PARENT INVOLVEMENT

World Teachers’ Day Celebration at SEPS

As I write this I can say that our teachers and staff at Sandy East are feeling very valued and loved. We have just enjoyed a magnificent lunch courtesy of our wonderful Parents & Friends. The home cooked food was indeed yummy and the staffroom looked like a high class restaurant.

Thank you so much to Rebecca Wilde for leading this great event for us.

Classroom Volunteer Training

We have some new classroom helpers who will be assisting with our learning programs at SEPS. They have just completed a training course with Mrs.Casonato-Pal learning all about supporting our young learners in the reading process. We have parents and members of our wider community involved who have committed to assist on a very regular basis

We would like to extend our thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers and we look forward to their involvement in our learning journey.

Classroom Helper Program

The teachers would like to extend a big thank you to all the parents who have participated and are now so well prepared to be involved in the learning journey of our students. The “classroom helpers” have displayed a wonderful level of commitment to the program. We look forward to them sharing in the learning experiences of our children at SEPS in such a supportive way.

We thank Mrs. Casonato-Pal for her time and expertise in organising and facilitating these very worthwhile sessions.
Children enjoy sharing a story with one of our dedicated classroom helpers.

Parent participation is critical to the success of our classroom programs at Sandy East. Research has shown overwhelmingly that when parents are involved in the education of their children, student motivation and achievement are improved. Teachers and parents working together can give the very best support for success at school.

Assisting in the classroom may take many different forms. Parents may be involved in:

• sharing books and discussing them
• covering new books,
• typing up stories,
• listening to or reading stories to groups of students,
• making classroom aids,
• taking a group of children for a teacher planned activity,
• playing learning games,
• putting up displays,
• simply talking to children.

Besides helping the children in the class parents gain an understanding about how children learn today - quite different to when we were at school. Confidentiality and privacy at all times are key requirements.

Parent and Friends Association

The Parent & Friends Association provides a direct link between parents, teachers and School Council and is an excellent means of keeping parents well informed about many aspects of school life. PFA meetings are held once a month. The meetings are friendly and informal and new faces and ideas are very welcome.

Roles of the Parent and Friends Association

• Bringing the school community together by organizing and encouraging social functions

• Caring for families in need through the Cook and Care program

• Implementing the Head Lice Prevention Program-trained parent volunteer nurses checking each class with permission from parents

• Organizing Out of Uniform days to raise money for charity

Functions Enjoyed by the School Community

• Welcome Picnic for Families

• Grandparent's/Special Person's Day

• Winter Solstice (major function)

• International Teachers' Day Luncheon for Staff

• Art Show

• School Concert

• Performances within the community

Class Parent Program

The Class Parent Program, which operates through the school, involves the nomination each year of a class parent who provides communication between the class teacher and parents of children in each class.

Class functions for parents, children and classroom helpers, are organized through the Class Parent Program.
Working bees conclude with a cuppa and a snack so that parents within each class level can socialize and meet each other.

We need parent support and fresh input to continue this great work. PFA members pay an annual fee of $1.00, which entitles them to vote on any matters, as well as receiving a copy of minutes of every meeting (even if you can’t attend). Meeting dates are advertised in the school newsletter.