We value positive relationships with parents and carers to help develop better social and emotional skills in children. We know that when children are engaged with their learning, they attend school more regularly, leading to better long term outcomes.
For parenting and counselling services, visit the Family Support page, and for direction and clarity on regulations, processes and procedures at our school, read the Sydney Catholic School policies.
Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School and the community work together to ensure the children receive the best possible education in a strong family atmosphere. Parents are regularly invited into classrooms and to assist with sporting events, excursions and whole school activities. Parents are also invited to worship with staff and students in a range of liturgical celebrations throughout the year.
Communication with parents
- A whole school assembly is held every Friday morning on the Jane Street Campus where the whole school comes together to pray, receive awards, raise the Australian flag and sing the National Anthem.
- Parent-teacher interviews and information sessions allow parents to find out what is being taught in their child’s class and are regularly updated on their progress throughout the year.
- Parent workshops are provided to keep parents informed about the learning program, innovations in curriculum and how to support your child at home.
Principal’s Advisory Council
The Fr John Therry’s Principal Advisory Council is a forum that consults, listens and seeks feedback and wisdom from the local school and parish communities so that these communities work together to achieve common goals. It provides feedback, support and advice to the school principal about broader areas of challenge for the school community.
Parents and Friends Association
The Parents and Friends Association is a parent body that recognises and values the role that parents play in the education of their children, and aims to strengthen the partnership between family, school, parish and the wider community. The association endeavours to do this by reaching out to all associated with the school to build a friendly and welcoming community that seeks to involve all its members, provide a parental perspective to assist the principal in decision making and raise funds to provide resources and opportunities for the school.
Balmain Art & Craft Show Committee
The Balmain Art & Craft Show Committee is a sub-committee of the Parents and Friends Association who organise and run our main fundraiser each year – the ‘Balmain Art & Craft Show’ or ‘BACS’ for short. The Balmain Art & Craft Show is held on the first weekend in November and makes a significant contribution to the funds raised by the association for the school to provide teaching and learning resources for students.
Class Parents
At the start of each year parents are able to nominate for the role of class parent. If selected they are responsible for coordinating parents to assist the principal, class or grade teachers and the Parents & Friends Association on a range of activities and events. The class parent organises social activities that allow parents and students to get to know each other both in and out of the school context.