Dear Parents & Friends of St Clare’s

I hope all in your family are well and enjoying all the good things that our area has to offer, especially in light of what is happening in Victoria.

This week we commenced the interview process for enrolment into Year 7 for the 2022 school year.  If you have friends or family members who are yet to register their interest in enrolling, could you encourage them to call and request an enrolment package so we can complete the enrolment process in a timely manner.

On Monday Mayor David West attended our weekly assembly and presented leadership plaques, on behalf of the Manning/Great Lakes community, to our School Captains, Hannah Van Arendonk and Patrick Guthridge.  Mayor West spoke of the council’s commitment to growing good leaders and his belief that leadership was a learned skill, often in response to a crisis situation.  Mayor West thanked the student leaders for their willingness to accept the challenges of leadership and wished them and the community well for the future.

 Mayor David West, Hannah Van Arendonk, Patrick Guthridge & Peter Nicholls

Education and learning come in many shapes and sizes.  Lessons learnt on the sporting field or gained while on excursion compliment and encourage commitment to formal learning in the classroom or in ‘on the job’ training.  Over the past few weeks, students and staff at St Clare’s have undertaken a number of excursions across our region and participated successfully in a wide range of sporting and Eisteddfod events.  This week’s visit to Newcastle University, organised by Careers Adviser/VET Coordinator Karen McCann, is an excellent example of the school extending students’ understanding of tertiary education and the opportunities a committed HSC student can create by working hard in their final year of secondary education.  The university program that our students followed is published in the Careers section of the newsletter.

I thank the students for the respectful way in which they have represented the school community and staff for their dedication to ensure that your sons and daughters receive excellent opportunities to develop their skills and talents.

I am delighted to welcome Lisa Mumford and Rachael Bartley to the St Clare’s English department.  Rachael, an experienced English teacher who has worked with us in previous years, has recently entered a job share position with Lisa in the English department for 2021.  Lisa is a past student of St Clare’s.  Both teachers bring a rich level of experience in English and Drama which will serve our young people well in their learning.

St Clare’s High School Taree is firmly committed to engaging with our parents and carers to develop strong and effective partnerships with our families that support the development of each young person to reach their potential.

Schools in our diocese have traditionally invited parents and carers to P & F Association meetings that have provided an opportunity for families to support the school, discuss important issues and encourage community building.

In December of 2020, Bishop Bill ratified a new model of parent and carer engagement, the Parent Engagement Group (or PEG) offering communities an alternative to the usual P & F Association.

The purpose of this letter is to give notice of a St Clare’s High School Community Meeting for the purpose of discussing a pathway forward for establishing of a parent and carer engagement group – whether this is a continuation of the P & F Association model under the new 2020 Constitution or the establishment of a Parent Engagement Group (PEG).

Cath Garrett-Jones, our Family Engagement Officer at the Catholic Schools Office will be presenting information on the new Constitution for P & F Associations as well as the new PEG model at this meeting and will be available to answer any questions.

WHAT IS THE PARENT ENGAGEMENT GROUP (PEG) MODEL ALL ABOUT?

A new model of Parent Engagement has been developed for schools in conjunction with the Federation of Parents and Friends Associations.

This model eliminates the need for parents and carers to hold Executive positions as is the case with a P & F Association and allows members of the parent and carer community to attend meetings, add items to an agenda and importantly, focus on authentic engagement in their child’s learning. Opportunities for parents and carers to find out more about learning intentions children are focusing on in class as well as practical ways they can engage in and support their child’s learning will be provided.

The new model of engagement called PEG – Parent Engagement Group.

A typical PEG meeting could include:

• Formal Welcome
• Acknowledgement of Country
• Prayer
• Apologies/Principal’s report/Any Project group reports (e.g. report)
• Educative component - The Educative Component is intended to be an opportunity for parents and carers to engage more deeply in their child's learning. A presentation about an aspect of the curriculum such as Writing or a particular Math concept. It could also include expert advice on student wellbeing and development or Cyber Safety for children and their families. This supports parents and carers to partner with the school regarding their child as well they can support their child’s learning at home. Guest speakers and expert commentary could be part of this initiative.
• Questions with notice submitted prior to the meeting to the Principal.
• Details of the next meeting

If the community choose to adopt a PEG model, is envisaged that PEG sessions would happen at least every term and does not rely upon parents or carers to take on Executive roles. If any funds are raised by the PEG, they are to be utilised and managed in accordance with the P & F Association Constitution and only used for the purpose of education.

Further informing about the P & F Association Constitution and the PEG model can be found at:

I look forward to meeting with you on Tuesday, 22 June at 6:30 pm.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the St Clare’s Athletics Carnival has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 22 June.

I wish you and your family a happy last few weeks of Term 2.

God bless

Peter Nicholls
Principal