Dear Parents and Guardians,

We do not need research to inform us that when the school and families work together children are more likely to build good relationships and do better at school. Showing children that education is important, building their confidence and connecting with their school helps to shape learning and well-being.

As parents you are the first teachers of your children where they learn love, values and skills. When this is combined with the expert knowledge of teachers, it has a significant and lasting impact. As educators of our children and students, one of the best things we can do is to teach and model respectful behaviours through the respect and love we show them.   

Our school has been hosting our 2020 prep students over the last three weeks for our annual Prep Transition Program. I particularly enjoy these days and the opportunity to start to get to know our future Prep students and their families. There is a lot of work that goes into the organisation of our Pre-Prep Day and I thank the staff of St Joseph’s for their efforts in making the program such a success

With our Prep Transition Program happening at the moment, I am frequently asked by parents, how can they prepare their children for the transition to school. There are some very simple things that can be done.

• Have a good routine which includes a time to go to bed and to get up, a healthy breakfast
• Show them the importance of being punctual by being punctual yourself
• Talk to them in the car, at the dinner table, about their day, the highlights as well as the lowlights, reminisce and LISTEN.
• Model good relationships showing respect and gentleness especially with their teacher as they are with them for a large part of their day.
• Let your children know you have faith in them and their potential to be good learners. Stress learning rather than achieving.
• Read together. Great conversations and as well as so much learning can happen when a story is read to a child. Make it a fun and enjoying thing to do with them.
• Learn about the world together. Cook, grocery shopping, go to libraries, markets, sporting events.
• Expect them to do their best and let them know that this is an important part to success.
• Talk about school positively, about what they have learnt, how they are going, what they need to do to improve themselves as learners and who can help them. Make sure you include yourself in this list!
• Help them to establish a positive attitude to their learning and good work habits. Model persistence, resilience and talk to them about this. Let them know it is OK to make mistakes as this is part of learning, not to be afraid of taking risks with their learning, in other words "Have-a-go!" 

The evidence is clear. PARENTS DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Teachers are experts in learning and are there to help your child to learn and to be a learner. Together, for your children, we make a powerful team.

A few Sunday’s ago some of our parents, teachers and myself attended a parent engagement workshop held by Catholic Education. It was very informative and gave us an opportunity to discuss how best we can build engagement with our school community. The ideas shared will be presented to the Parents and Friends Association at their next meeting on Tuesday 19th November 2019 at 7.00PM.

Early Arrivals

We have a growing number of children who are arriving at school very early.  This is a safety concern. Some of these students have been arriving well before 8am and some have been playing in restricted areas. We provide supervision for students from 8:15AM which is the earliest time we ask for students to arrive at school.  If your child does not need to be at school before supervision is provided, please delay their departure so that when they do arrive, we can provide them with adequate care.  If, through circumstances beyond your control, your child must be on the premises between 8:00am and 8:15AM, they are to sit in the assembly area in front of the library until the teacher comes on duty. Before school care is available with Cape Youth Connect.  Feel free to contact them at cyc@weipacommunitycare.com or phone on 4069 9272.

God Bless,

Megan