Choosing the right education for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
As parents, carers, or grandparents you have a choice - and the right - to offer your child the best education available.
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle proudly hosts some of the best schools in Newcastle, Maitland, the Hunter and Upper Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Manning regions.
Catholic schools offer a unique educational experience, which forms the child or young person as a person of integrity, compassion, faith and wisdom. Catholic schools also work closely with their local parish to enhance in students a capacity to make sense of their world, to make judgements and to recognise the uniqueness of others within a faith community.
Each school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, P&F committees, clergy, parishioners and support staff who work together to focus on students; encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. This means that Catholic schools do not just teach religious studies, they seek to develop spirit, mind, body and character and cultivate Gospel values that support lives filled with joy, endeavour and hope in the future.
Each Catholic school has a commitment to focusing on each individual student’s ability, offering a unique array of educational, creative, sporting and formation opportunities.
Finally, Catholic schools offer peace of mind to parents, knowing they have made the right choice and the best investment for their child’s future. It is because of this and the many opportunities available to students, that we believe choosing a Catholic education is the right choice to make.
WHY DO FAMILIES CHOOSE ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL?
Quality Education
St Patrick’s provides an individual educational environment to cater for all student’s needs. We have a genuine care and concern for the welfare of our students and their spiritual, academic, social, physical and emotional development. St Patrick’s is an integral part of the Parish community with a mission to cater for all students’ individual talents and skills. This is assisted by a caring, dedicated and professional team of teachers and support staff.
21st Century Learning
At St Patrick’s, we embrace contemporary learning practices to develop each student’s full potential. Our learning environments are modern and engaging for students and nurture creativity, critical thinking and innovation. Learning with technology continues to have a significant influence on the methods of teaching and styles of learning available to students. Access to current technology such as interactive SMART Boards, iPads in infant classrooms and laptops for primary years are utilised as tools for contemporary learning, providing a stimulating and adaptable learning environment for students. Computer coding and robotics are also integrated into the curriculum.
Strong focus on Early Learning
St Patrick’s has actively embraced the Early Learning Framework, taking on several initiatives to enhance the early years of schooling for our students. We have incorporated play-based learning into the curriculum through the arrival of our new outdoor learning area. This play space utilises elements of the physical environment, providing many benefits for the children in our care. This area plays a critical role in contributing to student’s well-being, happiness, creativity and independence. It also supports personal, social, physical and emotional development.
The designated infant’s play space has been created using recycled materials and features climbing equipment, a shop front, stage, tepee, mud kitchen, sandpit, fairy garden, dried creek bed and grassed areas. It encourages creative, interactive, collaborative and imaginative play and builds positive relationships with others, while developing skills of perseverance, resilience and risk taking.
Flexible Learning Spaces
Learning is certainly starting to look different at St Patrick’s! Our school has started to build capacity for flexible learning spaces where students will have more freedom and different seating options in their working environments. Research shows that students are able to focus, collaborate and do their best work when they are comfortable, which means we can get the best out of our students academically. So come and have a look in our infant’s classes and see how we play, learn and grow in our new learning spaces.
New Playground
Our focus at St Patrick’s is always on our students! In 2019 we completed our playgrounds with new astro-turf, much to our student’s excitement. Our playgrounds now incorporate both passive and physical play options and whilst we do have many play activities and structures focused in early learning, we also offer traditional areas for larger games and activities.
1:1 Device Program
To support our students in this ever-changing digital world, our school offers a 1:1 Device program in Stage 3 (Years 5 and Year 6). Families are asked to purchase a Microsoft device that will be used by students in class and for homework assignments. Students will use these devices for collaboration, information research, OneNote (used in our high schools), multi-media applications and creativity. These devices are used as tools to fuel our learning goals in older grades and develop 21st century learning skills.