Catholic Education (CEWA)

Alphabetical selection of school town

A - B
C - H
K - M
N - W

Christ-centred, child-focused community

Catholic schools and colleges place emphasis on the potential of every student. In preparing for emerging challenges facing young people in an ever-changing world, our schools and colleges offer diverse academic programs and learning pathways. Our aim is to support all students to think independently and learn to know, love and respect themselves and others. Our schools embrace Christian virtues and are communities of hope where students, staff and families are treated with dignity and respect. The challenge for Catholic schools is to radiate hope for the future of all students. It is to embrace Gospel messages and values in each of our classrooms; bringing to life the joy of learning, a spirit of service and a culture of excellence. In the words of John Paul II, we are called on “to be people who live with gratitude for the past, enthusiasm for the present and hope for the future”. Welcome to Catholic Education Western Australia.

Ethos & Vision

St Matthew’s is a Catholic school and as such aims to develop the whole child:

SPIRITUALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, EMOTIONALLY and PHYSICALLY.

Our school aims to provide a Catholic environment of learning, growth and worship, while recognizing parents as the first and primary educators of children, both in the Catholic faith as well as other areas of their learning and development. We are here to serve you in the education of your children, in a Catholic context.

St Matthew’s School motto “CONCERN” embraces the school ethos.

Vision Statement

St Matthew’s School empowers children to embrace life-long learning, and grow and develop as God intends.

ST MATTHEW'S SCHOOL

Concern for God, Self, Others and Environment

WEBSITE

History

St Matthew’s School has been proudly serving the community of Narrogin for over one hundred years.

Founded in 1918 by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, the school was staffed solely by these Sisters, who lived in what is now the C.Y. O’Connor Tafe building. During the period of its existence the school has served the changing needs of the Narrogin and wider district.

At one time the school accepted students through to Year 10 and also catered for pupils within a boarding school known as St Philomena’s Convent. During World War Two students from the Sacred Heart schools in Perth, run by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, were evacuated to St Matthew’s School in Narrogin because there was fear of a Japanese attack from the sea. For this period St Matthew’s School was also commonly known as Sacred Heart School.

After the war, the school accepted large numbers of Polish migrants who helped shape its character even further. Currently, our students come primarily from the local town and surrounding farming communities.

Today, St Matthew’s is staffed by dedicated lay teachers who endeavour to mirror the commitment of those pioneering sisters, and the Sisters of the Servite Order who joined us in 1998. The Servite Sisters support our teaching role and assist Father Mathew in pastoral outreach work in the Parish.

SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT

St Joseph’s Catholic School, Pemberton, founded on the deep faith commitment of the community, aims to develop in each child a sense of peace, security and dignity. Our school community calls to life the uniqueness of each child in meeting their educational and spiritual needs.

 
 
 
 

SCHOOL VALUES

At Saint Joseph’s FAITH is our FOUNDATION.

FAITH

  • we use Jesus’ teachings as an example for the choices we make
  • daily prayer and reflection is a fundamental component of our Catholic identity
  • we aspire to live by Mary MacKillop’s motto- ‘never see a need without doing something about it’
  • we respect each person’s dignity, remembering that every person is made in the image and likeness of God

Four PILLARS sit upon our foundation.

RESPECT

  • we show tolerance and acceptance of others
  • each individual has a voice in our school
  • each individual is embraced for who they are
  • we are polite and courteous
  • we care for and are proud of our school environment

RESPONSIBILITY

  • we each strive for personal excellence
  • we expect each individual to embrace opportunities provided for growth and leadership
  • we support each other in taking responsibility for our own attitude and conduct

SAFETY

  • students are supported by peers and adults
  • all members of the school community feel physically and emotionally secure
  • we foster an environment where healthy risk-taking is encouraged and supported
  • we allow all people to be their authentic selves and we celebrate our differences

COMPASSION

  • we show kindness towards others
  • we genuinely care about each other and actively assist those in need
  • we actively engage in community service and social justice activities
  • we encourage each individual to develop their own sense of spirituality

Saint Joseph's School

Strength through Christ

WEBSITE

OUR HISTORY

St Joseph’s School and Convent were formally opened on February 3rd, 1952.

In that initial year, fifty children were enrolled and three sisters from the congregation of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart began teaching both primary and secondary classes.

Parents have always been an integral part of St Joseph’s School. In 1954 a Pemberton Catholic Parents’ Association was formed which, in 1972, was to become the Parents’ and Friends’ Association.

The School Board under the direction of the Catholic Education Commission was formed in 1974 and assumed the major financial responsibilities for St Joseph’s School.

Diminishing numbers in the congregation of St Joseph necessitated the appointment of the first lay teacher in 1975 and the first lay Principal in 1990. However, the traditions left behind by the Sisters of St Joseph are still cherished by the school community.

St Joseph’s School prides itself on providing a curriculum, based on an integration of faith, culture and life that promotes the religious, intellectual, social, cultural and physical development of the students.

 

Mission Statement

We at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Pinjarra, seek to create a God centred environment
where each school community member is nurtured spiritually, academically, socially and physically.

School Motto

Faith and Trust

CARE culture

Christ-inspired…Inspiring Christ-centred Leaders
Goal-Cultivates a whole school culture of faith through action and action that nurtures faith.
Achieve… A Catholic School of Excellence
Goal-Ensure that every child is known and that the learning environment allows each student to
grow, develop and reach their God-given potential.
Relationships… A Catholic Pastoral Community
Goal-A welcoming, safe, supportive and connected school community that fosters authentic
relationships with and between all individuals.
Empower…An Accessible, Affordable and Sustainable School
Goal-We ensure our staff are provided with opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
We commit to maintaining resources and infrastructure to support the holistic curriculum.

Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary

Faith and Trust

WEBSITE

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Pinjarra has a long association with Pinjarra and its surrounding areas. 

From humble beginnings, and the tireless efforts of the Sisters of St Joseph’s, St Joseph’s Pinjarra is today a co-educational primary school offering classes from Pre-Kindergarten to Year Six. 

Beginning as a boarding and day school, founded by the Sisters of St Joseph, in Jarrahdale in 1925, the School moved to its current site in 1934. From 1934 until 1954 the School operated out of the homestead located at the back of this property.  

In 1954, a three-roomed brick and tile school was erected and officially opened by Archbishop Prendiville and Father Rupert Kelly, who was the parish priest at the time.  

Until 1967 St Joseph’s ran primary and high school classes. In 1968 St Joseph’s consolidated operations to run solely as a Primary School offering classes from Year One to Year Seven. 

Over the intervening 50 years buildings and facilities have been added as the School continues to grow. St Joseph’s now comprises year classrooms, specialist areas, playing courts and completed in 2023 our custom built science and investigation areas.  

 

St Joseph’s School

1.1A Catholic School
We believe that the ethos of the Catholic School is that it recognises Jesus Christ as the
Head of the school, as He is the Head of the Church of which the school is a part. It is
‘Catholic’ to the extent that each member of its community bases their vision of education
upon Him and His Gospel.
A ‘Catholic’ school calls all community members to be committed to the Christian vision of
the student as a person. Jesus’ teachings and the values of his Gospel are the educational
norms that permeate the school’s entire curriculum and life.
The ethos of a Catholic school community includes everything that contributes to its life as
a place of evangelisation.
Catholic schools are Christian prophetic communities, always seeking to foster the ‘new
life in Christ’ and growth in Christian values, as proclaimed by the Catholic Church.

1.2 What Is Distinctive About A Catholic School?

It:
• Promotes a particular view of the person, the community, the nation and the world,
centred on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Challenges students to find meaning and value in their lives, by knowing God
through the Gospels of Jesus Christ.
• Is an integral part of the Catholic Church community in which generations live,
worship and grow together.
• Is a welcoming and reflective community where the most distinctive sign is the
discernment of God’s presence.
• Is a witness to a spirit of simplicity and Gospel poverty and calls students to develop
a spirit of responsibility for all.
• Provides an inclusive learning environment where diversity is celebrated and
students are encouraged to discover their abilities and explore their potential.
Catholic education goes beyond the classroom, offering values-based programs
and pastoral care that respond to the diverse needs of each student.

1.3 School Crest and Motto
The crest contains several

Symbols:
The Candle symbolises Christ as the light and leader of the world.
The Bible symbolises the Word of The Lord.
The Lamb of God. (Latin Paschal Candle).
The Body and Blood of Christ.

Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary

Striving in Faith

WEBSITE

School History

The Order of Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart came to Waroona in 1943. There were strong Irish and Italian communities in the district who were keen for their children to receive a Catholic education and so St. Joseph’s Catholic School was opened by the order.

Sr. Elizabeth Murphy was the foundation Principal and the sisters maintained a presence in the school until the end of 1993. The first lay Principal, Mr. Tim Emery, was appointed in 1988.

Classes for 25 pupils began in 1943 in a building which served as the convent for the Sisters until 1986. The first group of students ranged from infants to Year 10. By the end of the first term in 1943, classes transferred to an old wooden church situated on the site of the present car park. The old wooden church became available after the construction of the existing church in 1941.

Three brick classrooms opened in 1955 with extensions being added in 1969 and 1978. Other building projects were completed in 1981 and 1985. Recent projects were the construction in 1991 of a Kindergarten classroom on the site of the Waroona Bakery. In 1995 new toilets were constructed; in 1998 a new Administration area was built; in 2000 a new Pre-primary; and in 2011 a new Library though the Building Education Revolution.

In conjunction with the Parish Community, the Old Bakery on the Kindy site was refurbished and a Community Hall shared by School, Parish and the wider Community was completed in 1996.