Principal's Message

Dear Marian College families,

Partnerships that a school can develop with families are widely promoted for the positive impact they can have on students’ positive experience at school. Most importantly, partnerships that are co-constructed with the College has benefits for all members – students, parents/guardians and teachers. The sphere of influence is two-way: schools can acknowledge each student’s individuality and welcome all families into the educative role. At the same time help the College can help families to recognise their children as students and learners.

In a collaborative relationship, students are supported to be more productive, motivated and engaged in learning both at home and at school. There is a shared responsibility between the school and families to create shared goals and, in turn, optimal opportunities for student learning. 

Home-school partnerships involve:

• teachers finding opportunities for students and/or families to share knowledge and skills gained through home and family experiences
• teachers using students’ home experiences to devise meaningful and relevant learning activities
• schools providing resources such as books that are identified as important by particular groups of families
• schools supporting parents to engage with their children’s learning (1)

As a College we are determined to support parent involvement because we know that the research shows it will result in:

• Improved student outcomes/achievement, in some cases
• Higher homework completion rates, more time spent on homework, and more effective learning through homework
• Students’ self-regulation, social skills, better behaviour and discipline
• Lower drop-out rates and better attendance
• Students’ positive engagement with peers and adults, and enhanced relationships between parents, teachers and students
• Increased feelings of competence or capability, positive engagement with learning and motivation to learn, persistence, and mastery goal orientations in which students seek challenging tasks and persist with academic challenges
• High student aspirations with regard to education, and a greater likelihood of enrolling in higher education
• Family members’ increased involvement in adult education opportunities
• Positive outcomes are evident across different groups of students and families, across disciplines and across different approaches to working with families. (1)

The activities over the most recent weeks have highlighted opportunities for these partnerships to grow. Whether it be the subject selection process, the Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences or the transition process for newly enrolled students (just to name a few), parents are welcome to be active participants in the education of their daughters. 

As I wrote in the last Marian News you have another opportunity to be active participants in the developments at the College. Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as effective school communities and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices. 

In 2023, Marian College’s students, families and staff are invited to participate in MACSSIS the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys.  via a secure and purpose-built online platform. The online platform is where our school leaders will access the summary reports that visualise the results of the student, family and staff surveys. 

Our community’s opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing – MACSSIS is a key data source for guiding the ongoing work to improve our school. 

All participation is invited, welcomed and 100 per cent voluntary. The surveys are not a test; they are an inclusive way to support the work we are already doing to improve our school. Everyone has the right to refuse to participate, or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during or after completion of the survey. Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS) will be conducted between Monday 28 August – Friday 15 September 2023

Do not hesitate to contact the College if you require any further information. The Marian College MACSSIS Coordinator is Mr. Vito Milana (Assistant to the Principal - School Improvement & Innovation).

Mr. Raymond Pisani                                                                                                               

Principal    

(1) Source: https://theeducationhub.org.nz/home-school-partnerships-what-the-research-says/