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My strongest memories of engagement were in my primary school years. I loved it when Mum volunteered in the canteen as it meant I could have a pie with sauce and a chocolate milk. Mum was involved with the P&C and came on our G5 camp.

All through my school years I remember my parents always supported my teachers/the school and it was only years later I found out that any issues they may have had were addressed in private (not that there were many). It was about respect.

We sat around the dinner table and talked about our day and never got away with not doing our homework.

Mum started her BA while I was at school. She loves learning and has been a great role model.

I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had as a result of the education I received and the experiences my parents gave me, both in and out of school.

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Sad to say my parents were divorced when I was young. My father was absent and my mother took up full time work of necessity. She had no time to be actively involved but her continual mantra was "don't waste a good brain." I managed to win scholarships and have now been teaching for 30 + years. Now, I hate to see a god brain wasted!

@connectedtchr

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Dog time, dinner time, TV, hiding comics in trees at the park, home movie making, feeling free & fun

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Meal times were daily moments of discussing what happened at school in our lives. My father always asked us what did we learn when making mistakes - and that was a real learning experience! And of course, books books books - grew up with a fascination of reading even before I could read as my father would always take time to read to us.

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My mother was a maths teacher and always helped with my understanding of maths and stressed the importance of higher education

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Growing up, my mother was physically in the school volunteering in the library, on field trips, as a ski coach. At home she lent a hand as needed with homework, taught us math "tricks" to double check or make our work a little easier. She advocated for us when we needed a more challenging class that wasn't currently provided and for extra help when we struggled; always making sure we were provided with the best education possible. As a mom of 3 now, I appreciate that she was there physically and emotionally. Knowing when and how to push us to do better - and when we needed downtime. She is the one that inspired me to play an active role not only for my own children, but for any and all I can.

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My stongest memory of my families involvement in my schooling was my dad's significant help with sporting teams I was involved in . Parents in those days were encouraged to take a team and act in a coaching/manager role. My sense is at a school level these days there is less reluctance to do this for a range of reasons. My father was also heavily involved in P and F activities eg Fetes. Also he served on my school's governing council for sometime. When I reflect on it my parents were really actively engaged with my education particularly across the secondary years.

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Family mealtimes were always great for discussions and banter. Big occasions made this even more special eg Christmas, birthdays and later on engagements & weddings.

Game time either with board games or card games were always fun.

My family were also very active in the local community with church and sport. My dad was my coach and hero and I loved getting the chance to travel with him around the country making each other proud with my busy rep sports events.

Many happy memories :)

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I was encouraged to finish school in Gr 10 as I was offered an apprenticeship ("It's something you can always fall back on"). After managing & owning a salon, I completed TAFE to qualify to teach at TAFE as I always wanted to teach. At 30 with the support of my husband, I enrolled at ACU to do bachelors of education. We were transferred overseas, so I transferred to UNE. I've since completed a Bachelor of Teaching! Grad Cert, Masters and COGE. My children have seen that you can do anything if you are dedicated, enthusiastic and work hard. Your high school results do not define you! Yes, work hard in high school because you'll have to do more work to do what you really want if you don't. Don't work to live or live to work.....just find something you are passionate about and it won't feel like work. I want my children to be realistic but also believe in themselves. I had to get the Dean's Academic award to believe In myself. Learning does not start or finish at school. I do not check my children's homework as independence & self regulation are important life skills. I'm fortunate, they are independent, confident children who still need family support.

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Family encouraged me to finish school yr 10 to take apprenticeship.

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There was not much on TV, no videos/DVDs. Regular borrowing from British Council Library for all the family. Parents spent much time in the regular section. Us kids explored a plethora of books thanks to Ino-British partnership. I owe the diversity of reading to BC.

Subscriptions to Time and Newsweek were part of growing up. We had to read these to participate in dinner time chat. The family budget was not big but nurturing the love or learning was niot compromised.

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I've told my parents that education has been one of their best gifts to us kids. Less opportunities for parent engagement back then but my parents have inculcated in us from very early on, the value of education and how it opened doors - and indeed it had and continues to do so. We celebrated each other's successes - which fortunately, came more than failures. We were encouraged to apply for scholarships and go to schools/unis that suited us.

My husband was very supportive when i studied again to change careers. He was my sounding board for many of the essays I had to write.

As a parent, I'm much more engaged in my kids' education, volunteering to be in the classroom, rather than tuck shop (not my thing); I think my kids are secretly proud that I was the lone female in the IT committee of parent volunteers for a couple of years. We discuss. We elaborate. We learn from each other. They get to see the teacher perspective too.

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Books, books, books.

For two years (around Year 1 to Year 3) I went to an alternative community ran school where parents funded a teacher for just 10 students or so. This is how I first knew my parents valued learning not merely books. The school eventually folded and I returned to mainstream but they were always involved with school in some way.

We were also always encouraged to try different activities and take on various opportunities in and out of the school system.

By the way, my husband does canteen duty.

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Working bees with family helping to refurbish, landscape or rebuild parra of the school

Parents coming to school events and being involved

Parents coaching sports teams

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Family ate at the dinner table. Always a discussion about our current work with many supports from the family library. The "pre-google" info ... dictionary & encyclopedias were always present.

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Mum sold Encyclopedias so loved giving us

projects to investigate using the books :) Dad loved supporting our Maths,

photography or film work learning at home as well as Canteen duty,

attended read-a-thons, book weeks, concerts, P+F mtgs, assisted with school craft days,

assisted with tuition or homework help. Always encouraged us to have a go and

DO for ourselves, to go the extra mile.