St Anthony's School

## 1. Overview St Anthony's School, Wanneroo is a Catholic, co-educational primary school serving families in the Wanneroo community. The school offers a small-to-medium campus environment that fosters a close-knit, faith-centered learning community. Class sizes are typically around 20–25 students, supporting individual attention while encouraging collaboration among peers. The atmosphere is nurturing and inclusive, with an emphasis on values-based education, academic growth, and community involvement. Students are encouraged to participate in faith formation, service, and daily learning in a supportive, respectful culture. ⸻ ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: The school emphasises strong literacy and numeracy foundations, with opportunities for inquiry-based learning across English, mathematics, and humanities. Where available, there are pathways to develop scientific thinking and problem-solving skills, alongside encouragement of clear communication and critical thinking. - Special programs: Catholic Education WA approaches may include integrated Religious Education with daily learning, plus extension or enrichment opportunities where offered. Some students may have access to gifted/talented pathways or enrichment activities as part of the school’s curriculum planning. - NAPLAN trends: Over recent years, trends in NAPLAN indicators typically show stable or gradually improving performance in reading and numeracy, with ongoing focus on writing and comprehension. The school uses NAPLAN data to inform teaching and targeted support across year levels. - Student-teacher ratios: Classes are structured to provide meaningful teacher contact with students, with typical ratios around 1:20–1:25, varying by year level and cohort. - Support for diverse learners: The school generally provides support for diverse learners, including EAL/D considerations and students with additional learning needs. Learning support staff, teacher aides, and individualized planning aim to help students participate and progress. ⸻ ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: A range of team and individual sports common to Australian primary schools, such as soccer, netball, basketball, athletics, AFL-inspired activities, and cricket, with opportunities for participation in inter-school events where available. - Strong teams or achievements: The school emphasises participation and teamwork through house or school-based programs, with opportunities to compete in local inter-school sports and events and to develop athletic skills across age groups. - Music, arts, drama programs: Music and performing arts programs typically exist, including choir, music lessons, and school productions or performances to showcase student talents. - Clubs: Robotics, coding, chess, debating, and other learner-led clubs are often available, helping students explore interests beyond core academics. - Partnerships: The school may participate in local inter-school activities, communitybased programs, and partnerships with local clubs or Catholic Education WA activities to extend opportunities in sports, arts, and competitions. ⸻ ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: A proactive wellbeing framework focuses on safe, respectful behaviour, with anti-bullying strategies, buddy systems, and restorative practices where appropriate to support positive relationships. - House system: A house or peer-group structure is commonly used to promote belonging, teamwork, leadership, and healthy competition, with activities that reinforce social skills and community spirit. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: The school typically provides access to wellbeing staff or school counsellors, who support social-emotional health, resilience, and transition considerations for students. - Transition support for new students: Induction programs, buddy systems, and entry routines help new students settle in, build connections, and navigate changes in year levels or school life. ⸻ ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds: On-site sports facilities or access to nearby fields for physical education and school sport. - Libraries: A school library supports reading, research, and classroom learning with age-appropriate resources. - Science labs: Science spaces or science learning areas to explore inquiry and hands-on experiments. - Music/performing arts centers: Dedicated spaces or rooms for music, drama, and performances. - Tech/innovation labs: Technology-enabled learning spaces for digital literacy, coding, and problem-solving activities. - Cafeteria: A canteen or lunch facilities supporting healthy eating options. - Updated playgrounds: Play areas and outdoor spaces designed to support active play and outdoor learning. ⸻ ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: The school typically emphasises Catholic values such as respect, responsibility, compassion, service, and integrity, integrated with daily learning and community life. - Leadership style: A values-driven leadership approach encourages student voice, initiative, and responsibility, supported by teaching staff and school leaders. - Behaviour expectations: Clear behavioural expectations promote respectful, inclusive conduct and consistency across year levels. - Community reputation: The school aims to cultivate a welcoming, faith-filled, and supportive community with strong parent and parish partnerships. - Diversity & inclusion: The school strives to be inclusive, respectful of diverse backgrounds, and supportive of all students’ learning and faith journeys. ⸻ ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: Typical day starts in the morning and ends in the afternoon, aligned with state guidelines and school calendars; precise start/end times are confirmed by the school each year. - Before/after school care: Services or arrangements for before/after school care are commonly offered or available through partnerships or on-site programs. - Uniform requirements: A formal uniform is usually required, with options for summer and winter periods, sport uniform on specific days, and guidelines for appearance and grooming. - Transport (train/bus routes): Transport options generally include school buses and access to public transport; families should confirm available routes and stop locations. - Canteen availability: A canteen or lunch facilities typically operate on school days with healthy options and appropriate supervision. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Fees for Catholic primary schools in WA are generally in the low-to-mid range for private schooling; exact figures depend on grade level and programs offered. ⸻ ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions - 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Typically, families begin with an expression of interest or application, followed by documentation (birth certificate, immunisation records, baptism/catholic confirmation details if required), and an interview or information session. Enrolments usually open well in advance of the new school year, with timelines varying by year level and cohort. Offers are made based on vacancies and family fits with the school’s values and program. - 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - Many Catholic schools maintain a waiting list when there are more applicants than places. Priority may be given to siblings, parish referrals, or enrolment criteria set by the school and diocesan policy. The school can provide details on current wait times and how the waitlist is managed. - 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Entry commonly includes an interview or information session for families and may involve a basic assessment of readiness for the year level. Some Catholic schools request baptism or faith-related information as part of the enrolment process. Specific tests or assessments, if any, will be outlined by the school during the application stage. - 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Mid-year transfers are often possible subject to vacancy and suitability. Families seeking a mid-year transfer should contact the enrolments team to discuss availability, placement, and transition arrangements (including documentation and school visits). ⸻ ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - Families often choose this school for its faith-based values, supportive learning environment, and focus on literacy, numeracy, and well-being within a community setting. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who respond well to a nurturing, inclusive environment with opportunities to grow academically, socially, and spiritually tend to thrive. Engagement, effort, and positive relationships with staff support success. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - There are typically enrichment options in literacy, numeracy, science, and humanities, plus sports teams, arts programs, music, drama, and coding/debate clubs. Local competitions or inter-school events may also be available. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Communication methods commonly include email updates, newsletters, the school website or portal, parent-teacher interviews, and regular progress reports. Some schools offer app-based notifications for events and reminders. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - The approach emphasizes foundational skills in literacy and numeracy, integrated Religious Education, inquiry-based learning, and differentiation to meet diverse learner needs. Teaching focuses on engagement, critical thinking, and collaboration. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Support may include learning support plans, in-class differentiation, targeted literacy/numeracy interventions, access to support staff, and collaboration with families to monitor progress. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Early identification, additional tutoring or small-group sessions, and coordination with learning support staff help students address academic challenges and stay on track. - How does the school communicate with parents? (Repeated) - See above; typical channels include newsletters, emails, portals, and parent-teacher meetings. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are generally around 20–25 students, with teachers providing instruction and guidance designed to give some level of individual attention within the group setting. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A broad range of sports (e.g., soccer, netball, basketball, athletics), plus music, drama, and clubs such as robotics, coding, chess, and debating may be offered, with opportunities to participate in local or inter-school events. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Facilities typically include sports grounds, a library, science spaces, music/performing arts areas, technology/innovation labs, a canteen, and well-maintained outdoor play spaces. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Technology is used to support learning with age-appropriate digital literacy, safe use of devices, and guidance on responsible digital citizenship as part of the curriculum. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Transport options often include access to school buses or public transport routes, with information on available stops and accessibility considerations. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees vary by year level and programs; families should request the latest fee schedule from the school for precise figures and any additional costs (uniforms, excursions, camps, etc.). ⸻ ## 10. Short Pros & Cons list - Pros - Catholic, values-based education in a nurturing, inclusive setting - Small-to-medium class sizes that support individual attention - Focus on literacy and numeracy alongside well-being and character development - Broad range of extracurriculars, sports, arts, and clubs - Strong sense of community with family involvement and pastoral support - Cons - As a single-campus primary option, opportunities beyond primary years may require transition to other schools - Enrolment capacity can be limited; potential wait lists during peak years - Some programs and enrichment opportunities may be vary by year or funding; verify current offerings - Transport options depend on location and available routes; families may need to arrange some travel ⸻