Welcome To Term 1

A very warm welcome to the 2021 school year!

As I am sure is the case with all of you, here at the office of Catholic Schools Parents WA we have hit the ground running (after the short hiccup in week 1). That hiccup however was a clear reminder that we are not out of the Covid-19 woods yet. It also gave us a taste (albeit a very short one) of what those in other parts of Australia and particularly other parts of the world have been living with for the best part of a year. It served as a significant reminder of the importance in continuing to be vigilant and maintaining good Covid-19 practices and so ensure the health and safety of our children and their teachers. If you have any questions or queries in relation to Covid-19 please go to https://covid19.cewa.edu.au/covid-19-response-210207/

Here at CSPWA we have been warmed to see the many social media posts in what was supposed to be week 1, showing how schools and teachers were preparing their students, particularly the littlies, for the return to school. Teachers took the time to record videos for their FB pages so that the children would be prepared to see them wearing masks on their return to school. For those children who were starting school for the first time and possibly already feeling a little apprehensive, it served to help alleviate the additional anxiety of seeing teachers wear masks. Great job by all concerned.

Whilst still on the subject of Covid-19, CSPWA are partnering with Catholic Education WA (CEWA) to request support from our state government to help with the significant additional costs schools are facing, in order to comply with Covid-19 health and safety measures. Some of you may remember seeing in the media last year, our State government provided $43m to schools in the government sector to meet the additional cleaning costs, whilst no State assistance was forthcoming to Catholic or Independent schools. This was unfair and inequitable and needs to be urgently fixed. I urge you all to pay particular attention to the article relating to the upcoming 2021 State Election further down in this newsletter.

As if a global pandemic is not enough to cope with, the start of the school year also saw destructive bushfires in the Perth Hills. Our hearts go out to those who lost homes and livestock along with lifetimes of memories. It is heartbreaking to drive by an area ravaged by bushfire and see people’s homes flattened and destroyed. However, it is a testament to the commitment of our emergency services personnel both professional and volunteer, that no lives were lost during that horrendous week. If there is one tiny silver lining it is the ‘thank you’ signs along many hills’ roads, demonstrating the gratefulness of a community who know it could have been an awful lot worse. CSPWA adds our ‘Thank You’.

As we get through the many administrative tasks that are a feature of the first 2-3 weeks of any school year, we are starting to look forward and thinking of additional ways we can assist school parent groups to continue to add strength to their school communities. We have become aware of the subtle changes in the way P&F’s/Parent Groups are working in schools and to that end we are keen to convene several reference groups to hear what you have to say. Do we need to look at new and innovative ways of encouraging parents to be involved in their school communities? We are anticipating convening one group for primary school parents and one for secondary school parents. If you have some ideas you would like to share and are interested in participating, we would love to hear from you. Parents have played an immensely important role in Catholic schools ever since Catholic education commenced in Australia and they continue to do so. We want to ensure that we continue to assist in positive and meaningful ways. To learn more or to participate on a reference group please contact Theresa at theresa@csp.wa.edu.au or on 0438 915 924.

Today of course is Shrove Tuesday which leads us into the liturgical season of Lent. Lent commences on Ash Wednesday and precedes the most important feast on the Christian calendar, that of Easter. Lent provides us with an opportunity for reflection and almsgiving and this year Pope Francis’s Lenten message includes “love is a gift that gives meaning to our lives. It enables us to view those in need as members of our own family, as friends, brothers or sisters. A small amount, if given with love, never ends, but becomes a source of life and happiness". A very important message to share. especially with the children and young people in our lives.

The Vatican has instructed priests to distribute ashes by silently sprinkling them on people’s heads this year due to the pandemic.

And now as we move forward into another busy year, the council and staff of Catholic School Parents WA would like to wish you all well in your endeavours. Remember that we are always here with advice and assistance should you need it. Don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook so that you can keep up with our activities and in particular keep an eye out for information regarding the 2021 State Conference.

Looking forward to working in partnership over the next year.

Warm regards

Siobhan

Executive Director – CSPWA