Empowered by the Spirit, we at St Mary’s live, learn and grow as disciples of Jesus in a nurturing Catholic community.
We can contribute positively to the pursuit of our school’s vision and the success of our children when we do the following:
Support the Catholic ethos of our school by:
- Participating in school/weekend masses
- Learning the school prayer
- Modelling respect and reverence during school prayer and masses
- Supporting the sacramental programs
- Leading by example catholic values at home
- Being families of hope and being positive about our faith
- Fostering the prayer life of your child
- Teaching them the importance of trusting relationships where the innate dignity of the individual is valued
- Being positive, hope-filled people who value the differences in others
Support our school and become actively involved in the life of the school by:
- Participating in school Masses, functions etc
- Volunteering to help at school functions and activities, e.g. carnivals, discos, reading, fundraisers, canteen
- Involvement in the P&F
- Ensuring my child wears the correct uniform
- Positively promoting St Mary’s in the school and wider community
- Being an advocate for our school
- Welcoming new families and introducing new parents to our group of friends
- Attending representative events, e.g. Sporting occasions
- Supporting wider school community events, e.g. Anzac Day
Make learning a priority with our child by:
- Allocating time for homework within our family
- Engaging in conversation about daily learning and classroom activities
- Encouraging and positive reinforcement of successes and efforts
- Establishing reading patterns at home
- Expecting your child’s best
- Ensuring attendance is regular
- Being involved as a parent/family in as many school activities as possible
- Encouraging a balance between after-school leisure commitments (e.g. dance, sport) and after-school learning commitments (e.g. homework)
- Devoting special attention to areas of difficulty for your child
- Letting your child see you continuing to learn
Help our children become responsible and resilient members of the school community by:
- Teaching our children to accept responsibility for their own behaviour (owning their behaviour)
- Actively encouraging children through positive feedback and praise
- Allowing them to make mistakes and accept appropriate consequences
- Modelling responsible and resilient behaviour as parents
- Setting clear rules/boundaries at home
- Children and parents understanding and supporting school rules
- Practising independent skills
- Teaching positive self talk
- Respecting and accepting others differences
- Teaching strategies to deal with change
- Demonstrating respect, kindness and cooperation in our interactions with others and expecting our children to do the same
Become informed of school happenings by:
- Talking (actively discussing) with and listening to my child
- Reading all correspondence/newsletters
- Participating in parent information sessions (and, where possible, morning/weekly assemblies)
- Talking with other parents/class parents
- Attending P&F Meetings
- Participating in parent/teacher interviews
- Responding promptly to correspondence
Engage in open and timely communication with the school by:
- Participating in parent teacher meetings/interviews
- Participating in information nights
- Approaching the classroom teacher (make appointment) as the first point of call to discuss any concerns
- Advising the teacher of any absences, special circumstances at home, needs of my child
- Acknowledging, valuing and respecting the professional feedback provided by the school
- Being proactive in asking questions, expressing concerns and seeking information in a manner that reflects deep respect for all concerned