At Covenant, we view education as a shared responsibility between parents and educators, with parents holding the primary responsibility for their children's upbringing. We partner with families to nurture their children to know and love Jesus, equipping them to live for His glory and ensuring that the values taught at school are consistently reinforced in the home environment.
Here are the specific resources and support we offer to help parents integrate and reinforce Christian values from school into the home:
• Biblically Grounded Curriculum: We teach the New South Wales (NSW) curriculum from a Christian perspective, weaving biblical values into every subject. This approach helps parents align home discussions and activities with what their children are learning at school, fostering a consistent Christian worldview. The curriculum encourages students to evaluate various perspectives, including complex topics like evolution, through a biblical lens, and to see how the world points back to God.
• Learning Support Team Partnership: Our dedicated Learning Support team works closely with parents to develop tailored educational strategies for each child. This partnership involves regular communication, classroom adjustments, and one-on-one support, ensuring parents are informed and actively involved in their child's academic development and individual needs. The school aims to understand a child's learning needs early to put an Individual Plan (IP) in place, covering a spectrum from simple classroom adjustments to support for disabilities.
• Parent Resources and Digital Tools: we provide various resources to help parents understand and reinforce the school's educational philosophy at home. A key example is the Cyber Safety Hub, a free online tool designed to equip parents with information and tools to help their children stay safe online, extending the school's partnership into the home environment. Parents also have access to guides and articles on the school's website.
• Active Parental Participation (Parents in Partnership - PIP) Programme: Parents are actively encouraged to be involved in school life through the Parents in Partnership (PIP) programme. This initiative strengthens the community bond among families and staff, fostering a culture of care and shared responsibility. Examples of involvement include helping at sports carnivals, canteen shifts, in the Learning Hub and Junior Library, assisting in the Sick Bay, supervising exams, costume sewing for performances, and participating in school camps and community working bees like the Covenant Working Bee. Parents are asked to contribute up to 24 hours of volunteer work per year.
• Christian Staff as Mentors: All staff at Covenant are 100% committed Christians. They are deeply invested in understanding each child and embedding a biblical framework throughout the curriculum. Teachers serve as mentors, discipling students and instilling character traits like dependability, faithfulness, generosity, and hospitality through daily interactions and teaching. This consistent Christian influence from staff complements the nurturing efforts at home.
• Open Communication and Community Engagement:
We foster an environment where parents are encouraged to come on site and be part of the community, providing opportunities for discussion and support. Parents are invited to weekly Prayer Groups at Cafe Covie, creating a space for unity and support beyond practical tasks. The school also provides a clear Statement of Faith as a resource for parents to understand the school's worldview and ensure alignment with their family's beliefs. The engagement facilitated through programmes like PIP allows parents to meet other parents and discuss questions, further strengthening community ties and mutual support.
• Home Class Structure (Secondary School): In Secondary School, the "home class" structure provides a consistent teacher mentor for students from Years 7 through 12. This vertical class, consisting of a few students from each grade, meets daily and acts as a support network, fostering spiritual growth and mentorship. This consistent teacher presence helps nurture students and their God-given gifts.
• Focus on Character Development:
The school's long-term goal is to develop resilient, passionate, and faithful followers of Jesus who are equipped to live for His glory. This includes nurturing character traits and teaching students to serve others, such as through the Micah Project, a service-learning programme where students engage in community service. This focus on character and service reinforces the values taught at home.
