History:
St Paul’s Primary School was first named Mother of Sorrows School and was established in West Sunshine in 1956. The parish is under the care of the Claretian Fathers. The Brigidine Sisters were been involved in the school and parish since its inception until 2011. In 1967, the decision was made to change the name of the school to St Paul's School in order to have the same name as the parish church, completed the same year. This decision was made by the parish priest to reflect the cultural heritage of many of the Maltese parishioners who made up the parish population. Along with the high Maltese population, the school population reflected the immigration trends of the post-war years – Polish, Germans and Italians. St Paul’s is one of the two primary schools within the parish of the St Paul's - the other school is St. Peter's, South West Sunshine. Marian Girls College, is situated next to St Paul’s School, with the schools sharing programs and facilities as needed.
Description:
St Paul’s is a multicultural school set in Melbourne’s western suburbs. The student population is approximately 525. The school community is made up of families from a rich variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. St Paul’s also welcomes families from other faith backgrounds and traditions. Sacramental and other liturgical celebrations are planned in collaboration with the parish team. Prayer, liturgy, scripture, song and celebration are key elements of the Religious Education program.
St Paul’s community is committed to structures and procedures that make explicit its role of forming students to become creative, positive contributors to society. St Paul's offers educative processes that foster independence and responsibility.
Features:
At St Paul’s we believe that for children to succeed, there must be sound partnerships between home and school – both are seen as providing a vital and supportive environment for children. Parents/carers are always welcome and encouraged to actively participate in their children‘s schooling in a variety of ways, including working in classrooms and attending excursions, camps, etc. Communication through newsletters, open days, level assemblies and staff–home forums are all planned with the specific purpose of giving and receiving information. St Paul’s has a Parent Partnership team with parents/carers elected as representative members. This team meets each term to discuss home–school issues and plan actions accordingly.
At St Paul’s we value the uniqueness of each person. Respect, acceptance, care for the most vulnerable and the right of each student to contribute to the life of the school are emphasised. We place high value on teaching, celebrating and modelling the Catholic faith and tradition.