Principal's Page

Parental Engagement in Learning

Dear Parents and Carers 

Recently, I wrote in the newsletter about parental engagement in children’s learning and how vital it is to the academic success and wellbeing of children. I invited parents to express interest in being part of a Parental Engagement - Parent Team and thank the 23 parents who have volunteered. Our work to better support effective and meaningful parental engagement in student learning will continue throughout this year with the support of parents and teachers.

Dr. Justin Coulson, writing about NAPLAN, wrote that there are factors more important to academic success and wellbeing than a NAPLAN result. I invite all parents to read the extract below from his article as it speaks to some things parents can do to engage in their child's learning.

Helping Children Thrive at School

The following factors generally matter most when it comes to your child doing well at school:

Reading. If there is only one thing that you do with your children for their education, read to them. This should start as young as possible and continue through toddler years, preschool years, and into big school. Read to them – and have them read to you – as they go through their early primary years. And keep books around right through high school. Reading is one of the best predictors of children’s academic success, and it is associated with increased resilience, particularly for kids from challenged or traumatic backgrounds.

Be involved. Research shows that parents who ask about school, check in on what students are learning, talk with the school teacher from time to time, and continue to monitor and stay up to date on what is happening at school have children who do better academically when compared with students whose parents are uninvolved. Getting involved shows you care.

Relationships with peers. Children who enjoy a sense of school belonging, according to Dr Kelly Allen at Monash University, do better at school. They also have higher levels of life satisfaction.

A sense of progress and purpose. These are two separate things, but I’m including them together because they often follow one another. When our children make progress, they feel competent and capable. This increases their motivation, and makes school feel purposeful. If parents can work to help children see the progress they’re making, it will boost desire for more progress, and the work becomes easier and more enjoyable.

People who love them. There is no way of getting around this fact: kids do well for those they love. When a student loves his science teacher, science becomes the best subject ever and he tries hard as a result. Same goes with PE, English, or any other subject. Helping children feel like they are known, numbered, and missed combined with teachers who are enthusiastic about their topics, helps kids do better at school.

Often people will say, “But what about my child?” So many parents are dealing with ADHD, autism, ODD, sensory issues, depression, or other additional health or developmental needs. My response is always the same: those points above become even more vital. Read, be involved, help them make friends, challenge them to progress and find purpose, and make sure someone loves them.

Your child may (or may not) be about to sit the NAPLAN test any day now. Let them know that it’s not about them. It’s for the school only. Don’t make a deal about their results when they show up in the post. It’s old news by then. And when it’s done, give them a hug, share a milkshake, and ask them about their friends, their teacher, or their favourite book to read… because those things will matter more for their education than their performance on this year’s NAPLAN test.

Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson is a dad to 6 daughters. He is the parenting expert and co-host of Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, and he and his wife host Australia’s #1 podcast for parents and family: The Happy Families podcast. He has written 6 books about families and parenting. For further details visit www.happyfamilies.com.au.

Parental Involvement at St Joseph's

SJB P&F Meeting -Wednesday 18 May @ 7pm

Parental involvement at St Joseph's makes us a stronger school community and the P&F invites all parents and carers to attend the Term 2 P&F Meeting on Wednesday 18 May at 7:00pm.

It will be held in person in the school hall or via Zoom using the link below.  Of course, the preference is for everyone to meet face to face but some may need to attend via Zoom. If that is the case then the P&F request that participants identify themselves and have thecamera on at least for the beginning of the meeting and when addressing the group.

We look forward to seeing you.

SJB P&F Meeting Zoom Link

For all things at St Joseph's, give thanks!

Jen Charadia - Principal

Principal Awards and Merit Awards

The following students received their Principal Awards on Friday 21 May (Term 2 Week 4).

How does my child receive a Principal's Award?

Class teachers nominate students for Blue Merit Awards and are presented at the weekly assembly.  When five Blue Merit Awards have been received, students are eligible for a Principal’s Award. When students attain their 4th Principal Award, they are awarded a Principal’s Medallion at an assembly.  End of Term awards can be included as part of the 5 awards.

Acknowledgement to Country

St Joseph's Bulli acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal people past and present, the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is built.