It’s not new for the community of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School, Terrigal to welcome parent involvement in the school. Whether it is through classroom helpers, social functions or the famous “Fair by the Sea” parents have always been welcomed with open arms. This year there has been an added spin in engaging the parents with the learning agenda.
Principal Robert Peers explains – “At the recent Father’s morning, we had a huge turnout of dads for our annual sausage sizzle breakfast which is always a great start to the day, but this year while they were here, we got them involved in their children’s reading and writing as well.
“There is some extensive research that links positive achievement in reading and writing with fatherly interest, role modelling and encouragement, so after our breakfast – and beautiful whole school Liturgy, we let the dads and father figures loose in the classroom. We did the same at our Mother’s Day morning – and involved our mums in Maths – something research indicates more mums lack confidence in.”
Whilst it’s true that one morning won’t cut it if there is to be a long term benefit in children’s learning, the boys and girls of Star of the Sea Terrigal were delighted to see their dads and father figures there – and the dads themselves seemed to learn a great deal too.