Parent Partnership
Starting at a new school can feel like stepping into the unknown – for students and parents alike. At Wenona, the journey towards connection begins even before the academic year commences and continues through a plethora of casual get-togethers and more formal events.
It is a concept executed through a partnership between the Wenona Parents’ Association (WPA) and the School, to provide opportunities for our parents and guardians to feel comfortable from day one, rather than navigating large formal events on their own.
“We begin with the Parent Icebreaker during the week before Term 1 starts,” says WPA President, Ms Sharmila Soorian. “It is an amazing time, especially for new families.”
As the calendar unfolds, parents and guardians are invited to relaxed morning teas in the Garden Café. Families with daughters in our intake years (Years 3, 5, and 7), are encouraged to attend special lunches held in the homes of our generous parent volunteers. "This is a new initiative, which is proving successful as it is more casual and intimate. More people can attend lunches on Fridays, so it is operating very well,” Ms Soorian says.
The hope is, that by the time our community gathers for the annual Wenona Parent Cocktail Party (held this year on 7 March), the process of making and cementing quality friendships has already begun. According to our Director of Advancement and Executive Director, Wenona Foundation, Ms Marie Soghomonian, these events also provide wonderful opportunities for parents to connect with Principal, Ms Linda Douglas, and other key academic staff. “It has been wonderful to witness so many organic opportunities for parents to chat with Ms Douglas and gain a deeper understanding of her deep commitment to girls’ education.”
None of it would be possible without our hard-working parent Year Representatives. "They do so much, from organising venues including the homes of parent volunteers, and overseeing ticket sales for events. They are fantastic," Ms Soorian says.
As the year progresses, our increasingly popular male mentor camps and father-daughter dances take place, along with parent restaurant outings. For mothers of older students, there are weekend trips to destinations including the Southern Highlands.
Wenona’s Creative Arts staff run an art appreciation excursion for Junior School families to the Art Gallery of NSW. Of course, there are also our Junior School events for our cherished grandparents. Further community events include our International Family Breakfast on Thursday 22 May and a New Moon celebration, both to be hosted by the Wenona Foundation.
The Wenona Parent Education Program provides valuable insights about supporting daughters through their adolescent years. "These evenings are very useful, especially the sessions on mental health. An upcoming event of particular value is the session with renowned expert on girls’ development, Mr Justin Coulson, on Wednesday 26 March," Ms Soorian notes.
Later this year, the biennial WPA Gala Ball will take place with a ‘Blooms and Boaters’ theme, while many of our mothers will participate in the Mother's Day Classic for breast cancer research on Mother’s Day.
With many further opportunities to connect, the Wenona approach ensures parents and guardians remain engaged throughout their daughters' educational journey. It is an approach that also comes with academic benefits for the students. According to a 2022 Ä¢¹½´«Ã½n Education Department resource*, when parents feel connected to their child’s school community, students demonstrate improved attendance, behaviour, and academic performance.
“Nothing says school community like staff, parents, and guardians coming together to share the same goal,” says Year 11 Coordinator and English teacher, Ms Sarah Sleiman. “One of the best ways to support students is to ensure they know their advocates are on the same team. Wenona’s parent community gatherings echo and embody this sentiment. It is through the wonderful work of the WPA in conjunction with the School, that we are able to come together, collaborate, and grow as a community.”
* Emerson, L, Fear. J, Fox, S, and Sanders, E (2012). Parental engagement in learning and schooling: Lessons from research. A report by the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½n Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) for the Family-School and Community Partnerships Bureau: Canberra.