History:
Catholic Education, in the parish of Ashby, or Geelong West as it is now called, dates back to 1849, when Mrs Kelly conducted a Catholic school in a small building in O'Connell Street. This school remained open for only a very short time. In 1854, another school was opened on the corner of Cavendish Street and Malone Street, where the Saints Peter and Paul's Ashby presbytery now stands.
In 1857, 'Kildare' was opened on a section of what is now the West Oval. Lay teachers conducted these two schools until 1875, when the Sisters of Mercy from Newtown took charge. It was decided to combine these two schools, so in 1911 the present St Patrick's was opened.
St. Patrick's Primary School in Geelong West has a rich and proud history dating back over 110 years. Our school has been a cornerstone of the local community for generations and has played a significant role in the education of students from the Geelong community.
Description:
St Patrick's School Geelong West is a Catholic primary school in the heart of Geelong West that has provided quality education to students from Prep to Year 6 for over 100 years.
Established in 1911, St Patrick's consists of original period buildings mixed with contemporary modular buildings and spacious grounds to cater for our growing student population. Our school is in the Parish of St Michael's and is within a cluster parish grouping with our Parish Priest. This cluster consists of Holy Family and Holy Spirit Parishes and schools.
St Patrick's has a rich history and tradition of providing quality education to students in the region. We are committed to providing a holistic education that fosters each student's spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development.
Our Vision:
With the courage of St Patrick and the love of Jesus, we aspire to be a faith-centred learning community, acting together with respect, kindness, inclusion, honesty and gratitude. These values underpin our school culture and identity and are visible from the moment you enter our school.
Features:
At St Patrick's, we recognise the unique qualities of each student and strive to create an environment with a strong sense of safety and wellbeing. We believe students learn best when they feel safe and can build strong relationships with peers and teachers in a supportive and engaging learning environment.
The school has a strong Catholic ethos and values the uniqueness and dignity of each student. St Patrick's School is committed to delivering contemporary teaching practices and providing a dynamic learning environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Our staff work collaboratively to achieve high standards and ensure the curriculum is designed so all students gain the knowledge, skills and deep understanding required for success in a 21st-century society. We recognise that the family is the most significant influence on children, so learning is seen as an ongoing partnership between home and school and community partnerships form a vital part of our identity and reputation.
At St Patrick's, the following important features typify our educational approach:
- We are a Catholic faith community
- We are child-centred and community-orientated
- We have a strong and explicit focus on wellbeing
- We have high expectations of ourselves and our children
- We work together to achieve common goals and sustain a culture of continual reflection and improvement to reach our full potential
- We show empathy and understanding toward everyone in our community and uphold the dignity and worth of each person.