Executive Director's welcome
Welcome to the second newsletter for Term 2, it’s difficult to believe we are almost half way through the year already!
Last Thursday evening saw CSPWA host our 67th AGM, this year via Zoom. Who thought when this organisation was founded 67 years ago that we would be in a position to hold a meeting through this medium – how times have changed. Although it is fantastic that this technology now exists, I am very happy that so many of our meetings are once again face to face. Although Zoom and Teams meetings are certainly effective for the dissemination of information and making decisions, it seem to me that it is much more difficult to establish relationships using this method of communication (or maybe I’m just getting old and still like to chat while waiting for the kettle to boil!). One key benefit of course, is that it makes it easier to keep connected in a meaningful way with our regional, rural and remote families and we certainly look forward to more of that this year.
On that note I welcome Rose Fogarty to the CSPWA office team! Rose joins us as Liaison Officer and is already mastering elements of her new role. Rose is busy working on the Annual Conference which has of course now been confirmed for Friday 6 August (Conference Opening Dinner) and Saturday 7 August. The theme for this year is ‘Put Your Own Mask On First’. This alludes to the fact that as parents we need to be healthy and competent ourselves if we are to help our children effectively.
After much thought and discussion, the decision was made this year to keep the conference itself to the afternoon of Saturday 7 August which leaves parents free to complete their sporting obligations in the morning and then take some time out for themselves in the afternoon to come along and hear some great guest speakers, followed by a networking sundowner. You will find information about the speakers, registration, conference opening dinner and of course the very popular Awards of Excellence in Building Positive School Communities, further down in this newsletter. I would like to reiterate as we do every year that the conference (including the dinner) is open to all members of your school community. If members of the P&F /Parent Group executive find that they are unable to attend, please put the word out to your school community to offer the opportunity to any parents who might like to attend.
Every year as we collect feedback from the conference proceedings, we consistently hear from attendees that although having the opportunity to hear from some fantastic speakers is a key element, by far the more beneficial part of attending is the ability to network with parents from all over the state, sharing ideas and celebrating together - it helps parents understand that they are in fact part of a statewide community. Quite often in our own schools, particularly small schools we may think that we are not making a significant difference, however by attending the conference we come to know that we are actually part of a much bigger, parent driven community which can have considerable influence with all those involved in Catholic education.
I would also like to remind parents from regional, rural and remote parts of the state that once again, through a Lotterywest grant, we can provide financial assistance for two parents from each school to attend the conference. For more information about how to access this funding please contact Rose at rose@csp.wa.edu.au
Enjoy the last few weeks of the term and of course we look forward to seeing lots of you on 7 & 8 August.
God Bless!
Siobhan