SCHOOL COMMUNITY
OVERVIEW
There is a strong sense of community at St Joan of Arc and this is evident in the many initiatives provided by both the school and the parish.
At St Joan of Arc we have a well developed buddy system which helps to promote community spirit. Each Prep child is paired with a Year 5 student and strong bonds are formed between the two. This initiative is extended to new parents who are welcomed to St Joan of Arc by an established family.
A sense of community is fostered with weekly student led assemblies where children and parents come together to pray, celebrate achievements and share learning. Whole school activities, such as the Arts Festival and Friendship Fair, help to bring the children together in multi age groupings.
The Student Representative Council, is comprised of children from Year Prep to 6 and works to benefit the school and wider community. Through regular meetings this group has a strong voice within the school and takes on a variety of responsibilities from decision making to fundraising.
Families at St Joan of Arc are encouraged to fully participate in the life of the school. Parental involvement brings a diversity of skills to the school community, offers parents insight into school philosophies and allows teachers and parents to work in partnership to provide the best possible learning environment for students.
Parents are invited to participate in the Classroom Helpers program, to assist in classrooms and to accompany students on excursions. We often seek expertise from within the school and parish community for our Inquiry units and see this as a crucial factor in developing home/school partnerships.
Parents and carers are invited to join the Parents and Friends Association which organises activities including welcoming new parents, the school uniform shop and fund raising events such as Mother’s Day & Father’s Day stall, School Disco, Walkathon and the JAFFA Ball. For parents who wish to be involved in policy development within the school, joining the School Advisory Board is encouraged.
Part of our mission at St. Joan of Arc is to live out our motto of ‘Faith in Action’. We recognise that it is important for our children to see beyond self and extend the values stated in our vision and the teachings of the Gospel to those in need. Each year, the St. Joan of Arc community has supported the work of Sr. Francis Boston in the village of Sefhare, Botswana through fundraising initiatives led by the children. Money raised has allowed the children of Sefhare to lead a longer, safer and healthier life. The St. Joan of Arc community also supports five schools in the town of Aitape in Papua New Guinea. These are some of the many student led initiatives that the school undertakes both locally and overseas.
At St. Joan of Arc there are many opportunities for parental involvement and we believe that the children’s educational development is greatly enriched by the active participation of parents and groups from within and outside the school community.
Out of Hours Program
