St Gerard’s Primary school has drawn on Australian and International research which identifies the importance and impact of Family engagement in Learning and strong Family school and community partnerships. The benefits of Family Engagement in Learning include, increased student achievement, reduced absenteeism, better attitudes to learning, better social skills and less behaviour problems, improved trust in the school, better teacher- student relationships, and increased cultural competencies and higher expectations.

Evidence shows that when schools, families and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay longer in school and like school more.

At St Gerard’s we encourage parents to be involved in the children’s learning. We also invite parents to join in a variety of celebrations that are held throughout the year.

Parents are encouraged to help in the following way:

• During literacy blocks
• Kitchen to Garden Program
• Working Bee
• Celebrations
• Family Fun Day
• SWELL week
• Attending Assemblies, Masses, incursions and excursions.
• Book Week
• Feast and Fun Day

All parents that help in the school are required to have a Current ‘Working with Childrens’ Check. These can be obtained by visiting the Working With Childrens Website at:  http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/