Homework and Study Skills
At Penola Catholic College we recognise parents as the first educators of their children. It is vital that we maintain our focus on shared common goals such as improved student learning outcomes. By communicating regularly and supporting each other student learning can be enhanced.
I share with you a resource from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools.
Catholic schools work with you in educating your child. The partnership between you and the school, especially your child’s teachers, is crucial to ensuring that your child has the best opportunities to enjoy the school experience and learn effectively.
As a parent, you can contribute your own knowledge and skills at all levels to assist your child’s learning, support the school’s goals and promote the principles of Catholic education.
There are many ways in which parents and schools can work together to improve the educational experience and outcomes for their children. You can help your child in many areas of school life, as suggested in the list below.
Parents have a particularly important part to play in the educating community, since it is to them that primary and natural responsibility for their children’s education belongs (Congregation for Catholic Education 1997).
What you can do to help your child at school |
Faith development
Attend school and parish liturgies and Masses, sacramental education and faith development evenings. |
Participate in and discuss religious education learning activities and social justice initiatives. |
Encourage respectful conversations about faith, beliefs and values. |
Build a partnership with the school and teachers to support your child’s faith and learning. |
Learning
Encourage your child to take increasing responsibility for their learning and organisational skills. |
Talk to your child about their learning and progress, using the language you know best. In conversations with your child, encourage respectful listening and sharing of opinions, beliefs and feelings. |
Establish regular contact with your child’s teachers to discuss their learning and progress, and share knowledge of your child and how they are experiencing their learning. |
Encourage reading by setting an example – reading yourself. |
Read texts (e.g. novels, plays) set by your child’s teachers. |
Discuss your child’s response to the texts and ask to see work they complete on these texts. |
Regularly review your child’s learning program, assessment requirements and assessment reports where these are available online via the school’s intranet. |
Wellbeing
Encourage a balanced diet, sufficient sleep and regular physical activity. |
Encourage positive attitudes, values and behaviours such as courtesy, confidence, persistence and ‘doing your best’. |
Celebrate your child’s efforts, resilience and successes. |
Help your child balance the amount of time spent on school work and in recreational pursuits. |
Encourage self-management, independence and resilience. Talk to your child’s teacher about how you can support the school’s focus on these important life skills. |
Encourage help-seeking behaviours in your child. |
School activities
Encourage your child to participate in the school’s co-curricular program. |
Attend school events and co-curricular programs in which your child is involved. |
Become involved in school community activities through the school board, parent groups and parent education programs. |
In order to support students with their homework and study skills Penola will provide tutors to work with groups of students in the ERC at each campus on selected afternoons from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. Tutors will focus on developing literacy, numeracy and study skills. These Student Learning Hub sessions will be offered at the Glenroy Campus on Tuesday afternoons and the Broadmeadows Campus one day per week (day TBC) Is your child interested? Please complete the expression of interest form.
College Awards
In a distinctly Josephite educational setting, our awards recognition program honours students for a variety of academic, co-curricular, sporting, cultural and community accomplishments. Giving students rewards for their efforts suggests that their hard work is appreciated. This is a powerful tool and can encourage students to feel better about the work they complete, as well as themselves. This promotes feelings of pride and belonging.
The current Penola Catholic College awards are well established and have been in place for several years. We may also want to create new awards that provide students recognition for other accomplishments.
In an effort to ensure our awards program continues to be a meaningful recognition program for Penola students. I ask that you consider the potential for new awards.
By customising our student award program, we can refine the system that rewards the behaviours and attitudes we wish to foster in our unique setting. Recognising attributes such as good attitudes, honest work ethics, determination, helpfulness, and a love of learning helps build a sense of community and an environment conducive to learning.
Please complete the feedback form by Friday May 12.