It is an absolute delight to see children working and playing so well. It is obvious that teachers and parents are working together to deliver the best learning opportunities for their children. This term has already offered so many opportunities to build positive relationships between home and school. These activities have included Meet the Teacher sessions, Parent/Teacher interviews, Prep Testing sessions, Whole School Prayer Service, Assemblies along with PSG meetings. This term continues to provide more opportunities to build strong connections between home and school. This week we have the School Picnic followed by other events such as Family mass, Sports Day, and Year Six camp. You may also wish to help out in the canteen or join Parents and Friends or P2P.

So much is written of the importance of the school/home relationship. Evidence is clear that strong connections between school and home truly can enhance your child’s learning, social experience and positive attitude to learning. Children also have a greater sense of belonging, pride and accountability.

I encourage all parents to continue to work together with the school. Operoo and Seesaw are simple ways to stay connected. Take time to read the newsletter. Allow these forms of communication to be a springboard for your conversations at home. Ask your child: What made your day great? How were you challenged today? What did you do to overcome your challenge? What were you most proud of?

Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher either via email or Seesaw to share your concerns, gratitude and your pride.

MacKillop Family Services

This year we begin our three year partnership with MacKillop Family Services. MacKillop Family Services (MacKillop), believe that every child deserves the best. And the best place for children is in a safe and supportive family, where they are nurtured and supported to develop to their full potential.

MacKillop Family Services and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) will be working with St Anne’s to present a model that supports schools to create the preconditions for improved teaching, learning and wellbeing. This model is called ReLATE.

Within ReLATE, wellbeing is understood as an essential precondition for quality teaching and learning. Safe, predictable and supportive learning environments are created and maintained in classrooms where students are not just known, but deeply understood. School leaders and staff are supported both on their professional learning and development journey and in their wellbeing.

We look forward to learning with MacKillop.

Behaviour Map Review

This year the Wellbeing Team will be reviewing our current behaviour map. Over the next 12 weeks we will seek feedback from parents and students in regards to the proposed new behaviour map. Our aim is to create a practical document that all members of our school community can understand and follow. We look forward to working with teachers, parents and students to create a document that reflects our Catholic identity and School Values.

P2P -St Anne’s Parent to Parent Support Group

P2P is a support group for parents who have children with a diagnosis attending St Anne’s. This group is facilitated by the Wellbeing team. As the name suggests, it is an opportunity for parents to share their stories, seek support and ideas from each other. We would like to extend an invitation for new and existing parents of the P2P group for a morning tea meet up at The Nook on Friday 25th March at 10:00am. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Wellbeing Team

Monique McIntyre Kristie Browning Sue Sexton

What can parents do to strengthen parent-school connections?

The start of the school year marks a new beginning for students and families. Naturally parents start thinking about what they can do to strengthen their children’s learning and development. But parent-school engagement is important all year round. It connects the two important contexts where children grow — home and school.

Through communication across home and school, parents and teachers can share information about children’s progress. They can discuss their needs and interests to find the right opportunities to promote learning experiences. Meaningful conversation between parents and teachers creates mutual understanding. It also enhances both parents’ and children’s experiences with school.

Family-school relationships have been described as a safety net to promote children’s learning and school experiences. Yet, parents differ in their skills, knowledge, resources and available time to support student engagement with school and learning. These differences are why cooperation and shared responsibility between parents and teachers are necessary to foster learning and students’ success in school.

Shared responsibility

How does shared responsibility work? On one side, teachers and schools should:

Provide an inviting, supportive climate for parents and families.
Examine and update their practices for partnering with parents to ensure children's academic success.
Listen and respond to parents thoughts and desires for their children with respect.

Volunteering and more

On the other side, parents’ involvement with their children's school may include fundraising, volunteering or helping in the classroom. But parents can do more to connect to their children’s teachers and school staff in meaningful ways. As parents, you can:

Work with teachers to set goals for your children's education. You are a partner with teachers in your children’s education and should work together to achieve mutually agreed-upon goals.
Make the first contact with your children’s teachers. Talk with them at the beginning of the school year before you have any concerns about your children’s work. Contact teachers by phone, e-mail or in person. Be respectful and willing to learn what your children do in school.
Ask for a language interpreter and/or a cultural guide if you need them. This will help prevent any misunderstandings stemming from cultural differences.
Talk with teachers even when things are going well with your children. If there are problems, it is easier to work them out if you already have a relationship with the teacher.
Let teachers know about big events in your children's lives. This includes a death or serious illness in the family, divorce or separation, job loss, or reduced income. These events can affect your child’s behaviour in school and their ability to learn. Knowing about these big events helps teachers understand behaviour changes and provide support.

Always work from the idea that parents and schools both want the best for children. As a parent, praise and thank teachers and school staff for their work when appropriate. Then watch your connection with your children’s school flourish.

From University of Minnesotta https://extension.umn.edu/parent-school-partnerships/what-can-parents-do-strengthen-parent-school-connections

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