Whenever I conduct an enrolment tour, I always make sure I outline the importance of the partnership between home and school in a student’s learning journey.
A recent Waterford Education article states that the most accurate predictor of academic achievement and student success is the extent to which families encourage learning at home and involve themselves in their child’s education. The Department of Education, Skills and Employment website backs this up, saying that parents, families, and carers are a child's first and most important teachers. This article goes on to outline the important role parents and families play in supporting their child's education. Research has shown that when schools and families work together, children do better, stay in school longer, are more engaged with their school work, go to school more regularly, behave better, and have better social skills. Parent engagement also results in longer term economic, social and emotional benefits.
“Research has shown that when schools and families work together, children do better...”
This partnership was highlighted at the most extreme level during our distance learning program, which we implemented as we encountered the COVID-19 restrictions. We are appreciative, thankful and grateful to our parent and family community for the exceptional way you helped Calvin students engage during this time. Although this was unprecedented and unexpected, I believe there will be a range of positive outcomes from this time that will hold our students in good stead in their future learning.
As they returned to school last fortnight, our Year 6 students gave their highlights about working from home and what they were looking forward to about being back at school. Here are some of their thoughts:
Highlights of working from home:
flexible timetable with breaks when needed
hanging out with family (parents and siblings)
work hard to finish the day early when possible
going for walks, bike rides and playing outside
eating hot lunches (and eating whenever!)
sleeping in (and working in PJs)
singing and listening to music while working
seeing pets more
free dress
working at their own pace
Looking forward to school because of:
seeing friends
getting back into routine
borrowing books from the library
seeing our teachers again
talking and learning with friends
having teachers to help
going to the playground and basketball courts
doing more sport
sitting with friends to learn
playing with friends
Whether it’s home or school, we all have a big impact on the education and personal growth of our students at Calvin Christian School. As Proverbs 22:6 says, ‘start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.’
Andrew Nash – Head of Primary