Term 2, Week 4 - 15th May, 2025

From the Principal

Dear families,

Parent Engagement at St Maria Goretti

Parent engagement at school is a game-changer for student success. When parents actively participate in their child's education—whether through communication with teachers, attending school events, or supporting learning at home—students tend to perform better academically, develop stronger social skills, and feel more confident in their abilities.

A few key benefits:

• Improved academic outcomes – Studies show that students with engaged parents tend to have higher grades, better attendance, and a greater motivation to learn.
• Enhanced social and emotional development – When parents and educators work together, children develop stronger relationships, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging.
• Better behavior and engagement – Students are more likely to stay engaged in school activities and exhibit positive behavior when their parents are involved.
• Stronger school community – Parent involvement fosters a supportive school environment, helping educators feel valued and strengthening the bond between schools and families.

At the end of the day, a child’s success isn’t just shaped in the classroom—it’s a collaboration between school and home. Whether it’s reading together, volunteering at school, or simply staying informed, every bit of engagement makes a difference. 

Parent Engagement & Culturally Responsive Practices

Our MTSS School Team has recently engaged in professional learning and reflection about culturally responsive practices. Today, the phrase ‘culturally responsive’ and others like it are used across a variety of contexts. Because of this, it is important to gain an understanding of what it means to be 'culturally responsive' in a school setting. 

Let’s start in the classroom. The think tank New America defines culturally responsive practices as “schooling that promotes student engagement, learning, and achievement by centering their knowledge, cultural backgrounds, and everyday experiences in the classroom.” 

Moving beyond the classroom, the Intercultural Development Research Association defines seven elements in school communities that create a culturally responsive environment. These elements are:

• Having a commitment to consult and engage parents in school decisions that impact the quality of education provided;
• Creating a school culture where parents are seen as important partners in the school’s efforts to increase student success;
• Developing and posting around the school a code for effective parent engagement - this is called our Parent Engagement Charter;
• Operationalizing the code by involving school staff and parents in a community of practice;
• Articulating high expectations for success in the engagement process;
• Measuring regularly and ensuring that the quality of engagement is high and focused on the anticipated outcome of success for every student; and
• Implementing specific steps for parent engagement and evaluating the impact on student success. (©2008, IDRA Newsletter by the Intercultural Development Research Association.)

There is one common thread across these elements and that is that all cultural backgrounds are centered and celebrated equally.

At St Maria Goretti we are constantly working on creating an environment where all people from all cultures are welcomed. Our current focus is to engage with Mrs Tawana Carmody, Education Officer from Toowoomba Catholic Schools. Tawana will be working with our school team to develop a First Nations Education Plan. The plan aims to enhance the learning experiences of First Nations students by building teacher capacity, promoting educational success and fostering lifelong learners. The plan will be published to the school community upon completion. 

Parent Engagement Network

Thank you to the following members of our school community for taking on the executive roles on our Parent Engagement Network.

Chairperson - Melissa Callaghan

Secretary - Gabe Groves

Fundraising Coordinator - Michelle Walker

Tuckshop Convenor - Shaylee Huntly

Finance - Mandy Mead

Our PEN members play a vital role in fostering a strong school community. They support the development of the school, organise events, build relationships & enhance the experience of all students at SMG. 

Please join us in thanking Melissa, Michelle, Gabe, Shaylee & Mandy, and our other key PEN members for the crucial work they do for our school.

It isn't too late to be a part of this important network. We hope to see many new faces at our next meeting on Wednesday the 18th of June.

I will be away from Monday-Thursday next week for the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Leadership Forum. Olivia Osborne will be deputising in my absence.

Yours in education,

Casey Robinson

Principal

Our School Prayer

Students of the week - Week 3

Students of the week - Week 4

Sight Word Certificates

Library News

Read More in May Challenge

Get involved and encourage your children to READ MORE IN MAY and make reading a family affair as you take part in this 31 day challenge together.

Each student has been given a 'Read More in May Challenge' sheet with 31 jam packed days of fun, reading activities. We encourage students to read each day, crossing out each activity when completed.

At the end of May, students will be asked to return their sheet to school and discuss their challenge with the class in our library session.

For further information on the benefits of reading together as a family, please read the following article from the Scholastic website.

Power of Family Reading

1. Reading Develops Language Skills

Listening to stories sparks incredible brain development at any age. Even before they speak, children embark on a journey of language learning by absorbing the conversations around them and building their comprehension and vocabulary. Sharing books with them expands their horizons, introducing a rich tapestry of words and language structures.

2. Reading Strengthens Concentration Muscles

Reading is a vital journey for many reasons, one of the most important being its power to foster concentration. When children engage in reading or listen to stories, they learn to calm their minds and focus their attention with purpose. This practice, repeated over time, enhances their concentration skills. Concentrating is crucial; it is the foundation for learning new ideas, reflecting deeply, thinking critically, solving problems creatively, and bringing forth new creations.

3. Reading Teaches Life Lessons

Reading is a powerful tool for imparting life lessons to children. It offers a unique opportunity to discuss real-world issues in a manner suited to their age. While navigating difficult or sensitive topics can be challenging, sharing a book on a particular subject brings comfort and paves the way for meaningful conversations.

Reading also opens up new worlds, broadening their horizons while introducing them to diverse places, ideas, and people. Children cultivate empathy, compassion, respect, and understanding. They learn to embrace different viewpoints and celebrate differences, enhancing their overall understanding of the world around them.

4. Reading Develops Creativity

Reading books opens up an exciting new world for your child. Countless stories about talking pets, dinosaurs, bugs, and fairy tales await them. Unlike watching TV, reading encourages children to visualise characters and events, igniting their imaginations. As children grow, their creativity blossoms, driven by their vivid imaginations.

5. Reading Improves Literacy Skills

Reading is a powerful way to enhance literacy skills. Regular family reading time can help cultivate strong language abilities, enrich student’s vocabularies, and deepen their reading comprehension.

• Vocabulary stands as a pillar of literacy. Exposing children to a diverse range of words in different contexts opens doors to endless possibilities. Just 10 minutes of reading each day can introduce children to about 600,000 words in a year, while 20 minutes can expose them to an astonishing 1,800,000 words.
• Comprehension allows children to grasp complex ideas and themes. Family reading time invites parents to ask thought-provoking questions, guiding children’s attention to important concepts. As they grow, children need practice with longer texts, learning to track storylines and characters while contemplating underlying themes.

6. Reading for Fun Promotes Emotional Well-being

Reading for enjoyment is a wonderful way to connect with your family and create lasting memories together. It offers incredible benefits for both children and adults, enhancing literacy skills, cognitive development, emotional well-being, and family bonds.

Family reading time enriches your child’s emotional well-being by providing comfort and security. It opens the door for parents to discuss sensitive topics in a nurturing environment. Sharing stories during challenging times can be a transformative way to find peace and resilience together.

See below the Read More in May Challenge Calendar, and some of our students enjoying reading:

National Simultaneous Storytime

This wonderful story event will be celebrated next Wednesday 21st May at 12 Noon around Australia with the reading of "The Truck Cat" by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.

Students will be enjoying this story on Storybox Hub and the book will be available for borrowing. Read more about this event at ALIA National Simultaneous Storytime - 2025 - ALIA

"Participation in the National Simultaneous Storytime event, helps to: 

• promote the value of reading and literacy  
• promote the value and fun of books
• promote an Australian writer and publisher
• celebrate and promote storytime activities in school libraries, classrooms and communities around the country

In 2024, 2.3 million people participated in National Simultaneous Storytime at 21,000 locations.

Source: alia.org.au [Accessed 14 May 2025] 

Upcoming School Events

Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme

Parent Engagement Network (PEN)

Enrol Now for 2026

Please visit our school website for information about enrolment https://www.inglewood.catholic.edu.au/enrol or call the office on 4652 1109.

Strategic Plan 2023-2026

Notices