Dear parents and carers,
Parenting in this society can be a vexing task. During my career, I have seen many different modes adopted, most of them well short of what one might call ‘successful’. There is great confusion, perhaps caused in part by the emphasis on freedom and hyper-individualism, and a reticence on the part of many parents in our country to assert any form of control. One of the most noticeable trends has been from those who wish to be their child’s ‘friend’, instead of a guide, embracing the parental responsibility to set boundaries and gradually mature the child to the point of adulthood.
Permissive parenting
Researchers in the field over the last half century have spoken of the quadrant of parenting styles. The style I've described above is known as ‘permissive parenting’, where the child is effectively in charge. Permissive parenting indulges the child, supporting every whim. The relevant literature suggests that an outcome of this kind of parenting may be a narcissistic adult who sees themself as the centre of the universe. It is not appropriate for parents to seek to be the child's friend in those early years. Children have their own age-appropriate friends; they need their parents to take charge and provide a protective and developmental scaffold. Deep in their hearts children know that the parents should be providing guidance and accountability. They lose respect for parents who want to be their friend instead of their leader. The best way to have a friendly relationship with one’s own children when they are adults is to parent them well when they are young.
Uninvolved parenting
A second style of parenting might be called ‘uninvolved parenting’. This is sometimes referred to as laissez faire parenting. Often the parent is physically or emotionally absent, there are low expectations from the parent and little warmth towards the child. Essentially children are left to fend for themselves. This may be because the parents are in very demanding careers, or because they give priority to their own lifestyle. Often children of uninvolved parents demonstrate emotional insecurity.
Authoritarian parenting
The third style is what is known as ‘authoritarian parenting’. This was the preferred mode when my generation were children. Parents were in charge, sometimes brutally so. The mantra of the time was “children should be seen and not heard”. Authoritarian parenting has high expectations but features very little emotional warmth. Often the outcome was angry children who took that anger into adulthood and had a turbulent relationship thereafter with their parents.
Authoritative parenting
The final mode within the quadrant is known as ‘authoritative parenting’. It sets high expectations and standards, but also provides high emotional warmth towards the child. It is highly relational while also setting firm boundaries and accountabilities. Parenting literature is clear that this is the preferred method of parenting. It is consistent with Jesus’ welcoming of children, radical in its time.
You are your child’s first teacher
Deuteronomy says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). As parents we are meant to be intentional in leading and teaching our children, particularly and especially in God’s ways. Parents are the first teachers of their children. It is not appropriate to, as I have seen in other schools, outsource the child for his or her total development to the school.
Parenting is a thankless task
Parenting is not easy! Often children will not thank their parents for establishing rules and boundaries (at least not at the time!). When children become adults, they often reflect on their own childhood and thank their parents for maintaining a stable environment with consistent expectations which provided security and predictability.
Parenting teenagers can be stormy! Parenting is by its nature guilt inducing. We could all do better. The aim is not to be a perfect parent, but to be a good, even excellent, parent.
May the Lord bless you as you try faithfully to bring up your children in a society where many of traditional expectations and boundaries are widely questioned and where it is difficult to hold the line, given the abundance of various parenting styles widely visible.
Dr John Collier
Interim Principal
Monday 16 - Friday 20 February, 8.00-11.00am | Cafe Covie open for parents
Monday 16 February, 8.43-8.50am | Infants Morning Lines in the Rumpus Room or Handball Courts
Monday 16 February, 6.30-8.30pm | Secondary Information Evening
Wednesday 18 February, 9.15am-10.30am | Whole School Tour - Invite your friends!
Friday 20 February | Infants assembly 9.50am in the PAS
Friday 20 February | Primary Assembly 1.40pm in the PAS
Youthworks is hosting a paddling adventure for Covie dads and their sons!
This will be an incredible opportunity for dads and pre-teens/teens to connect more deeply through an unforgettable adventure in God's creation.
This adventure starts in Bendeela (150km from Sydney) on Friday evening and concludes after lunch on Sunday at Tallowa Dam.
Australia's #1 kids Christian artist, Colin Buchanan, is coming to Covenant in the April school holidays. Sing, dance, laugh as kids, parents and grandparents join together for the unforgettable musical, messy mayhem of Colin's Favourites Live in Concert!
Get your tickets to see Colin in concert!
Join us every Thursday to pray.
The new Covie App is here! From now on, notifications will be sent through the new app.
If you haven't already, please download the app and make sure it’s working so you’re ready for a smooth Term 1.
Find out more via the link below:
Dear Parents,
We wish to inform you about an important update regarding our procedure for submitting absences. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will no longer be able to process future absences through the Covie App Carer Orbit.
This will be effective from Monday 16 February.
To ensure that your child's absences are accurately recorded, please note the following updated procedures:
For daily absences, you can explain the reason for the absence using the Covie App starting from 5.00pm on the day of the absence for each day the absence occurs. Alternatively, you can email us at admin@covenant.nsw.edu.au at any time during the day.
For extended leave of 5 days or more, please apply well in advance, preferably 4 weeks notice, using the form, Application-for-Extended-Leave-Travel_v2.5.pdf. Once completed and signed, kindly return the hard copy to the office.
For secondary school students with planned leave of up to 4 days, please use the form Secondary-Planned-Absence-Note-up-to-4-days_-v2.1.pdf. After filling out and signing the form, please return the hard copy to the office.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in following these procedures.
School Office Administration
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your patience over the past few weeks as we navigated some unexpected issues with booking Co‑curricular activities in the Covie App. We appreciate your understanding as our team worked to resolve the problem.
We are pleased to confirm that the Covie App is now operational, and you are able to book your child into their Co‑curricular activities as usual.
If you experience any further issues or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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