Korowal sees parents as an integral part of their children's education and encourages parents to become involved in school activities.

Parents play a significant role in school governance, in activities like the school canteen, Country Fair, fund-raising, grounds maintenance, and in various parent "focus groups" formed to undertake particular tasks or to cater to particular interests amongst the parents.

Some parents also help in the classroom. This might involve parents with specific creative or career skills sharing them with teachers and students, where these are relevant to a curriculum theme or topic. In early primary, parents help young children with reading and craft, and in upper primary with maths and science groups. Parents often accompany excursions and camps, and sometimes join in with morning circle.

From the staff

One of the most important tenets of our philosophy is the importance of relationships. Strong relationships between teachers and students, teachers and parents and amongst parents are fundamental to the well being of the school.

These relationships contribute to the development of a sense of community within the school – we are all here because of the students and it is in everyone’s best interest to make the experience positive and fulfilling.

We believe that good communication and actively participating in school events help to maintain a successful school community.

Class meetings

There are class meetings at the beginning of each calendar year. These meetings are an extremely important vehicle for establishing relationships between teachers and parents and provide a venue for the parents of a class to meet. It is essential that each child is represented at these meetings, at which class and subject teachers outline the teaching program for the year and provide information about any camps and excursions to be undertaken. Student welfare, the class dynamic, special qualities that the class may have or be aiming to achieve, the structure of the school and ways in which you as parents can contribute to its well-being are amongst some of the other issues that may be raised. Questions and discussions are encouraged.

As a consequence of attending these meetings relationships between teachers and parents and amongst parents are strengthened. Although there is usually a written summary following the class meeting, our experience is that parents who do not attend miss the essence of the meeting, the opportunity to make a contribution concerning class-based activities and the chance to build relationships.

Class newsletters

These letters are written by class teachers as the need arises and are either given to the students, emailed or mailed home. Parents of young children are encouraged to check their child’s school bag regularly! Parents of children in years 3 to 6 are encouraged to check their child's class folder.

Email

Please note that we are trying to reduce the amount of paper used and appreciate the opportunity to use email. If we have your email address – please check your emails regularly. 

School newsletter

The School Newsletter is usually published on a fortnightly basis. It is emailed to all parents; hard copies are given to Primary School students whose parents do not have email. It contains notices about forthcoming events, articles about activities in which the children have participated, reminders of important dates and other relevant information. Reading this Newsletter provides an overview of our school. Newsletters are published on the School’s website every fortnight. Please inform the office of your email address, so that we can reduce the amount of paper copies needed. The photos look much better on the computer!

Contact with class teachers

In the event of you wishing to discuss any matter with your child’s teacher/s please phone the office to make an arrangement. The teacher concerned will return your call at his/her earliest possible opportunity. Our teachers welcome the opportunity to talk with you.

Interviews with teachers

Interviews with teachers regarding your child/ren’s progress academically and socially are held in Term 2 for children in K to 6 and Terms 2 & 4 for students in years 7 to 10. We strongly encourage you to attend these interviews as they are designed to enable teachers and parents to share relevant information about the children and to develop deeper relationships.

Opportunities to help or become involved

At various times throughout the school year requests are made for help, usually through school or class newsletters. These requests include needing help:

• in the classroom, eg with reading, craft, maths groups, science
• in the school canteen
• at our major fundraising activity, the Country Fair
• with our major social event, the Fireworks night
• at working bees.

We have found that parents who become involved in these activities usually enjoy getting to know other members of the school community.

Meaningful relationships are at the heart of our teaching praxis. It is part of the “hidden curriculum” that children learn from the examples that we as adults set in our ability and willingness to work constructively and co-operatively together. So, don’t be shy, come along and get involved!