History:
St Roch’s School opened at its present site in Glen Iris in 1930. It is named after St Roch, a 13th-century French saint, patron saint of those suffering from contagious diseases. Roch was the second name of the founding pastor, Father Patrick Roch Loughnan, who was Parish Priest from 1927 to 1958. St Roch’s School is the only Australian school with this name.
The school motto is 'Virtus Sola Nobilitas' – 'Virtue Alone is Noble'.
Description:
FACILITIES
St Roch’s recently underwent a major upgrade to buildings and playground areas. Our school is housed in a beautiful, multi-level, air-conditioned building comprising seven classrooms, an art room, two open learning spaces, administration, and an original parish hall with period features. We have a wonderful and welcoming library, and the use of two parish tennis courts and clubroom. Children have access to contemporary learning tools including desktop computers, laptops, iPads and interactive whiteboards.
Features:
St Roch’s is a small school with a big heart. At St Roch’s, we pride ourselves on being encouraging, nurturing and caring. The emphasis is on creating a welcoming environment, where children are not only cared for, but also encouraged to achieve academic excellence. We aim for all our students, as learners in a Catholic school, to be confident, resilient and well-rounded individuals.
'The end product of a Catholic education is not the perfectly socialised pupil, but a pupil who is able to inquire into everything and everyone positively and with an open mind.' Professor Didier Pollefeyt
WELLBEING
Our focus at St Roch’s is on building relationships and a sense of wellbeing. Each child is known by name, and their passions, talents and interests are acknowledged and fostered. Our staff are highly committed to the education of the whole child; they are dedicated, motivated and caring. With encouragement, pastoral support and buddy programs, our children are inspired to shine.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
We achieve above the national standard level for both literacy and numeracy, therefore our benchmarks are set high. Our students are educated and inspired with rigorous, relevant and personalised teaching strategies. St Roch’s whole school approach to the learning and teaching of English and Mathematics means we offer dedicated literacy and numeracy sessions, which are supported by additional trained teacher assistants. As an inquiry-based school, our students are encouraged to think critically and make connections with their learning. This educational community encourages our children to be creative and reflective, with a lifelong love of learning.
Additional programs and extra-curricular activities offered include Reading Recovery, Enrichment Program, an Art Show/Production, Interschool Sports in Year 4/5/6, Cross Country, Athletics, Sports Day, Swimming Program, Bike Education, a camping program for Year 5/6 students, a Student Representative Council that involves all year levels, a Year 6 Leadership Program, Prep/Year 6 Buddy Program, tennis coaching before and after school, lunchtime dance classes, music lessons and an Out Of School Hours Care (OSHC) program that operates from the Parish Hall.
COMMUNITY
The sense of community is strong at St Roch’s. We enrol families – not just students – and we take the time to get to know each and every person in our community. We are proud of our Catholic faith and live out the wisdom and justice of the Gospel values in all that we do. Our staff and students foster sincere relationships in the school and with the wider community. St Roch’s is outward facing. We make important connections with the local community, such as local kindergartens, aged-care homes and parishioners. We aim for our children to develop deep understandings of themselves, others and their world.
Parents enjoy being very active in the school and are extremely supportive of the children and staff. The priority of the Parents and Friends Association is to build community and they do this by welcoming families and organising social functions. It is also an active body that helps fundraise for the school.