PURPOSE

Parents and the broader community play a vital role in supporting successful learning outcomes for our children. This framework is about Banana State School engaging with parents and the Banana community to work together to maximise student learning outcomes.

We believe that parent and community engagement that is effectively focused on student learning can deliver powerful outcomes.

Our community is a rural centre and our engagement strategies acknowledge the diversity amongst our families and their backgrounds. Our framework aims to support all parents as we focus on improving the achievement of all students.

INTRODUCTION

The education of our students is a shared responsibility, benefiting all students, our society and economy as a whole.Therefore, we believe that all parents have a responsibility to engage with our school.

Our school is better able to support student achievement by developing strong engagement with and between:

  • Students
  • Teachers
  • Parents and carers
  • Support staff
  • Community industry and business groups.

The quality of these relationships will determine the quality of the learning. This framework outlines five key elements of parent and community engagement to make a positive difference in our students’ education.

COMMUNICATION
Effective communication between schools, parents, the community and students forms the foundation in developing and maintaining partnerships.
  • Student progress is communicated to parents in a positive and meaningful way through newsletters, e-mails, parades, parent/teacher interviews, P&C meetings, open days and award ceremonies.
  • We share consistent and ongoing messages of high expectations for all students and their learning.
  • Parent-Teacher Interviews have a clear agenda for what teachers and parents need to discuss and evidence of student progress is always provided through the student’s portfolio.
  • Banana State School communicates with local community groups on a regular basis.
/ LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS
Learning is not limited to the classroom. The beliefs, expectations and experience of parents is a powerful determinant in student’s achievement.
  • Banana State School has a partnership with the Banana Playgroup.
  • Classroom teachers conduct practical literacy and numeracy workshops that involve parents in homework.
  • Parents receive personal letters outlining the process of goal setting for every student to promote purposeful discussions with their children about improvement.
  • We try to connect culture and learning by partnering with local Aboriginal community members in educational experiences.
  • Banana State School supports transitions programswith the Moura Kindy and Moura High.
  • Each year, we welcome university students into our school to complete their practical placements.
/ COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
For many families, our school is the central hub of the Banana community. We try to work with other community members, for the benefit of all.
  • We work with the Community Resource Centre in Biloela to support referrals.
  • Our P&C actively promotes our school in the local community with materials such as a school banner and a freshly painted fence sign.
  • Our school facilities are available for community use, including federal and state elections.
  • We work with the Banana CWA each year to conduct their International Day Project.
  • Our school supports the Banana Progress Association by promoting their activities and encouraging our students to be involved in their activities. We provide equipment for their community functions.
  • We also support the local Rural Fire Brigade.
/ DECISION-MAKING
At our school, we make decisions based on the needs of individual students and the school as a whole.
  • We aim to consult flexibly to reach a cross-section of students, parents and community members, not just the most confident.
  • We ensure information regarding consultation opportunities is widely circulated in a variety of forms – notes, calls.
  • We offer training or skill development opportunities to parents and teachers – First Aid.
  • We develop strategies to help staff balance any time and workload issues so theycan be involvedin consultative decision-making
  • Parents actively participate in the P&C and we also encourage student participation in decision-making processes by valuing the suggestions of the Student Council.
/ PARTICIPATION
In Banana, parent and community participation in student learning and the school community is acknowledged and valued. This involvement sends a clear signal to students about the value of education.
  • We engage community members and business in learning experiences and extracurricular activities – school camps.
  • We invite parents and community members to become involved in student activities – discos, camp outs.
  • We regularly build parent engagement and involvement into school activities to strengthen commitment, knowledge and skills.
  • Parents use a roster to participate in the school on a daily basis by maintaining the grounds.
  • Parents work with staff to write grant applications which have helped to develop school facilities.
  • Parents run a weekly tuckshop for students.