End of Term 4 2023
- CSPWA Executive Director's Christmas Message
- 70th Anniversary Conference - June 2024
- CSPWA Parent Induction - Save The Date
- Benefits of Choosing Catholic Education
- Smartphones, devices and eRideables as gifts: what parents need to know
- School Holiday Activities
- Update from our Liaison Officer - Nicole Beresford
- Telethon Community Cinemas Fundraising Opportunity
- Look Ahead to Term 1, 2024
- Office Closure
- Christmas Message 2023
And just like that we find ourselves at the end of another school year. One that has gone particularly quickly but which has been full of positive activities and events within our P&Fs and school communities. As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for the commitment and support parents have provided to our Catholic school communities across the state. Your volunteering efforts have been invaluable both in terms of fundraising and in particular ‘friendraising’. Whether it is helping out at school events, volunteering for roster in the classroom or canteen, contributing to P&Fs or School Advisory Councils, your contributions have made a difference to your child’s school. St Mary MacKillop said “we must teach more by example than by word” and as most of us parents know, our children are much more likely to follow the example of our actions (at times the actions we don’t want them to follow!) than that of our words. And so volunteering in your school and parish communities is first and foremost a gift to your children. Through your actions of volunteering you are demonstrating to your children the power of contributing to the common good. Let us be reminded of this the next time we are organizing the school fete or disco or other events that take up time and energy!
Many of you will have seen the news that Dr Debra Sayce will be stepping down from her role as Executive Director of CEWA at the end of the year. CSPWA would like to sincerely thank Debra for her unwavering support of parents as the first educators of their children. Debra’s commitment to building and maintaining a strong and authentic partnership between CEWA and CSPWA, through her support of our work and by providing a myriad of opportunities for our voice to be heard is so very much appreciated. CSPWA would like to take this opportunity to wish Debra all the very best in her new role with the Archdiocese and look forward to our paths continuing to cross.
Following on from that news we also congratulate Mr Wayne Bull on his appointment to the role of Executive Director – CEWA commencing in January 2024. Wayne has more recently been in the role of Deputy Executive Director – CEWA. Wayne has also been a much valued member of CSPWA Council, and whilst sadly he will be stepping down from that position, we very much look forward to working with him in his new role, ensuring that the partnership between our two organisations continues to strengthen and add value to Catholic education in WA.
2024 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year. Amongst these exciting events CSPWA will celebrate our platinum anniversary, 70 years of advocacy and representation on behalf of all parents who choose a Catholic education for their children in WA. Platinum represents amongst other qualities, strength, endurance, integrity and truth and these qualities exist in abundance within our organisation. We look forward to celebrating throughout 2024 and especially at our Conference which has now been confirmed for the weekend of 7th and 8th June. We encourage you all to think about attending and of course about nominating members of your school community for the annual Awards of Excellence in Building Positive School Communities.
And so, as we move towards the joyful season of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Saviour, it just remains for me to express my gratitude and thanks to our wonderful council of volunteers who have worked hard on your behalf this year, Marina, Richard, Anna, Belinda, Kate, Catherine, Alan, Georgie, Orla, Renee, Wayne and Fr George. Benjamin Franklin once said ”if you want something done, ask a busy person”, and no truer words could be spoken about these people. Their passion and commitment is what keeps our organisation alive and well after 70 years and although sadly we are saying goodbye to some we are also welcoming new members. A particular word of recognition for the office staff, Nicole, Jonelle and Jennifer. Benjamin Franklin’s words don’t go amiss here either. All three have primary aged children and are highly involved in the P&F’s at their own children’s school with all of them in the role of Chair at some stage during the year. They are beyond committed to their roles and work so well as a team ensuring that anyone who contacts our office gets the very best support and advice. My sincere thanks to all of you.
And finally, thank you to all I have had the pleasure of working with this year, principals, school leaderships teams, CEWA executive and staff, CECWA Commissioners and above all parents! We know that working together we make a significant difference to the lives of our precious children and we look forward to doing it all again next year.
And so, as we look forward to celebrating the wonderful season that is Christmas, please take a moment to remember those less fortunate than ourselves, particularly families who may be struggling both here and overseas in war torn places. We pray for all and hope that 2024 may bring better times for all who are currently suffering.
See you all in 2024!
God Bless.
Siobhan
It is with great excitement that we can confirm a location for our 70th Anniversary Conference in 2024.
The Awards of Excellence Dinner will be held at the Aloft Rooftop ballroom in Rivervale on Friday 7th June, and our conference will be held on the senior campus of Ursula Frayne Catholic College in Victoria Park on Saturday 8th June.
We have submitted our application for a Lotterywest grant to cover the cost of travel and accommodation for parents from our regional and remote schools to come to Perth to attend the dinner and conference. If successful, we will be utilising double rooms at Aloft Perth.
When we return to the office in first term, we will start advertising our conference in more detail, and the Awards of Excellence nomination period. We hope you'll be able to join us for this very special milestone occasion.
To keep up to date with conference news, please go to the conference section on our website: https://www.csp.wa.edu.au/70th-anniversary-conference
The Catholic School Parents WA P&F Induction evening will take place on Wednesday 21st February from 6pm, at St Peter's Primary School in Inglewood (103 Wood St).
The Induction evening will cover the P&F Terms of Reference, Office Bearer role descriptions, the importance of school climate surveys, and information on how to access our P&F resources and online induction.
An induction recording will be available after the event for regional and remote schools.
If you have any topics you would like us to cover on the night, please email admin@csp.wa.edu.au.
Please register via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/cspwa-parent-induction-evening.
Catholic Education Western Australia’s (CEWA) approach to learning is underpinned by evidence-based research, draws on the experiences and expertise of some of the world’s leading education experts and is enabled by a specialist Teaching & Learning team who support teachers to deliver the best learning outcomes for all students.
Catholic schools have a history of academic excellence and as providers of quality, Christ-centred and child-focused education, our schools and colleges enable students to gain confidence in their abilities and to achieve to their unique potential. Catholic schools are among the top performing schools in the state each year in the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) examinations.
Our schools and colleges are inclusive and supportive learning environments where diversity is celebrated, and students are encouraged to discover their abilities and explore their potential. We recognise the family as each child’s most influential educator and actively partner with parents and caregivers, encouraging open communications and supportive learning environments.
From our early childhood programs through to Year 12, Catholic schools deliver on the curriculum and support different pathways for learning, while fostering the integration of faith and values, motivating students to learn and celebrating their successes.
For more information on choosing a Catholic Education for your child, please visit CEWA's website.
With Christmas approaching, you might be looking to gift a phone or device to your children. How do you choose which one to buy? How do you protect your children when they're online? How do you protect the device? The Alannah & Madeline Foundation have some great advice on this topic. Click here for further information on how to approach technology for kids.
The eSafety Commission have an informative guide on their website covering recommendations, key features to consider and tips to ensure your family stays safe. They advise to be smart, safe and secure when choosing tech gifts for children and young people. Click here to read the full guide.
CSPWA have put together a resource sheet on Android and Apple Parent Controls. You can find these resources below.
If you’re thinking about buying your young person an eRideable, make sure that you pick one that is in line with the rules. The Road Safety Commission advises you look out for the size and weight, power and speed, design, lights and reflectors, sounds and helmet standards. To find out more, visit the Road Safety Commissions eRideable buying guide here.
With the school holidays fast approaching, you may be starting to plan activities to keep your children entertained. The following websites have some great ideas you may want to look into!
School Holiday Activities in WA
Summer time brings a lot of us to the beach or swimming pools. Not all beaches are patrolled by lifeguards in Australia. Staying safe on beaches relies on understanding beach safety protocols and not taking risks by swimming at unpatrolled beaches. Royal Life Saving Australia has lots of information on how to stay safe at the beach and swimming pools.
RLSA state most children who drown in home pools fall in by accident. Children drown quickly and silently, often without making any noise or splashing. Young children are naturally curious and attracted to water but do not yet understand the concept of danger, while parents can become complacent about safety around a familiar home environment.
In cases of child drowning in home pools, designated supervisors were often distracted by everyday tasks, such as a conversation with another person, answering the door or attending to another child, all of which give a young child time to wander away unnoticed.
Stay safe these school holidays.
For those P&Fs who have recently had their Annual Community Meetings, I hope they all went well. Congratulations to those who have been elected as P&F committee members for 2024, and thank you to those who are stepping down from their position, for your involvement and commitment.
We've had a few calls to our office recently, with P&Fs asking how they can try and recruit more parents to join the P&F, or encourage parents to take up a committee position. If these questions are also relevant at your school, please contact our office so we can provide you with some resources and brainstorm some ideas.
Since our last newsletter, we have updated our resources section of the website and have included a new tip sheet called “Why Join your P&F,” an ACM section and a handover section where you can download a check list of the type of information you may need to collate and have available for the incoming committee members for 2024.
As you will have read earlier in the newsletter, we have set a date for the Parent Induction evening, and we are wanting your feedback on topics for discussion. How have you found the first year operating under the new P&F Terms of Reference? What has been going well and what have you found challenging? It’s been great to see that parents have been using our Facebook Parent Connect group to ask questions and offer each other possible solutions to any challenges they are facing.
As always, please get in touch with me if you would like support at your last P&F meeting for the year, your first P&F meeting in 2024, or to brainstorm ideas for your P&F planning meeting. We are here to provide advice and resources to P&Fs, and new committee members. I can be contacted on 9338 9987 or via email support@csp.wa.edu.au.
Looking for a fundraising activity for the summer period? Telethon Community Cinemas works to support 6 different charities, as well as your school with their community cinema fundraiser.
Your school P&F can purchase adult tickets for $10 each and sell them within your school community for $14, and buy kids tickets (age 5-15) for $5 each and sell them for $7. These purchase prices of $14 and $7 are the same as the standard entry price to the outdoor cinemas.
Redeemed voucher tickets can be used at any of the four locations- Bassendean, Burswood, Joondalup, and Murdoch. All the proceeds are shared between Telethon and your school.
Please see the attached flyer for more information, and note that there is a minimum ticket order of 25.
