Hi there Monique!
Happy to answer your questions :)
“How your CAC Connect meetings were run”
We run them once a term, usually Week 2 of each term in the evenings – 6 – 7pm.
We keep it light and informal with drinks and light canapes and usually somewhere like our secondary library so it doesn’t feel like a “meeting” as such.
We usually ask parents to register so we can get an idea of the numbers for catering, and we also offer the option to join the meeting via TEAMS (a link is sent out on the day of the meeting). We don’t usually record the sessions.
“What sort of topics you had on the agenda”.
When we launched the CAC Connect Sessions at the start of the year, we sent out a survey to all our parents to submit their questions or topics for discussion, giving us a pool of topics we could choose from.
We also segmented the topics and questions into campuses or whole of college topics.
The first session we did was an open Q&A with our Principal and it had a really high attendance as parents wanted the opportunity to have face time with him which he was happy to do so.
I also rely on my year-level parent coordinators to keep me informed on some of the hot topics that come up within their cohorts.
We have a separate programme we run featuring topics around wellbeing, cybersafety etc, mental health etc.
“How often are you planning to run these CAC Connects?”
Each term, once a term.
“Do key staff attend this meeting and present on topics of interest”?
Yes, absolutely.
Term 2 session was all about our newly launched College Foundation, so we had our Foundation officer present on that topic.
Term 3 was all about our VET programme so we had our Careers Counsellor present on that.
Term 4 will be Learning Enhancement so our Head of Learning Enhancement will present.
We try to cover topics that will not just be of interest to parents but requires their engagement.
“Sorry for lots of questions but we are working on something similar but are yet to launch our new model. Thanks for any wisdom you can share”.
Not a problem at all! Happy to share what I can!
