Executive Director's welcome

Welcome to Term 2, and to a very much more positive start than that of Term 1.

The break over Easter was a welcome one and I hope that you all managed to have some special/family time with your loved ones.

Covid-19 restrictions are slowly being lifted which is good news for all and masks are not required to the same extent as before. We see from the news every evening that cases are still quite significant although thankfully the number of people having to be hospitalised seems to be dropping. It should be remembered however that as we move towards winter, it is more important that ever to ensure we are all fully vaccinated if possible, including with the flu vaccine.

As we move towards a more ‘normal’ way of existence, we continue to encourage P&Fs /Parent Groups to reach out to your communities. In particular, we encourage you to reach out to the parents and families in Kindy and Year 7 who will have been impacted by not being able to participate in activities on school sites in Term 1 and therefore get to know the other parents/ carers in their children’s year groups. Many of us developed great friendships and support groups in those transition years which continued on through our children’s journey through primary and then secondary school. For many parents, especially those who do not have family close by, school becomes an important part of their community, and our key role as parent groups is to engage with as many of those in our community as we can. This brings significant wellbeing outcomes to all members of our community, parents, teachers and of course our children and young people.

We are reminded of the important role that P&Fs play in our schools as we look toward Volunteer Week commencing on May 16. Volunteering is such a rewarding experience, both to participate in but which also demonstrates to our children the importance of putting some time by to help others. Further along in the newsletter you will find information about the benefits of volunteering as well as some tips on recruiting volunteers for your school parent group. Thanking those who give of their time, whether it is one hour or ten, is an important part of this, so take time to thank the volunteers in your school community during Volunteer Week!

CSPWA recognise the wonderful work that volunteers commit to in our schools through the presentation of the annual ‘Awards of Excellence in Building Positive School Communities’. The date for this year’s Awards of Excellence event is Friday 5 August and nominations are now open! You will find information on how to participate further down in this newsletter. We urge you to recognise those in your schools who contribute to building positive school communities by nominating them for an award this year!

With just over two weeks to go before the Federal Election, members of CSPWA in collaboration with Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) have been busy meeting with as many politicians as we can to ascertain how they intend to support those families who choose a Catholic Education for their children, as we move forward. In addition, here in WA, CSPWA has been working in close partnership with Catholic Education WA (CEWA) not only in putting forward our requests to our local politicians but also, importantly, ensuring that they are aware of the contribution that we as parents make to the economy of both the State of WA and Australia  through choosing a Catholic education for our children. Whilst we continue to be extremely grateful for the financial assistance we currently receive from both Federal and State governments it is important that all are aware of the very real benefits that Catholic Education to the state and national economies. You will find in this newsletter links to several resources which you will find useful should you have the opportunity to meet with your local candidates. It is important that as parents we are aware of the funding arrangements for our schools, which enables us to have meaningful and relevant conversations with our elected representatives. As always, if you need any assistance with this please don’t hesitate to contact the office. 

The National Assessment Plan for Numeracy and Literacy (NAPLAN) commences this month for students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. This year for most students NAPLAN will be completed online which provides a more engaging experience for our children. We have included in this newsletter a link to the Autralian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website which provides information for parents regarding NAPLAN. Importantly it is important to support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is just another part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best.

Lastly, but importantly please note the date for the CSPWA AGM has been set for Thursday June 16. The AGM will be a hybrid meeting and those of you who wish to join us on the evening will be able to join us in person (Covid-19 permitting) or online. Additional information will be forwarded to you over the coming weeks.

I hope that you enjoy the wide variety of articles in this newsletter and as always please don't hesitate to contact the office if you would like any further information regarding any of the topic covered.

Enjoy the rest of the term!

Warm regards

Siobhan