Communications

OWNA – Your Connection to Your Child’s Learning

Stay connected to your child’s learning and life at St Mary’s

At St Mary’s Children Centre, we believe children thrive when families and educators work together. OWNA is our family communication and learning platform, providing a meaningful connection between your home and your child’s experiences at St Mary’s.

Through OWNA, you can stay informed about what is happening at the Centre, follow your child’s learning journey and share insights that help our educators understand and support your child.

We want you to feel connected, not just informed.

What will you find on OWNA?

OWNA has two main areas that help us stay connected with families.

Centre Community

The Community section keeps all families connected with what is happening across St Mary’s.

Here you may find:

• Upcoming events and activities

• Important dates and reminders

• Centre news and announcements

• Special celebrations and experiences

• Information for families

• Updates about what is happening across the Centre.

Families can also respond to Community posts and engage with Centre updates.

Our Child’s Learning Journey

Every child has their own individual learning space, which is accessible only by their family.

This is where educators share meaningful aspects of your child’s learning and development, which may include:

• Learning stories and observations

• Your child’s interests and emerging strengths

• Learning goals

• Experiences from our educational program

• Progress and achievements

• Opportunities for families to contribute ideas and insights.

We also value what you know about your child. Your observations, interests and experiences from home can help us build a richer understanding of your child and extend their learning at St Mary’s.

A two-way partnership

Your child’s learning doesn't happen only at the Centre.

Families have an important role in helping us understand what makes your child unique, their interests, personality, strengths, experiences, culture, routines and the things they are curious about.

Through OWNA and our ongoing conversations with you, we can share what we are seeing at the Centre and learn from what you are seeing at home.

This partnership helps us create experiences that are meaningful to your child and support their development, wellbeing and learning.

Together, we can help your child feel a strong sense of belonging, build confidence and become an enthusiastic and capable learner.

Getting to know your child

The first few months at St Mary’s are an important time for building trusting and respectful relationships with your child and your family.

During orientation and throughout your child's early weeks with us, we take time to get to know you and your child.

We want to understand:

• What your child enjoys and is interested in

• Their strengths and emerging abilities

• Their routines and individual needs

• Their experiences and background

• What helps them feel safe and secure

• Your hopes and expectations for their time at St Mary’s

• Any learning goals you would like us to support.

The more we understand your child, the better we can support them to feel safe, secure, connected and ready to learn.

Your privacy matters

Your child's individual learning information is shared privately with your family through OWNA.

We ask all families to respect the privacy of other children and families by not copying, saving or sharing information or images relating to other children.

For matters involving your child, family or an educator that are private or confidential, please contact the Centre directly rather than using the Community section of OWNA.

Getting started with OWNA

Once your child commences at St Mary’s, you will receive information about accessing OWNA.

We encourage families to check OWNA regularly so you can stay up to date with Centre news, upcoming events and your child's learning journey.

If you need assistance accessing or using OWNA, please speak with our team, we are happy to help.