From the Assistant Principal
Communication at St Matthew’s
St Matthew’s Primary School values and promotes partnerships between parents/carers, students and staff. We are committed to respectful, measured, sensitive and constructive communication. In adhering to these principles, we aim to strengthen the goodwill and the positive partnerships between the school, our families, the parish and the broader Catholic community to enhance our children's wellbeing and learning opportunities.
A few decades ago, communication with teachers occurred via handwritten notes or by booking meetings through the front office. Not much of a teacher’s day was taken up with communicating with parents. Over the last twenty years, technology has made it easier and easier for parents to approach teaching staff and communicate with them. We acknowledge that email is very convenient for parents who may find it difficult to speak to or meet with school staff during regular work hours. In many ways, easy access to email communication promotes excellent working partnerships with our parents, which we value and appreciate. However, it can also become a challenge for teachers if they are spending their preparation and planning time each afternoon reading and responding to emails.
Here are a few important points to note about communicating with the school:
- Outside of working hours, with the exception of extenuating circumstances or in an emergency, staff are not expected to access or respond to emails from other staff, parents, students or external agencies.
- In most instances, if parents/carers have concerns that need addressing regarding the social, emotional, or academic needs of their students, the classroom teacher is the first contact. However, responding to non-urgent, frequent emails impact teachers’ planning and preparation time.
- Please call the front office for urgent matters or matters about lost clothing, lunches or pick-up arrangements.
- During the day, from 8.20am, teachers are teaching, on duty, or preparing lessons, and will probably not read emails until the end of the school day.
- Emails to teaching staff at St Matthew’s are responded to within two school days.
- To make an appointment for a face-to-face or telephone meeting, contact the front office, or email the class teacher. Unscheduled or impromptu meetings before or after school are strongly discouraged. Teachers prepare lessons, complete administrative tasks and attend meetings at these times.
- If you have an issue related to other students or parents in the school, please bring this to the attention of the Principal or Leadership Team, instead of trying to deal with it yourself.
- If parents would like to make a complaint, they are encouraged to discuss the issue with the classroom teacher or school Principal in the first instance, depending on the nature of the complaint. If it is not possible to have a conversation, an email is also acceptable, and will generally be followed up with a phone call or meeting. Many issues can be resolved quickly through discussion. Catholic Education’s Complaints Policy can be found here.
Students should feel comfortable speaking with staff members about matters that need addressing. In the first instance, students should discuss concerns or ideas with their classroom teacher. When this is not appropriate or possible, students should identify another trusted member of staff with whom to have a discussion. This could include the School Counsellor.
Regular, whole-school communication is available to parents through:
- St Matthew’s Primary School Website, which is regularly updated
- Our fortnightly newsletter
- Compass
- Morning Assemblies to which you are always warmly invited
- Award assemblies, held on Friday afternoons in the hall approximately twice each term.
- Meet the Teacher evenings, which take place early in Term 1
- Semester Reports
- Parent Teacher Interviews
Effective communication between a school and its parent community is crucial for building trust, addressing concerns, and ensuring that students receive the support they need to thrive academically and emotionally. We are very grateful for your support.
If you have any questions or suggestions about communication at St Matthew’s, don't hesitate to get in touch with our Principal, Sarah (sarah.lowe@cg.catholic.edu.au) or our Assistant Principal, Petra (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au).
Petra Cole