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2020: a vision statement, or just another year?

Many of us have had a traumatic school holiday break with fires, smoke, hail, floods and viruses threatening homes, lives and well-being. It truly was a song of ice and fire.

The generosity of our Australian community to donate anything and everything to support impacted communities has been outstanding and brings into clear focus our community engagement when most needed. How’s our vision?

Trauma support must be meaningful

I thank the Australian Education Minister for providing funds to support traumatised school communities, but we must reiterate the need for this delivery to be through trauma counselling specialists.

The process of restoration will not be immediate and ongoing long-term support is required for many in our school communities. And, unfortunately, we’re hearing that these disastrous events will be ever more commonplace. An established mechanism for future cases is required.

For our part, ACSSO is conscious we have a major role to play supporting our in-need communities. We can enable the mobilisation of our generous parent and volunteer groups, share stories of hope and rebuilding, and connect parents and other school supports with similar communities. Family engagement does not end at the local school gate! If you're part of this restoration process in 2020, let us know - we'd love to “Catch You Being Great” (search #caughtyoubeinggreat on Facebook for more examples).

Exclusive inclusion?

The Religious Discrimination Bill (second draft) is an extremely disappointing read in the context of our school communities – especially when testing against known scenarios.

We strongly oppose it, especially in light of the recent Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration which we covered in our final 2019 newsletter.

How can the national declaration of educational goals, not even 3 months old, have a number of its core statements deflected through the Discrimination Bill?

Right there in Goal 1 of the Mparntwe declaration is :

“provide all young Australians with access to high-quality education that is inclusive and free from any form of discrimination”.

Institutional alienation

I struggle to see how that goal can be read any clearer, and yet it cuts across the grain of this Bill designed to institutionalise discrimination.

At a time when some of our most vulnerable school children are experiencing increased hardships, this country must provide support and not further alienation, rejection and cause for hateful vitriol. Exactly who and what is the Discrimination Bill trying to protect?

Step up, step out

If that gets you fired up, the start of the year brings opportunities to directly engage with your local community and provide your support. I highly recommend attending your local school P&C (or parent organisation, as a parent or as a local citizen) to meet your local leaders.

Meet your children’s teachers and principal. Encourage them and celebrate our public schools. Help where you can, talk to your local committee and identify what’s happening in your local community – sign up to their newsletters and email groups and if you can, get involved and work with your school to draw out the best outcomes for your children and your community.

A school with positive and passionate teachers and effective family engagement will always give great results for the children it serves.

Keep your passion, engage with your children and community, and give 2020 the focus we hoped for.

Andrew Bidwell
Chair
Australian Council of State School Organisations

February 2020

Hurry!

Last chance to join Clean Up Australia 2020

ACSSO is pleased to be a Youth Ally of Clean Up Australia Day 2020, to be held on Sunday 1 March this year.

A dedicated Schools Clean Up Day is set for Friday 28 February.

Next year, the campaign celebrates 30 years of Clean Up Australia Day. Over the past three decades, more than 17.7 million Australians have volunteered over 35 million hours to clean up more than 365,000 ute loads of rubbish from all across the nation.

Registration for community groups, schools and youth groups is easy and free. Once registered, you'll receive a Clean Up Kit with everything you need to host your event, like bags and gloves.

If the set days don't suit your schedule, don't worry! You can register a Clean Up any day of the year.

Registrations are now open here:

https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/register-an-event

Three great resources for the new school year!

1. ARACY has released ‘The Parent Engagement Implementation Guide’ (pictured). This is a wonderful resource for the whole school community with guides to the successful implementation of Family Engagement practices. To download your copy please follow this link.
2. From ACSSO Director and Edith Cowan University education lecturer, Sarah Jefferson, we can share some practical “re-grouping” advice and her five top back to school tips. Read her article here.
3. Healthy Lunchbox week has passed, but remember that kids need to get around 1/3 of their daily nutritional intake at school - that makes every day healthy lunchbox day! Find more information here  

Image credit: ABC News Paige Cockburn - full story here

Commonwealth Bank bushfire recovery grants to school communities

The Commonwealth Bank has announced community grants for bushfire affected areas.

Each grant offers up to $50,000, enabling community organisations, schools, sporting clubs and fire brigades to replace facilities lost in the fires.

We’re especially keen for schools to apply as we know that a lot of the damage caused by fires has been to items which the community has spent significant time fundraising and building.

Fast facts:

• The total grants fund is expected to exceed $10 million.
• Applications are now open until 31 March 2020.
• Applications are reviewed fortnightly to keep the money flowing as fast as possible. 
• Any school or parents group in a bushfire affected area can apply.

Prior to applying, please read the Grant Guidelines, FAQs and Review Matrix. 

#CaughtYouBeingGreat Makayla

This wonderful student attends Cranebrook High School in the western suburbs of Sydney, she achieved outstanding results last year, she also works part-time and we've heard she has saved and purchased her own car.

Congratulations Makayla, the world is your oyster.  

Results summary:

• 1st in Year 11 
• 1st in Advanced English 
• 1st in Biology 
• 1st in Chemistry 
• 1st in Community and Family Services 
• 1st in Advanced Math 
• 1st in Extension Math 
• 1st in PDHPE 
• Victor Chang Award
• Western Sydney University Scholarship

We love to hear your stories of schools and communities doing great things. 

Send your #caughtyoubeinggreat stories to comms@acsso.org.au and use the hashtag on Facebook to find other wonderful stories.

Fundraising success story

It's always good to hear about fundraisers that have worked well for a school community, so we were pleased to read about Chifley Public School in NSW and its recent campaign to build laptop resources.

Supported by Schools Plus, the school raised $10,530 for laptops and digital technology to deliver their new STEM classes.

The P&C reportedly chose the Fundraise Yourself platform to encourage donations and provide the benefit of tax-deductible receipts to their donors.

The school drove its fundraising outside the school gate and received donations from local businesses and community members. You can read more about their project here: https://www.schoolsplus.org.au/laptops-for-learning/

Free workshop

Find out more about this fundraising platform in a free workshop in March this year.  

Date: Thursday 12 March 2020   

Time: 4pm – 5pm AEDT   

Location: Webinar   

RSVP: Online here   

To be eligible for support through Schools Plus, schools must have a value below 1000 on the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) or be a special school, as defined by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Schools can confirm their ICSEA score at www.myschool.edu.au.