From the Deputy Principal

Volunteering and Child Protection

I first joined BMGS in January 2020. As Deputy Principal, one of my initial key performance indicators was to ‘increase parent participation in the life of the School and build community.’ This was a challenge I was happy to take on, and I was excited both to join and to grow our School community. Only a month or two later, however, COVID entered our lives and I was forced to ban parents from our campuses for the next two years!

We have come a long way from those difficult days, I’m relieved to say, and it has been a pleasure to once again welcome parents to a range of events, both as guests and volunteers, over the past few years. 

We know that children and young people learn and grow best in the context of a positive partnership between home and school. This is a question not only of mutual support and solution-orientation when something goes wrong, but also of ongoing parental engagement in the educational life of their children. 

For this reason, we are hoping to invite parents to engage more deeply as volunteers across the School over coming months. This may look like volunteering to accompany students on excursions, visiting the School as guest speakers, assisting in reading programs, or even supporting the co-curricular life of our students. 

As a School, however, our first priority will always be the safety of the children and young people with whom we are entrusted. Anyone wishing to volunteer with us must provide the School with a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) prior to engaging as a volunteer. If parents are interested in volunteering with the School, I would ask please that you apply for a WWCC via Service NSW, and provide your WWCC number to your Campus Reception.

I will look forward to working alongside you this year!

Owen Laffin

Deputy Principal