### Overview
St John’s School, Roma is a Catholic, co-educational primary school within the Toowoomba Catholic Education network. It serves families in Roma and surrounding areas, offering a small-to-medium school environment that prioritises faith-informed learning and community connection. Class sizes are designed to be close-knit, with typical year-level groups around 20–25 students. The atmosphere is nurturing, inclusive, and community-focused, emphasising strong relationships between students, staff and families.
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### Academics & Learning
- Academic strengths: English and Mathematics underpin the core Australian Curriculum, with a clear emphasis on literacy and numeracy proficiency, alongside faith-based Religious Education and a holistic approach to learning. The school also supports STEM thinking and critical inquiry through integrated learning experiences.
- Special programs: Differentiated learning within classrooms, targeted literacy and numeracy support, and opportunities for leadership and student voice. Gifted and talented pathways may be offered through school-based extension where available.
- NAPLAN / trends: The school typically aims for steady progress over time, with a focus on improving foundational literacy and numeracy skills and maintaining strong writing and comprehension development.
- Student-teacher ratios: Class sizes are kept small-to-medium to enable frequent teacher-student interactions and personalized feedback.
- Support for diverse learners: Access to supports for diverse learners, including assistance for students requiring additional literacy/numeracy help and opportunities for EAL/D support and inclusive education practices.
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### Sports & Extracurricular Strengths
- Sports offered: A range of team sports commonly enjoyed in Australian primary schools, including netball, soccer, cricket, athletics, and formats of football; opportunities to participate in inter-school sports programs.
- Strong teams or achievements: Participation in local and district-level competitions with pathways to regional events where available, fostering teamwork and school pride.
- Music, arts, drama programs: The school provides music and performing arts opportunities, enabling students to participate in choir, drama and school productions.
- Clubs: Robotics, chess, coding, debating and other interest-based clubs are encouraged to develop problem-solving and presentation skills.
- Partnerships: Engagement with local community groups and sporting associations to support competitions, coaching clinics and enrichment experiences.
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### Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
- Anti-bullying approach: Whole-school anti-bullying policies in place, with restorative practices and ongoing focus on respectful relationships.
- House system: A House system supports pastoral care, teamwork and school spirit through inter-house activities and events.
- Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to wellbeing staff or school counsellor(s) to support social-emotional learning and student wellbeing.
- Transition support for new students: Comprehensive orientation and buddy programs, with targeted support to help new students settle into routines and build connections.
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### Facilities
- Sports grounds: On-site oval and play areas suitable for a variety of physical activities.
- Libraries: A school library to support reading and information literacy.
- Science labs: Dedicated spaces for science and hands-on experiments.
- Music/performing arts centers: Facilities to support music education and school productions.
- Tech/innovation labs: Access to ICT resources and digital learning spaces.
- Cafeteria: On-site canteen or meal facilities to support daily dining needs.
- Updated playgrounds: Safe, modern play spaces for different age groups.
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### School Values & Community Culture
- School values / mission: A faith-informed mission emphasising compassion, respect, responsibility and service within a Catholic framework.
- Leadership style: A collaborative leadership approach with opportunities for student voice and leadership through house and school-wide initiatives.
- Behaviour expectations: Clear behavioural expectations aligned with school values and restorative practices.
- Community reputation: Built on family involvement, faith-based learning and a supportive school culture.
- Diversity & inclusion: Inclusive practices and a welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
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### School Logistics & Daily Operations
- School hours: Regular school day aligned with regional schedules; times may vary by year level and term.
- Before/after school care: Availability of before- and after-school care or supervision arrangements.
- Uniform requirements: School uniform policy (with house or year-level variants for certain activities).
- Transport (train/bus routes): School-provided or local bus routes and transport options to accommodate families from surrounding areas.
- Canteen availability: On-site canteen or lunch facilities supporting daily meals and snacks.
- Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Fees are in the mid-range for rural Catholic primary schools, with standard contributions and potential family discounts or additional costs (uniforms, excursions, etc.).
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### Enrolment & Admissions
11. What is the enrolment process and timeline?
- Submit an enrolment application with required documentation, followed by a placement assessment or interview if applicable. Offers are made subject to availability and alignment with family and school requirements. Expect timelines to be communicated by the school and may vary by intake year and year-level demand.
12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work?
- Where demand exceeds places, a waiting list is typically maintained. Allocation prioritises local catchment considerations, Catholic schooling eligibility, and date of application.
13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews?
- Entry may involve documentation checks (birth certificates, immunisation records, baptism documents where applicable) and an interview or family conversation to understand fit with the school’s faith-based and learning environment. Specific testing is not always required for standard primary entry.
14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers?
- Mid-year transfers are possible if places are available and the school can support the student’s transition, with appropriate orientation and documentation.
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### Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Parents Choose This School?
- A caring Catholic community with small class sizes, strong pastoral support, faith-friendly learning, and active family involvement.
- What type of student thrives at this school?
- Students who value a nurturing environment, strong relationships with teachers, and a curriculum that blends faith formation with academics.
- What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)?
- Extension in literacy and numeracy, leadership opportunities, sports teams, arts and drama experiences, and clubs such as robotics, chess, coding, and debating.
- How does the school communicate with parents?
- Regular newsletters, progress updates, parent-teacher meetings, and access to a school portal or contact through the front office.
- What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning?
- Curriculum aligned to the Australian Curriculum with a focus on literacy, numeracy, inquiry-based learning, and faith formation integrated across the program.
- How does the school support students who need extra academic help?
- In-class differentiation, targeted literacy/numeracy support, small-group instruction, and access to learning support staff as needed.
- What support is available for academic challenges?
- Additional guidance through learning support structures, close teacher collaboration, and referral to specialists where appropriate.
- How does the school communicate with parents? (Duplicate question)
- See above: regular updates via newsletters, meetings, and digital communications.
- What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive?
- Small-to-medium class sizes designed to maximise teacher-student interaction and individualized feedback.
- What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available?
- A broad suite of sports, music and drama, and clubs such as robotics, chess, coding and debating.
- What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)?
- Sports grounds, a library, science labs, music/performing arts facilities, tech/innovation spaces, canteen, and updated play areas.
- What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning?
- Integrated ICT across the curriculum with access to digital learning tools and online safety education.
- What transport and accessibility options are available?
- Local bus routes or transport options in the Roma region; school drop-off/pick-up arrangements typical for rural schools.
- What are typical school fees or additional costs?
- Fees are in the mid-range for rural Catholic primary schools, with potential additional costs for uniforms, excursions, and optional activities.
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### Short Pros & Cons list
- Pros
- Catholic, values-based education with a nurturing and inclusive culture
- Small-to-medium class sizes enabling individualized attention
- Strong pastoral care and supportive relationships among students, families and staff
- Broad benefits from sports, arts, and a range of clubs
- Safe rural community setting with opportunities for family involvement
- Cons
- Rural location may limit access to some specialized programs or events requiring travel
- Enrolment demand can lead to waiting lists or competitive placement
- Some activities may be dependent on volunteer or community support and fundraising
- Transportation logistics may be longer for families living outside town limits
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