of services providing help and advice. https://www.csodbb.catholic.edu.au/the-parent-hub/helpful-resources/
✓The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) NSW/ACT consists of our parent representatives from the eleven NSW/ACT dioceses, ATSI Parent Committee and a representative for Catholic congregational schools, totalling 580 Catholic Schools. The Council represents parents at a State level: http://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/
✓You can join our St Peter’s Parent Network Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/932088093628777
How We Communicate
At St Peters we understand effective communication is the key to creating positive relationships and partnerships between the College and families and subsequently providing the best possible learning outcomes for our students.
At St Peter’s we have a range of methods to assist with communicating important information between the College, students and families, including:
✓Careers and Pathways Website,
✓Meetings, telephone and our annual Yearbook.
It is an expectation that families engage with our methods of communication to ensure the best possible outcomes for our learners.
Research states that the more parents/ carers and teachers share relevant information with each other about a student, the better equipped we will be to help the learner achieve their potential. Effective two-way communication is essential for learner success and with effective school-home communication growing more complex as society changes and diversity among families it is not possible to rely on a single method of communication that will reach all homes with a given message. It is essential that parents/careers read and respond where necessary to communicate.
Effective Communication Strategies Involve:
✓Initiation: initiate contact as soon as you need to communicate with a teacher or parent/carer either to provide essential information about a student or if there is a potential issue (see communication protocol)
✓Timeliness: in order to provide a timely solution adults should make contact soon after a problem has been identified.
✓Consistency and frequency: Parents/ carers want frequent, ongoing feedback about how their children are performing.
✓Follow-through: Parents/ carers and teachers each have the right to expect what is agreed is actioned.
✓Clarity and usefulness of communication: Parents/ carers and teachers should have the information they need to help students, in a form and language that makes sense to them.
