Contextual Statement
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St Joseph’s Primary School Red Cliffs was founded over 80 years ago, with it staffed by Sisters of Mercy. When the school first commenced, Red Cliffs was a fast growing, newly established horticultural district for returned soldiers from World War 1. Since the school first opened in 1933, sisters, priests, lay teachers, parents, students and members of the St Joseph’s Red Cliffs parish have worked tirelessly to develop the spacious four acres of land that the school is located on into an inspiring environment that celebrates faith, learning and life.
We have a current enrolment of 90 students. We have five multi-age classroom groupings. We have a predominantly Catholic enrolment with a range of other diverse religions represented. Our student population is drawn from a wide range of multicultural backgrounds, providing us with a rich experience of culture and tradition. Children at St Joseph’s are invited and supported to discover God’s presence in their daily lives. Within a Gospel-centred environment, students are challenged and supported to understand themselves and the world in which they live through through a worldview founded in Scripture and in the traditions of the Catholic community - its stories, its worship, its experiences and its teachings. Most importantly, we believe this Catholic education instills in young people the desire to make the world a better place. St Joseph’s has a close connection to the Parish Church and priest in residence, participating in school Masses and having each class lead a Parish Mass, which provides the students with the opportunity to further explore the traditions of the church. The children develop a sense of social justice through their participation in parish fundraising for Project Compassion and Children’s Mission along with contributing to the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Our highly qualified and caring teachers are committed to developing innovative teaching practices that develop skills within students to better prepare them for life and work in a contemporary world. We assist all students including children with additional learning needs to produce their best possible results. Students are encouraged to develop self-regulation in regard to their learning. The aim is to inspire them to become lifelong learners who seize any opportunity to make new discoveries about themselves as learners and about the world in which they live. |
