Parent Liaisons and Parent Forums

ISMS began with just five toddlers meeting in an Annandale church hall in 1981. Today, we have up to 300 children (from birth to 12 years of age) across two Inner West campuses. Our programs now cater for parents with babies, parents with toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary-school aged children.

Parent involvement remains a critical and obligatory part of school life.

By contributing in ways beyond the straight payment of fees, parents help to keep the costs down and often benefit the School in other ways with their unique skills, all whilst providing critical networks and support as a collaborative community supporting each other in our endeavours to raise children in an environment where ‘children love to learn’.

Parent Liaisons

Key to the connections within our community are the Parent Liaisons (PL). This important role facilitates communication between the School, class Director and the parent body. The class PL is chosen by the Director of each classroom. There are normally two PLs per classroom. PLs generally, but not always, act in this role for one year.

The key aims of the PLs are to:

• Model and promote positive involvement of parents in School and classroom events.
• Build community by fostering relations between the class Director and parents and liaising between the Principal and the class families.
• Extend the skilled resources of the community by encouraging all levels of parent participation.
• Organise parent involvement and resources, for School and classroom activities, as well as materials as requested by the Director.
• Be the liaisons for effective communication for class families, disseminating information as required.
• Promote the Innovative Ideas Policy to parents interested in pursuing school improvement initiatives.
• Role model the volunteer commitment that every family has made when joining the School.

The PL team meets twice per term, co-ordinated by the Registrar and Community Relations Officer.

Parent Forums

In addition to PL meetings the Principal hosts two open Parent Forum meetings per year providing families an audience with the Principal to discuss current topics or to hear presentations on a specific area of development, often with guest speakers.