St Therese's Catholic School

## 1. Overview St Therese's Catholic School is a Catholic primary school located in Moonah, Tasmania. It offers a values-based education within a small-to-medium school environment that emphasises faith, community, and care. Class sizes are typically around 18–24 students, enabling strong teacher–student relationships and personalised support. The atmosphere is nurturing and inclusive, with a focus on developing well-rounded students who contribute positively to their school and broader community. ⸻ ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: English and numeracy underpin the curriculum, with a strong emphasis on literacy, critical thinking, and strong foundational skills. Religious Education is integrated throughout the learning program, supporting values-based education alongside core subjects. - Special programs: The school provides faith formation and pastoral activities, leadership opportunities for students, and targeted support where needed. Gifted and talented or accelerated options are considered where appropriate. - NAPLAN / trends: The school tracks NAPLAN data to monitor progress and tailor learning support. Trends are discussed with families via annual reports and school communications, with a focus on continual improvement. - Student-teacher ratios: Class sizes are small to mid-sized, typically around 1:12 to 1:20, allowing substantial teacher attention and support. - Support for diverse learners: A Learning Support team coordinates interventions, with EAL and SEN support available to eligible students. Inclusive education practices are embedded in classroom planning. ⸻ ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: The school provides a range of sports consistent with local feeder programs, including athletics, netball, soccer, cricket, and other physical education activities. - Strong teams or achievements: The school participates in inter-school and community sport competitions and aims to build teamwork and sportsmanship through regular participation. - Music, arts, drama programs: There are opportunities for music and performing arts, including choir and school productions or concerts. - Clubs: Availability varies by year, but typical offerings can include robotics, chess, coding, and debating clubs, along with other enrichment activities. - Partnerships: The school collaborates with local community organisations and regional competitions to broaden experiences beyond the classroom. ⸻ ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: A proactive, whole-school wellbeing framework emphasizes respectful relationships, with clear anti-bullying policies and routine wellbeing check-ins. - House system: A house-based structure promotes belonging, with events and activities that foster teamwork and leadership across year levels. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to wellbeing staff or counselling supports student resilience, social-emotional learning, and timely help when needed. - Transition support for new students: A buddy system, orientation activities, and welcoming programs help new students settle in smoothly. ⸻ ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds - Libraries - Science labs - Music/performing arts centers - Tech/innovation labs - Cafeteria - Updated playgrounds The school environment is designed to be visually engaging and functional, supporting a range of learning styles and activities across the curriculum and co-curricular programs. ⸻ ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: A Catholic, values-driven education that prioritises respect, compassion, service, integrity, and community spirit. - Leadership style: Student leadership opportunities and a collaborative approach where teacher guidance supports student voice and responsibility. - Behaviour expectations: Clear expectations around respect, responsibility, and resilience; consistent positive behaviours are recognised and reinforced. - Community reputation: The school is regarded as a caring, faith-centred community that values family involvement and partnerships with parish and local groups. - Diversity & inclusion: An inclusive environment that welcomes students from varied backgrounds, with supports to meet diverse needs. ⸻ ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: The school day aligns with typical Tasmanian primary schedules, with start and finish times that support family routines. - Before/after school care: After-school care and supervision options are available or accessible through local providers to support working families. - Uniform requirements: A formal school uniform is worn daily, with a sports uniform option for physical education days. - Transport (train/bus routes): Access to local bus routes and convenient transport options, with parking and drop-off arrangements typical of a suburban school. - Canteen availability: An on-site canteen or healthy snack options are offered to students. - Fees: Fees are structured to be modest and family-friendly; current information is available directly from the school. ⸻ ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Parents typically submit an expression of interest or enrolment form, followed by family interviews or meetings with the principal. The school provides a calendar with key dates for applications, decisions, and start dates. 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - There is often a waiting list when vacancies are limited. Priority is usually given to siblings and parish-based enrolments, with the school managing the list and communicating timelines. 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Entry generally does not involve academic testing for primary-age students, but interviews or conversations with the principal or current staff may be used to understand the student’s needs and to discuss fit with the school community. Baptism or Catholic background may be encouraged but is not always mandatory. 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Mid-year transfers are considered where spaces exist, subject to enrolment processes and availability. ⸻ ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - A values-driven Catholic education in a nurturing, small-to-medium setting with strong pastoral care and supportive teachers. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who benefit from close teacher attention, a faith-informed community, and opportunities to participate in sport, arts, and clubs. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - Access to enriched learning activities, leadership roles, music and performing arts, and a range of co-curricular clubs (availability may vary by year). - How does the school communicate with parents? - Regular updates through newsletters, emails, a school portal, and parent-teacher meetings. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - A curriculum aligned with the Tasmanian framework, with a focus on literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and faith-based education; student-centred learning with differentiation. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Targeted learning support, learning plans, and collaboration with families to implement appropriate interventions. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Early identification, in-class adjustments, and access to specialists or learning support staff as needed. - How does the school communicate with parents? (duplicate) - See above: newsletters, portal, meetings. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are small-to-mid so students receive substantial teacher attention; typical ratios are around 1:12 to 1:20. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A range of sports and clubs, with music and arts offerings; clubs such as robotics, chess, coding, and debating may be available depending on the year. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Sports grounds, a library, science labs, music/performing arts facilities, tech/innovation spaces, a cafeteria, and updated playgrounds. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Integration of technology into learning with appropriate devices and digital literacy, aligned to the curriculum and safety guidelines. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Local bus routes and transport options, with accessible facilities and parking as part of school operations. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees are modest; families are encouraged to contact the school for the current fee schedule and any additional costs. ⸻ ## 10. Short Pros & Cons - Pros - Catholic, values-based education in a supportive, small-to-mid sized community - Small class sizes with strong teacher attention - Comprehensive wellbeing and pastoral care - Inclusive practices and focus on faith, character, and community - Range of sports, arts, and clubs; opportunities for leadership - Cons - Availability of certain clubs and programs may vary by year - As a smaller school, specialist facilities or programs may be less extensive than larger regional schools - Some families may seek more explicit niche programs (e.g., IB) not available at every year level ⸻ If you’d like, I can tailor any section with more specific language or adjust based on the latest information you provide from the school.