Filter Content
- Welcome to Parent Talk
- CCSP Term 3 Meetings
- Wellbeing webinars presented by headspace
- Stay Healthy HSC 2022 - tips for parents
- Sharing community, culture and knowledge
- Indigenous Literacy Day
- Have your say
- Help shape the new curriculum
- Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse
- Are you concerned about cyberbullying?
- Kid's guide to beat cyber threats
- The Diocese of Lismore 2022 Flood Appeal
- Check in with those close to you - R U OK? Day September 8
- Transforming with the Spirit
- Sharing and signing up to Parent Talk
Welcome to Issue 5 2022 of Parent Talk and my first newsletter as the CCSP Executive Director.
I want to offer my thanks to Peter Grace who has held the role for the past three years and to Clare Dunstan and Theresa Sleiman who have contributed to the work of the CCSP and ensured excellence in the support, advocacy and leadership we provide. I also want to thank Wayne Davie, the CCSP and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee members for the warm welcome I have received as I transition to this role.
I am delighted to take on this role and look forward to partnering with our Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee and Executive Officers to continue to grow our vision and mission, building on the wonderful accomplishments already achieved.
I am a wife and mother of three adult daughters, aware of the empowering strength of education and the critical and pivotal role of parents and carers as the first educators of their children. The voice of parents and carers is vital in ensuring our Catholic schools are inclusive and welcoming, fostering the Gospel values we seek to instil in our children.
I began my career as a teacher of science and biology in 1988 moving out of the classroom into a role in Family Engagement in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools Office in 2012.
I am excited about the opportunity to build the capacity of our parents and carers to engage more deeply in their child’s learning. I am enthusiastic about supporting schools to develop and build their ability to engage with families to ensure meaningful connections. This contributes to strong partnerships enhancing learning for our children and young people. To do this, I am about to embark on a “road trip” heading out to the Dioceses of Bathurst, Wilcannia-Forbes, Wagga Wagga, Canberra & Goulburn and Wollongong.
I hope to see many of you as I travel across the state and I look forward to listening to your ideas about building parent engagement.
Take care and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Catherine Garrett-Jones
CCSP, Executive Director
Working together to serve the parents and carers of children attending Catholic schools in NSW/ACT.
On Thursday 11 August, the CCSP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee met over zoom and Friday 12 August, CCSP Council met in person. They discussed how to better serve the parents and carers of children attending Catholic schools in NSW/ACT.
During the meeting Wayne Davie, Chair CCSP warmly welcomed Mrs Catherine (Cath) Garrett-Jones to the position of CCSP Executive Director.
Both groups discussed issues of importance to families in NSW/ACT including the ongoing impact on families caused by the global pandemic and natural disasters.
It was acknowledged, during both meetings how important it is to assist parents and carers to build communities of faith and hope. Attendees shared ideas about community building events that have reconnected families within their dioceses.
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Since 2006, they have provided early intervention mental health services to 12-25-year-olds. The Term 3 webinars are aimed towards parents, carers and community members to enable them to support the children and young people in their care.
The webinars are:
Navigating uncertainity and change
and
Connecting and communicating with young people
The session aims to:
- Strengthen your understanding of mental health definitions.
- Enhance your conversational approach to mental health and well-being.
- Build skills and strategies to support young people, including transition to work and study.
- Build awareness of local, state, and national supports available to young people.
- Increase your knowledge & understanding of the mental health challenges facing young people today.
- Introduce you to some of the skills and strategies to encourage and support help-seeking
To find a session and register visit the CCSP page upcoming webinars.
- Encourage balance between study and breaks
- Provide a dedicated quiet space
- Remind them to eat
- Healthy body = healthy mind
- Talk to your child
- Remember the bigger picture, there are many pathways to post school career options
The 11 stories in the guide cover a range of topics including an explanation of Moderation, Study and Exam tips from former HSC students and current teachers.
CCSP send best wishes to all HSC students, families and their teachers.
Moree's First Nations St Ignatius College, Riverview (Riverview) past parents and students taking the lead aligning with this year's NAIDOC theme of : Get up, Step Up, Show Up.
The Year 10 student immersion to the Moree community has been occuring for a number of years with the First Nation Riverview ex-students and their families sharing their community, culture and knowledge through reconcilliation.
On Sunday 19th June, the students, their teacher Mr Gregg Bryant, and Steven Haines, a past First Nation Riverview student (OR 2006), who is currently the Aboriginal Education Assistant at St. Philomena's Catholic School, Moree, accompanied Mrs Karen Tighe, Subject Matter Expert: Indigenous Education, Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Armidale, also a past parent of Saint Ignatius College Riverview, Denzel Tighe (OR 2012) to the Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal area near Moree, the group learnt about the importance of Myall Creek.
For the week 20 -24 June; the students were based at Moree East Public School, assisting in classrooms, joining the school community for its athletics carnival, learning culture and language and learning more about the adversities and opportunities students faced.
Throughout the week the students joined Mr Rod Tighe, Drug and Alcohol Worker, New England Health Services, father of Denzel Tighe (OR 2012), speaking to elders and the CEO of Pius X Aboriginal Corporation, touring the Aboriginal community and meeting key community members.
The CCSP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee are fortunate to have Mrs Karen Tighe as a member.
Indigenous Literacy Day will be celebrated on Wednesday 7 September 2022.
The day is a reminder to us all that
Literacy provides a fundamental step of building context, comprehension and understanding, whether it is written, visual or auditory. For kids who miss that foundational step in their literacy journey, it has a lifelong impact.
Source Indigenous Literacy Foundation website.
As part of the celebrations you and your school can register to attend a free National Digital Event, Celebrating Stories, Cultures and Languages. For more details and to register click here.
CCSP would like to draw your attend to the Indigenous Reading Project an independent organisation, established in 2012 as a not-for-profit Australian Company, working to bring about change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids. The group works with teachers to identify kids that have clear potential to succeed in their E-reading program. Students are loaned tablets and given access to e-books that are interesting to them. The group provides clear goals and positive incentives to encourage students to read more. The group measures the reading behaviour and reading achievement of students before they enter the program and again after 12 weeks. If the evidence shows that the student has made good progress, then the tablet is given to them as a reward.
Details how to apply for the 2023 program will be available in Term 1 2023. CCSP suggests parents and carers discuss the program with teachers at their children's school.
Have your say on what matters regarding the wellbeing and learning of your child. For example, has COVID or your partnership with the school affected your child’s wellbeing and learning?
Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) has been working with state and territory Catholic parent bodies, school parents and friends groups, diocesan directors and principals on the rollout of a parent survey.
The survey aims to capture parent perspectives on issues of concern that impact their children’s health, wellbeing and learning, to help inform future federal government policy and the Catholic education community.
Feedback through this survey will also add to the bank of evidence on how parent engagement can enhance student learning and wellbeing. CSPA has partnered with the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) in relation to this work.
Your feedback will remain anonymous. The 2022 Parent Survey closes on the 31st August 2022.
Parents and carers are stakeholders in their children's education. As such you are invited to have your voice heard about the development of the new NSW curriculum.
During the consultation period you are invited review the draft curriculum then complete a survey.
CCSP represents Parent and Carers at Parent Roundtable meetings however this is an opportunity to make comments that are pertinant to your location.
You can comment on
Collaborative Curriculum and Assessment Framework for Languages (CCAFL) Stage 6 Continuers draft syllabus outcomes.
The survey will close Monday 29 August 2022.
Music Years 7-10 and Dance Years 7-10 "Have your say" period.
The draft syllabuses are available:
You have until 26 September 2022 to provide your opinion.
All feedback in this ‘Have your say’ period will be used to inform the development of the final syllabuses.
For more information on the NSW Curriculum Reform please visit the NSW Curriculum Reform website.
This year’s Social Justice Statement, Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse, invites us to engage with a complex and confronting social reality.
Social Justice Sunday will be celebrated on August 28, 2022 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.
In the words of the new President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB:
We hope our message will help our whole community confront violence and abuse wherever they occur and become a community that fosters justice and respect for all.
It explores the roots of violence and abuse, honours the voices of victims, offers a social and theological exploration of the reality of violence, especially against women and children, and invites us to develop relationships in all parts of our lives ‘marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control.’ We welcome this urgent call from our Church to deepen our faith through full and frank discussion and dialogue, advocacy and action.
If the content of the Statement raises issues or concerns for you, please refer to the Getting Help page in the Statement for a list of support channels, or speak to a trusted friend, your GP, your parish priest or parish pastoral worker.
To access the Statement click here.
One in five young Australians aged 8 to 17 years say they have been socially excluded, threatened or abused online.
Cyberbullying is sending or sharing seriously threatening, seriously intimidating, seriously harassing or humiliating online content to or about someone under 18. The behaviour might include abusive texts and emails, hurtful messages or creating fake accounts to trick someone or humiliate them.
In partnership with the eSafety Commissioner the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT will run a free webinar for parents and carers of students aged 10 -18 years.
- Tuesday 20 September 7.30-8.30pm
- Register here
Cybercriminals aren’t kind to children. They search for easy targets to steal data, including personal and financial information, making it vital for even tech-savvy children to be aware of potential dangers.
As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, they develop new tricks and scams to gather sensitive, personal or financial information, meaning children and parents need to stay vigilant.
Even if you and your children are cyber savvy, cyber security needs are constantly changing. To help parents, carers and children learn about basic cyber security steps, the Australian Cyber Security Centre's (ACSC) Cyber Security Instruction Manual: A Kid's guide to Using the Internet Securely provides simple advice and activities to engage children and help them learn about staying secure online.
Hints include:
- Use strong passphrases to secure gaming, social media and all other accounts.
- Activate multi-factor authentication to add multiple layers of protection.
- Turn on automatic security updates on all devices to fix weaknesses.
- Set portable devices to require parental approval before software is installed and check settings.
- Parental controls can also be used for this purpose.
- Recognise and report scams.
Sadly, there are many people in the Diocese of Lismore who are still suffering following the devastating floods in early 2022.
Many families are still living in temporary accommodation, unable to return to their homes. The impact of losing everything is very traumatic. If you are able to provide support to these families the Diocese of Lismore are still running the 2022 Flood Appeal.
The Most Reverend Gregory Homeming OCD, Bishop of Lismore offers his message of comfort, support and hope to the people of Northern NSW.
The Diocese of Lismore 2022 Flood Appeal. To donate in Australia, please transfer funds to the account below:
BSB: 037-889 | Account No: 1061 5829 | Account Name: DOL Flood Appeal
To donate from other countries please use this PayPal link. This link can also be used within Australia.
Unfortunately this appeal is not tax deductible. If you are having trouble donating, please email appeals@lismore.catholic.org.au.
The bushfires, mouse plague, floods, Global pandemic and war have affected all of us, some more than others, R U OK Day, is a reminder to us all to check in with others.
From the 11th to 13th October 2022, Catholic Schools NSW and Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta will co-host the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Education NSW State Conference.
The Conference brings together education and community practitioners to share unique perspectives on building systems and practices that allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to thrive.
The conference theme ‘Transforming with the Spirit’ reflects a commitment to make a difference to the lives of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and is an opportunity to more fully understand the contribution we can all make to reconciliation and healing. The program will feature presentations on country experiences and discussion panels from local and national keynote speakers. There will be up to 50 sessions, including panel discussions and workshops.
For more information visit https://www.transformingwiththespirit2022.com.au/
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