TWILIGHT FAIR 

P&F AGM MEETING

The next P&F meeting (AGM) will be held tonight in the Library commencing at 7:00pm.  During the meeting all P&F executive positions will be declared vacant and a new P&F executive will be elected. Please refer to the following information outlining the purpose and role of the P&F.

The following information is an extract from the Diocese of Wollongong P&F Handbook, ‘Parental engagement has always been a strong ethos of a Catholic school. The church tells us that parents, as the first and primary teachers of their child have responsibility for their education. The engagement of parents therefore in the learning and development of their children during their school years is central to that ethos. Schools recognise the importance of this primary role and encourage strong collaboration, interaction and partnership with parents and carers in a variety of formal and informal ways. The primary formal mechanism for the engagement of parents is by establishing a Parents & Friends Association (P&F). This is a formal structure in a school community which facilitates this involvement and contribution of parents and carers in the faith-life and educational goals of the school. It exists to:

- formally recognise the role that parents/carers play in the education of their children;

- provide a collaborative, accessible forum for parents to meet formally and regularly with school staff - to discuss matters pertaining to the education of students;

- provide a parental perspective to assist the Principal in decision making;

- allow parents to be informed and educated about the faith-life and educational goals of the school;

- promote appropriate social contact among Parents & Friends;

- foster effective partnerships between parents, students, staff, Parish and Diocese; and

- to raise funds to provide resources to enrich the learning environment of the school.

A P&F has no authority over: school staffing issues, educational issues relevant to specific students and financial decisions without consultation with, and approval of, the school Principal.  A P&F has no legal entity separate from the School. It is a consultative body established under the auspices of the Principal. It therefore must recognise the need to act with respect for: the authority and responsibility of the Principal in making decisions relating to the school and/or any activity using the school’s name, the role of the Parish Priest with regard to decisions involving school/Parish property and the established protocols of the school and Parish.’ (P&F Handbook Diocese of Wollongong p7)