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Parent involvement and communication between home and school We believe strongly in the importance of a close partnership between home and school, and clear, effective communication facilitates this. Parents are invited to share in their child’s learning in a number of ways throughout the year including; joining us on some school trips, attending activity days, learning more at a parent workshop and more formal meetings. We try to limit the amount of paper sent home, though occasionally we send a letter home for your attention. To keep up-to-date with events, please read your child’s grade and class announcements as well as the Learning Journal regularly. We encourage parents to also read the weekly eBrief and keep an eye on your app/online notices and the school calendar.
Student organiser This is a tool to help students organise their week at school. Students also use the organiser to make notes about their Home Learning and other reminders.
Contacting your child’s class teacher Email is our primary form of communication between parents and teachers. If you need to get a message to the class teacher during the day, please phone the Junior School office, as teachers do not always have time to check their emails during the busy school day.
Website and Community Portal The website is a rich resource dedicated to providing information on the College and the Junior School. Parents can login to the Community Portal via our website where you can view information tailored to your family and about your child/ren. Access a number of key systems for the following: • online medical information system (for review and updating) • contact information update system (for review and updating) • student record system (timetable, attendance records, reports and assessments) • notices for parents (you can see the notices sent to students as well) Parents are all issued with individual logins which will be emailed to them prior to the start of the school year.
UWCSEA App The UWCSEA App is available for iOS and Android devices via the app stores.Search for UWCSEA and download the app to access eBrief, the calendar, notices, student timetable (including their activities for each day) and more. Parents will need login details to access the App, as the information is customised to each user.
Updating your contact information and indicating a preferred email address If there is any change in contact information (i.e., phone, address or email), it is very important that parents amend the details the school holds on file. An important step to remember is to indicate your preferred email address for receiving school communications. If you do not do this the College will default to the first email contact on file as your preferred email address. Indicating a preferred email address also allows us to eliminate duplication in communication and ensures we are able to identify each parent uniquely as required by some key systems used at the College. You can indicate your preferred email address by logging in to the portal or via the UWCSEA app.
Online College Calendar There is an up-to-date online calendar on the school website. There is also a printable academic year calendar listing term dates and public holidays. The College uses Google Calendar, and, depending on the calendar system you use, you can import all or some of these events from Google Calendar to your own to help you keep on top of what’s happening. If setting this up in advance, please make sure you include the Junior School, East Campus and UWCSEA/College calendars—you can also include other school sections and the PA calendar.
eBrief This weekly newsletter consolidates key information into an easy-to-read format for parents. Considered essential reading, eBrief is sent to all parents every Friday during the school term. It contains information for parents on the upcoming two weeks. You can expect the first eBrief the Friday before school commences to help you get ready for the start of the year. It is not sent during school holidays.
Parental help There are many ways that parents can help in school, and once all of the children have become settled in their new class, teachers will inform you of when they would like parental assistance. Early in the school year, parents are asked by the class teacher to indicate their availability, either as class parent or through other avenues. Parents are invited to join us for many of the special days that are held during the year, for example Uniting Nations Day, Learning Shares and the Arts Festivals, COVID-19 restrictions permitting. We value the support of our parents, as we firmly believe that educating children is a partnership between home and school.
