DEPUTY'S DESK
VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS
As we approach Parent Student Teacher Interviews on April 24, I would like to take a little time to reflect on the value of communication and information sharing between school, teacher and family. One of the key components for achieving good learning outcomes for our students is to have good lines of communication between the College, the teacher and families.
When teachers and parents work together with mutual respect and caring, children achieve more at school and are happier to be there. Teachers acknowledge that parents are a primary partner in education, they have much to contribute and they are important to achieving the best learning outcomes for the students.
A recent study, titled 'Young Peoples Interpersonal Relationships and Academic and Non Academic Outcomes' by Andrew Martin, Herbert Marsh, Dennis McInerney and Jasmine Green indicates that parents have more influence on academic outcomes than they realise. The study looked at 3,450 Australian Secondary Students in Years 7 to 12. This study found that parents and teachers who fear their good work instilling academic discipline and motivation is ruined by a child’s peer group can take heart. The University of Sydney study found that getting on well with your parents and teachers has a strong positive influence on adolescent’s academic outcomes and a bigger influence than peers.
Andrew Martin, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, says “that parents and teachers who might feel powerless during adolescence have a bigger influence on academic motivation than they think – up to three times the impact of peers. If you think you have no or little impact, stick with it because you do, and not just in the early years – at all stages of secondary school teachers and parents have a significant impact”.
Interestingly when the study looked at non academic outcomes, for example physical self concept, honesty and emotional stability, peers had a bigger influence than parents and teachers. He concludes that the findings highlight the need for young people to have a range of positive relationships in their academic, home/family and social lives.
St Joseph’s College recognises the value of a strong partnership with parents and the role this has in the learning undertaken by each student. Parent Student Teacher Interviews and Reports are two high profile information sharing processes that can provide the basis for valuable communication.
By being informed and involved in the feedback processes, you are showing your child that you value their learning and are interested in what they do. You are also showing your child’s teacher that you are interested and prepared to participate in and support your child’s learning.
In preparation for the Parent Student Teacher interviews and useful information for any communication with teachers I offer the following.
Some things to keep in mind when communicating with teachers:
- Be positive! Remember, both of you (teacher and parent) are working towards the same goals. Work together on ideas for implementing changes that will help your child succeed.
- We know that parents care very much for their children and may become emotional but try to stay calm and focused on what will help your child the most.
- Ask about your child’s work habits, behaviour and participation at school and even discuss what learning styles seem to work for your child.
- Highlight your child’s strengths. We all have weaknesses, but generally we build from our strengths so any information you can give teachers about these could be invaluable.
- Be prepared to share knowledge and experience about your child.
- Listen carefully and be open to other points of view. It is difficult to stay focused on your child if either the parents or the teacher becomes defensive.
So be prepared to be a positive partner in your child’s learning team and make the most of the opportunity provided with the Parent Student Teacher Interviews on April 24.
BOOKING PROCESS - PARENT/STUDENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS - APRIL 24
Hopefully you have all accessed the Mid Semester reports that became available at the end of Term 1. If not, I urge you to do so as soon as possible and to have a conversation with your child about the report.
The most significant aspect of the Mid Semester Report is the invitation to Parent, Teacher and Student Interviews. The teacher may indicate that an interview is "requested", however, all families are invited to Parent, Student, Teacher Interviews regardless of whether a request appears on the report.
Parent, Teacher and Student Interviews will be held on Tuesday April 24 from 12.00 noon to 8.00pm in the McAuley Precinct area of the Enright Campus.
Interview appointments are made through the Parent Access Module.
You will have access to bookings until 1 pm on Monday April 23.
Instructions for making bookings
We are using a system that allows bookings to be made directly through the Parent Access Module, via the College website.
To access Parent Student Teacher bookings you will need to go to the College website and go to: Login > PAM > and enter your username and password.
If you have lost your login details or cannot remember your login details you can ring reception at the College and they can organise for your login details to be reset.
When you login to the Parent Access Module you will see a tab like the one below at the top of the page on the right hand side.
Click on this tab, if you have more than one child at the College, select the child you want to make bookings for and you will see a list of their classes. Click on the classes that you would like to make appointments for and select a time, then use tab “Book Interview”. You will see when a booking is made you are also given information about which room the interview will be held in.
After you have made all the appointments you require you will see just above the Booked Times a print icon which will allow you to print off a booking sheet with all interviews included.
Thank you and I look forward to your participation in the upcoming Parent Student Teacher Interviews.
Mr Greg Kluske
Deputy Principal, Learning and Teaching