close
Frederick Irwin Anglican School parents banner

Importance of
Parents in the
School Community

Combined ShapePathNews and EventsPathNews

Importance of Parents in the School Community

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is the importance of community, and in particular the strength of our families, when it comes to school spirit.

For almost a year, with lockdowns and strict social distancing rules, our parents were kept at a distance. They were only seen at school drop off and pick up, with assemblies being parent-free and end-of-year concerts having strict limits on numbers. In the case of our music concerts, these were filmed and presented online.

Our parents are an essential part of Frederick Irwin’s greater community. When speaking with former students, the words they regularly use to describe the school are ‘family’ and ‘community’.

When the Western Australian government relaxed the rules regarding social distancing and having people inside the School grounds again, students and teachers were excited to see parents joining us at a range of events.

‘Frederick Irwin has always prided ourselves on being a real community. Parents are the lifeblood of our school. Seeing their happy faces as they walk back into the grounds, watching their children receive awards and perform at assemblies is so wonderful to witness,’ said Principal, Ms Kerry Robertson.

Parents assist in so many other ways, from helping out in the classroom in Primary School, to being part of our Friends of Library and Friends of Performing Arts volunteer groups. Another essential way that parents help is by coaching and managing our many different teams in a range of different sports. We have over 50 sporting teams who wouldn’t be able to go ahead without our parent volunteers.

Frederick Irwin will be performing the musical, Matilda, in mid-August. It is the help from these volunteers during rehearsals and before and after the show, that helps make everything run that little bit more smoothly.

The library is also grateful to see volunteers back, helping cover books and other essential jobs. The children love seeing parents and caregivers in the library, and parents always remark on how wonderful it is to get a glimpse of the School outside assemblies and drop off.

A recent event, ‘Bring Your Parents to School’ saw students inviting their parents into classrooms at both the Halls Head and Meadow Springs Primary campuses, with parents enjoying some one-on-one with their children in the classroom.

Frederick Irwin has also welcomed the return of the regular Community Morning Teas, where parents are invited to listen to a guest speaker, and then spend time talking with each other and the speaker over a cup of tea or coffee.

All of these different events and experiences allow Frederick Irwin to be a stronger community. Parents are an essential part of the School. It is such a wonderful experience to have them back and an integral part of the School spirit.

Frederick Irwin Anglican School parent with child image

Frederick Irwin Anglican School

Frederick Irwin Anglican School is a co-educational, Kindergarten to Year 12, day school, serving Mandurah, Rockingham, Pinjarra, Waroona and surrounding districts.

Frederick irwin school

Student Work Placement

Workplace learning provides helps students develop competence in the core skills for work

Frederick Irwin Anglican School work placement teenage boy fixing car

Anglican Schools

The Revd Peter Laurence OAM, Chief Executive Officer of the Anglican Schools Commission, tells of the questions parents ask as they seek a school for their children’s education.

Anglican schools thumbnail

In other news...