Our Community
Bethany Catholic Primary School Werribee
‘It takes a village to raise a child’
African Proverb
Families at Bethany are encouraged to participate in the life of the school. Parental engagement and involvement brings a diversity of skills to the school community, offers parents insight into school philosophies and allows teachers and parents to work in partnership to provide the best possible learning environment for students.
We are fortunate to have a committed parent group who are united in working to continually enhance all aspects of the school. Our community activities involve parents, grandparents, parish and the local community.
As a parent/carer in our Bethany School Community you have a very important role to play. We ask that you recognise the important contribution you have to make! We recognise that each child is an individual with unique strengths, needs and attitudes and that not all children are at the same stage of development at the same time.
In partnership with parents, we can identify each child’s learning needs and plan programs to meet the children’s wide range of abilities.
We wish to work with you for your child/ren by:
-
being equal partners in the learning
-
engaging together for your child’s learning
-
being a model for your child/ren on how to live and how to learn.
Practical ways we can work together to engage in your child’s learning include:
-
learning with your child at home
-
encouraging your child’s reading, join the local library with your child, visit our school library after school
-
making time to talk to your child's teacher when you have a concern
-
attending Learning Conversations
-
helping with excursions and sport programs
-
ensuring your child/ren’s Operoo profile is up to date.
As a parent/carer you are welcome to be involved in the many activities that are part of the school including:
-
Joining our Parent in Partnership Team
-
2nd hand uniform sales
-
Fundraising
-
Mother’s & Father’s Day Stalls
-
Supporting our Athletics Carnival
-
Attending School Excursions/Incursions
-
Providing your expertise to students in the learning spaces.
All parents who help in the school must have a current Working with
Children Check that lists Bethany as an organisation where you volunteer.
Applications are available online:
Parents in Partnership
empower – encourage – engage-
service, hospitality and fundraising
Bethany is a faith community that welcomes all especially the most vulnerable with authentic relationships deeply embedded in our 4 H culture – Hope, Healing, Heart and Hospitality. The interactions between staff, students, parents/carers and the wider community constantly strive to give voice and invite engagement of all in building and maintaining stronger and authentic relationships whilst being faithful to our Catholic traditions. We do this in order to enhance learning, successful living skills and promote the wellbeing of all in our community.
Purpose of the Parent in Partnership
To share the vision and the mission of the school:
To Empower
-
Provide opportunities to learn about what is happening in the school through the sharing of processes and ideas;
We recognise the wealth of knowledge, expertise and individual gifts and talents of our school parents and carers.
We make available opportunities for school leaders/ community members to share in their area of expertise at our meetings.
The mutual sharing of expertise forms a 'brains trust'.
To Encourage
· To make everyone feel included and welcome;
· To acknowledge the diversity of contexts in which parent engagement operates
Create a positive and open space where we can share our expertise, feedback and ideas in a supportive environment
To Engage
· To grow a shared understanding of parent engagement
· To work proactively and positively for the school community
Create opportunities to connect and engage through events, celebrations, gatherings.
We invite all families to attend our meetings which occur twice a term, at 1:30pm and/or 6;45pm. Membership is open to all families.
School Advisory Council
The purpose of the School Advisory Council is to support the Principal and the leadership team of the school in offering advice on important school matters relating to providing the best possible education for our children. The following are some examples of ways the School Advisory Council may support the school and the Principal:
-
articulating and enacting the school’s vision and mission
-
promoting the school’s Catholic ethos and culture
-
promoting faith formation and development
-
supporting school policies as required
-
giving advice to the principal on issues such as school improvement plans and enrolment trends
-
engaging in discussion with the principal about the annual school budget and other financial matters
-
giving advice to the principal about the school master plan
The School Advisory Council is an elected body and has a 3 year appointment.
Get Involved
-
Mother’s Day Stall
-
Father’s Day Stall
-
Mother’s Day Breakfast
-
Father’s Day Breakfast
-
Fundraising e.g. Colour Run, Raffles
-
Second Hand Uniform Shop
-
Incursions/Excursions
-
Guest speakers
-
Family Information Nights
-
Christmas Carol Family Night
-
Interschool Sports
-
Sports Days
-
Sacramental Workshop Nights
-
Parent in Partnership Team
-
School Advisory Council
