Hello All,

As we continue to manage challenging times with the COVID – 19 pandemic lockdown and our second remote learning experience, I wish to further acknowledge our Catholic school parents who again became the facilitators of supporting our children’s learning at home throughout term 3.

As a Health Care Worker, I continue to be extremely grateful for the people across Victorian communities and their resolve to stay at home where possible and practical.

As I write this report our state COVID pandemic numbers are now under 100 so schooling from home and working from home when able to do so has had a huge impact on how soon we may able to transition back to some sort of community normality. On behalf of CSPV I would like also pass on our condolences to those families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic, our thoughts are with you at this time.

Recently an Education Summit on the COVID 19 remote learning at home experience was announced by the State Education Minister James Merlino. CSPV were invited to give feedback on the experiences of parents as we represent the parents of Catholic school children across Victoria. To gather real time feedback from parents, CSPV distributed a survey to the parents of our regional and remote schools to learn about the remote learning experience of Catholic school parents. We received a wonderful response rate from 462 families, thankyou!.

We will collate these survey responses for distribution and will explore parent feedback and increasing knowledge of parent engagement through a series of webinars to continue to build the capacity of parents in their most important role as supporters of their children's learning alongside teachers. Opportunities like the survey enable you as parents to have your voice heard as we are able to share what we learn with educators and key decision makers. We hope to share our survey with Melbourne parents also early next term. 

You will see a SAVE the DATE notice in this newsletter and further information about the webinars will be shared in the next few weeks through email and social media platforms. 

CSPV are currently undertaking a Catholic School Parent Leadership project to further enhance Parent engagement in both Catholic Schools and the communities that we live in. We recently hosted renowned parent engagement and parent leadership author, researcher and policy expert, Anne T Henderson, at our CSPV council meeting.

Together with Anne we explored a parent leadership framework she was involved in developing in several states across the US. It was wonderful to learn from Anne who was able to provide an insight into the possibilities and outcomes when we provide opportunities to develop the capacity of parents as leaders and the impact it has on communities, on families, and more specifically children's learning and wellbeing. When parents are empowered and given opportunities to be engaged in improving community and in their child's education, the flow on effect is very powerful. Anne will be joining us for one of our upcoming webinars to share her expertise on 'The Power of Parent Engagement'. 

CSPV continue to strengthen relationships between the primary and secondary principals associations with a recent presentation to the secondary principals association (PAVCSS) at their quarterly meeting. Rachel Saliba was able to share some of the strategic work of our organisation during the online forum.

CSPV also collaborate with a member of the VACPSP, Mr Michael Bourne, who sits on our council as a co-opted member to provide principal perspective on parent engagement and other important information about education. Bringing the voice of principals to our meetings means we are more fully informed of what is happening in schools and how we can work together in partnership to support families, to strengthen the connections between home and school. It is particularly pertinent at this time when we are called to continue to fulfil the mission of Catholic education and support children together. CSPV will be encouraging this to continue as children return to classroom learning and that the value of parents as partners in learning is supported to continue in every Catholic learning community.

It is hoped that this will be enhanced, not only by the changes and realisations of the valued role of parents that have occurred through remote learning, but also by the new Horizons of Hope statement; Families as Partners in Catholic School Communities. CSPV were involved during 2019 and early 2020 in co-developing this alongside educators and staff from the Wellbeing Unit at CEM.

Deputy Chair of CSPV, Jodie McLeod and Executive Officer of CSPV, Rachel Saliba were able to provide parent perspective on the role and value of parents as partners for the statement. 

While this year has been very different, not to mention extremely challenging for many families and for educators, there are many positives that have come from all of our experiences. CSPV continued our 'You're not alone' campaign, sharing resources and information about support services available for families through our social media platforms. We've also heard many great stories from school leaders and teachers who have gone above and beyond to support families during this time.
We must acknowledge and be grateful for the huge effort, the many changes, adjustments and flexibility our teachers have been called to make during this time to ensure children continue to learn remotely.

CSPV national members recently attended the Catholic School Parents Australia meeting where we launched the new CSPA website. We also heard from an organisation who have developed a wonderful online tool for young people to explore careers opportunities. Further information about both of these items are included in this newsletter.

The remainder of this year for many members of the Catholic education community will be one of transformation, not only in the way that education now has the opportunity to change, but also as the governance structures of Catholic Education Melbourne and Catholic Education Sandhurst move towards incorporation.

CSPV have been involved in the consultation to provide parent perspective on the governance steering committee, with our co-opted parent member Tracy Connors and Executive Officer Rachel Saliba providing feedback and important parent voice for the MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) position statement and charter, both of which will be available for public viewing at https://governance.melbourne/. We look forward to continuing to provide parent persepective at a system, state and national level and representing parents of children across Catholic schools. 

Until next time stay safe,
Rod Lewis
Chairperson, CSPV.