18 February 2016

Newsletter Articles

A Word from the Executive Director

Happy New Year from all at the Federation Office.

We are looking forward to a great year of building parent engagement in our schools.

The biggest event for us this year will be our biennial conference to be held in Rockhampton on April 30, May 1, 2. The theme for the conference will be ‘Engaged Communities for the Future’ and we look forward to having at least one representative from all our Catholic Schools in Queensland.

The conference will focus on how parents see their contribution to better support our children’s learning through stronger parent engagement and a more vibrant parent partnership in supporting Catholic Schools in Queensland. We hope to have a range of attendees including diocesan leadership, principals, staff and parents to discuss these topics and to have some ideas to build on to enhance the work of better engaging parents in schools.We also want to explore with attendees a possible move to a new model/models of ‘P and F’ in schools to support this work.

We have engaged a world renowned Parent Engagement expert in Dr Debbie Pushor from Canada to be our keynote thought provoker for the weekend. Debbie is well known across the globe for her research and work in this area. Her research has covered Parent and Family Engagement, Community Education, Narrative Inquiry, Early Childhood Education. Debbie delivers lectures and workshops to a large range of people including principals, staff and parents and we look forward to her wisdom in guiding us to our future. Our other thought provokers will include Rockhampton Diocesan Catholic Education Director, Ms Leesa Jeffcoat as well as a principal, a teacher and a parent.

We hope your P & F will support at least one of your parents to attend so that your school can participate in building plans for the future not only of better engaging parents but enhancing the parent voice in our schools.

Costs are reasonable – further information below.

As we head into a round of Annual General Meetings and we have new parents attending P & F meetings and also parents taking on executive roles please remember we are here to offer any assistance you may require. John, Bernadette and I are happy to attend one of your meetings to assist as well as provide more information about the Federation and our work. We are only a phone call or email away.

You should have received our annual parent levy invoice and a P&F contact form to complete and return to the Federation. We thank you for paying the levy. The contact form provides important information for us so that we can ensure your P & F is up to date with all the news and events the Federation and Diocesan Councils provide. Please ensure that your P & F returns this form.

Have a great 2016.

Carmel Nash
Executive Director

2016 Biennial Catholic Schools Parents Conference

Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May 2016
Emmaus College, Rockhampton

This year's Conference Theme is Engaged Communities for the Future.

We invite you to be part of conversation around the following:

• What does Parent Engagement and Parent Voice look like in your Catholic school in the future?

Your school community is invited to attend this important Conference and we encourage every school to be represented at this event.

Plan now to send at least one member of the school leadership team and a parent from your school community to this Conference to meet our Keynote Thought Provoker Dr Debbie Pushor

Lenten resources for the Jubilee of Mercy – 2016

Reflections for Lent Year C. Published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

The season of Lent during this Jubilee Year should be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy. The readings are from the Gospel of Luke; the ‘gospel of mercy’. On the Fourth Sunday the reading is the parable of the two sons, the third of the ‘lost and found parables’ (Luke 15:1-32). In these parables we find the core of the Gospel. (9, 17)

Pope Francis (The Face of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus)

Parents and Friends Federation Welcomes Compulsory Prep

As the new school year commences The Parents and Friends Federation of Queensland welcomed the news from the Palaszczuk Government that Prep would be compulsory from 2017.

Federation Executive Director Carmel Nash said “we are pleased that all children will be provided with the extra year of schooling from 2017 ensuring a standard number of school years across Queensland and in line with many other states”. Now In Queensland we have 300 Catholic schools each ready, willing and able to welcome each and every prep child into their classroom and school community. Ms Nash said.

For further information about Compulsory Prep click here:

Date Claimers

Diocesan Council AGMs

STATE GOVERNMENT

Improving the Laws to Protect Children

Few matters are more important than protecting children. And, for a short time, you have the opportunity to contribute to the Queensland Government’s review of the Child Protection Act 1999. The Government is looking for ideas and feedback via a discussion paper called Supporting families and protecting children in Queensland: a new legislative framework. You can find the paper at this link

This discussion paper provides background and asks a series of questions about how the legislation could be improved. Consultation closes on 29 February 2016.

The P&F Federation will be making a submission which will be drafted with the help of our State Council. We encourage any P&F or individual to respond to the questions in the paper and to copy the Federation into your response if you wish. Our email address is info@pandf.org.au

FOR YOUR P&F

Hot Topics

This year we invite you to become engaged at your local level.

We need to hear from you so that we represent you in the best way with politicians at both State and Federal levels.

So in 2016 expect to be:

• Invited to your Diocesan Council meetings (2 delegates from each P&F are welcome to attend these meetings)
• Invited to comment and contribute on the latest ‘hot topics’ that face our school communities and education in both Queensland and Australia.
• Invited to enter into dialogue and to provide your own hot topics and feedback.

Your State Council Delegates will contact schools in your Diocese to seek ways to genuinely engage with and beyond your school community. You will be provided with possible agenda items so your feedback can be obtained with a possible view to changing the course of conversations in our Catholic educational environments.

School Shop Online

Schoolshoponline is an easy to use online platform designed to streamline parent's interaction with schools. It is a one stop shop that reduces the burden experienced by parents and schools in providing student needs and related services.

PARENTING

Back to School

Some ideas to ensure the 1st weeks of school go without a hitch

Going back to school can be an exciting one for parents and children. There are new teachers, new friends, and a lot of new experiences ahead. But there are also a few potential problems that you can avoid.

Time Out – Medical Exclusions

A timely reminder for all parents as our children all return to the classroom there are different times and reasons that they may become ill. Please refer to the online information and e-poster which lists medical conditions which require exclusion from school to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among children and staff. This information is freely available from both the Queensland Government, Education Department and the Department of Health. Please use the link below:

Why parents need to make friends on the first day of school too

Cosima Marriner, Sun-Herald senior writer, January 24, 2016

Two years ago Lauryn Fontbin and Fiona Gray had never met.

But after their children sat at the same table at kindy orientation, the mothers have become such good friends that Ms Fontbin hosted a baby shower for Ms Gray.

"In the short space of two years we have become very close," Ms Fontbin said. "We do rely heavily on each other."

They remind each other when school notes are due, swap playdates, meet up at the beach on the weekend and have even been camping together. "School parent friendships have become really important for our sense of community," Ms Fontbin said.

Digital Parenting and Setting Boundaries

Posted by Leonie Smith

At every Digital Parenting or Cyber Safety talk I present there is always at least one parent who asks me how they can get their child “off” Kik Messenger. This question is usually ssked after they have heard from myself, the teachers and the police, during the talk, that Kik Messenger is far too dangerous for kids to use. The frequency of this type of question indicates, that there is clearly a problem with how some parents view what is known as “digital parenting“. Many parents really do feel absolutely helpless around setting boundaries for their children and their digital devices.

QAST Tuckshop and School Uniform Convention 2016

QAST Tuckshop and School Uniform Convention Saturday 19th March 2016 Brisbane. Queensland’s popular TV Presenter and Chef, Alastair McLeod, will be the keynote presenter at the QAST convention in 2016.

Alastair believes the closer you are to the source of your food, the better it will taste and the smaller the carbon footprint you will create. He often appears at festivals and events to spread this message and QAST is delighted to have him involved.

Alastair’s presentations can be seen on the main stage at the QAST Tuckshop and School Uniform Convention Saturday 19th March 2016 in Brisbane at the Royal International Convention Centre.

GRANTS

SunSmart Shade Creation Initiative 2016

Cancer Council Queensland and the Queensland Government are inviting applications for the 2016 SunSmart Shade Creation Initiative. Not for profit organisations catering for children 0-17 years are invited to apply for up to 50% matched funding to purchase portable or permanent shade. Schools, Outside School Hours Care, early childhood services, junior sporting clubs and community groups are encouraged to apply.

YMCA Youth Parliament nominations open

In 2016, the Youth Members for the YCMA Queensland Youth Parliament (QYP) are set to challenge and redefine what it means to be a young person today.

Nominations for this year's program are open and we are seeking young people from all across the state who want to stand up and be heard in Parliament. We want nominees who reflect the beautiful diversity of Queensland and have the passion to shape not only their future, but the future of our State.

FUNDRAISING

Welcome to School Gifts and Poems

Mandy Weidmann, The Fundraising Whisperer

Starting school or kindergarten for the first time is very exciting for little people. They have often been anticipating the event for months, eagerly trying on uniforms and imagining how ‘grown up’ they are going to feel.

It’s also an exciting time for the big people.

Schoolzine

Schoolzine is proud to be a digital partner and supporter of Parents and Friends Federation.

Schoolzine has been an industry leader in digital school communications for 14 years. They are dedicated to customer service, product development and understanding the school landscape that keeps them at the top of the industry. Schoolzine’s Parent Engagement Platform consists of 3 packages, an eNewsletter, Mobile App and Website offering. Purchased separately or together, they guarantee each package will make engaging with parents easy and even enjoyable for a school of any size. Schoolzine addresses the need for media-rich, interactive content that engages parents.