Why Family Engagement? What's in it for you?
Families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life. Parents are their children’s first teacher. Research has shown that when parents are engaged with their children’s learning students have:
- Better attendance
- Increased motivation
- Better self-esteem
- Higher academic results
When parents are engaged with their children’s learning they have more confidence in the school as well as in their ability to help the child learn. At St Augustine’s College parents are partners with our teachers in the education of their child.
What is Family Engagement?
Family Engagement is being involved with and supporting your child’s learning at school and at home. It is participating in and supporting activities that are directly connected to learning.
St Augustine's College Family - School Partnership:
St Augustine's College recognises and values the role that parents and carers play in the education of their children and aims to strengthen the partnership between family, school, parish and the wider community for the benefit of their children’s overall development and learning.
Getting Involved:
Keys to successful partnerships: St Augustine's College Current Reality
| Parenting | Communicating | Volunteering | Learning at Home | Decision Making | Collaborating |
| Information/ Learning sessions | Newsletter | Parents & Friends | Homework | Learning Walks | Sacramental Program |
| Wellbeing parent sessions | St Augustine’s Day Cupcakes | SIMON/PAM | Board Representation | Warramunda (Service) | |
| Book Worm/Play group | SIMON/PAM | Parent Helpers | Library Catalogue | Strategic Planning Conversations | Fauna Park |
| Teacher Advisor Program | Grade 3/4 News | St Augustine’s JFC | Home Reading | Work Experience | |
| Notes and Permissions | Excursions/Sports Days | Newsletter Items: Home reading, Languages etc | Structured Workplace Learning | ||
| Year 12 Information Night | Maths in a suitcase | Mock Interviews | |||
| Beacon Program | |||||
| Impact: Students improve attendance when families are informed of the policies and involved in meeting attendance goals. | Impact: Students increase awareness of own progress in subjects and skills with good two-way communications on classwork. | Impact: Students gain academic skills that are tutored or taught by volunteers. | Impact: students complete more homework in specific subjects. | Impact: Students benefit from policies and projects conducted and supported by parent organisations. | Impact: Students gain skills and talents in curricular and extra curricular projects with community partners. |
Impacts from: School, family and Community partnerships, Third Edition, by J.L. Epstein et al. (2009)