History:
In 1894, a wooden church was erected to serve the spiritual needs of Catholics in Yarraville and, on weekdays, the educational needs of over 200 children. The following year, under the leadership of the Sisters of St Joseph, the school opened. In 1896, the first principal, Sr Casimir, was in charge of three sisters, two lay teachers and 221 pupils.
By 1930, the school's population had boomed to 900 children. Therefore, the parish hall was built, along with seven new classrooms – some of which are presently in use by the senior school. Following World War II, with the encouragement of European migration, teachers at St Augustine's were faced with large classes comprising children from Italy, Malta and Poland, none of whom could speak English at all. The school population is now around 240 and consists of children from many different cultural backgrounds.
The Sisters of St Joseph have served the school community of St Augustine's as teachers and leaders since 1895. Sr Anne Porter was the last Sister of St Joseph to be Principal before Mr Michael Lane was appointed as Principal in 2002 to continue the work started by the founders of the school.
Description:
St Augustine's offers comprehensive educational opportunities for children in Years Prep–6, covering Religious Education, English, Mathematics, The Arts, Studies of Society and the Environment, Health and Physical Education, Languages Other Than English (Italian) and Technology. Specialist teaching is conducted in the areas of Italian, Vietnamese, Art, Music, Physical Education, Information Technology, Library and Reading Recovery. The school is proud of the dedicated classroom teachers, literacy and language support teachers, and Integration aides who continue to provide for the children. The children are involved in a range of programs designed to provide for the needs of varying degrees of ability, experience and diversity. The children are challenged and encouraged to work to the best of their ability, while respecting and valuing the rights of others.
There are nine classrooms, a Library, music room, computer lab, an assembly area and art room, a large hall and 3 indoor multi-purpose areas. The school environment has been revitalised and beautified by landscaped garden areas, a sandpit, flower beds, a basketball court and an adventure playground. In conjunction with our in-school activities, our children experience inter-school sports, school camps, swimming lessons and excursions. Our families also have access to a Before-and-After-School Care Program.
Features:
At our school, we believe that the years of primary education are the most vital period in a student's life. It is during this time that a sound educational basis can be laid, which children can build on throughout their secondary years. St Augustine's staff are committed to providing a challenging and enriching educational experience for the children of Yarraville. We believe our school is a secure and stimulating environment in which children are given the opportunity to develop their natural enthusiasm for learning. St Augustine's is a place where students, teachers and parents actively work together to share the teachings of Jesus and provide a vibrant school community.