St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School was founded on Christian values to proclaim Jesus’ message of God’s love for all. Through learning to learn students make sense of the contemporary world and their lives within the St Joseph’s faith community. Learning is a journey of endless possibilities, where students are connecting to learn as they seek meaning and explore questions about the world around them. By partnering to learn with parents and the broader Church, St Joseph’s Catholic school supports the full flourishing of each student, across religious, physical, cognitive, emotional and social domains. Students contribute to learn and embrace a view of themselves and the world that leads to peace, justice, and the prospering of the whole of creation.
– Adapted from Religious Education Curriculum Framework, Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2017 p8-10)
At St Joseph’s learning in Religious Education is true to the mission of the Church and seeks out the good in every person. A sense of who I am and how I can be in the world is nurtured in an environment of inquiry, inspired by the Catholic faith as a way of clarifying the important knowledge, inquiry skills and dispositions needed for successful lifelong learning. Inspired by the Gospel, students are open to encounter and have the desire to use their gifts to shape and transform their local, national and global communities. – Adapted from Horizons of Hope- Religious Dimension of a Catholic School, p6
The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful… If something is true, it is good and beautiful; And together, these elements enable us to grow and help us to love life, even when we are not well, even in the midst of many problems. True education enables us to love life and opens us to the fullness of life.”
— Pope Francis, Address with Italian school teachers, parents, educators, pupils and other workers, May 10, 2014
At St Joseph’s School, students are equipped with skills to assist them to live the values of the Gospel and to make connections between Catholicism and the morality of everyday life in the school, Parish and wider community.
This is achieved through both curriculum implementation as well as provision of additional opportunities for students to exercise citizenship skills through involvement in Social Justice activities and participate in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
At St Joseph’s School, students learn to think about, articulate and take action to demonstrate their Christian identity, and express their distinctiveness as individuals within the school, Parish and wider community
Monthly Masses are held on the 1st Friday afternoon in the school hall led by Fr. Michael Miles, from the Western Port Parish. Masses are an important part of school life, with many of our Parishioners joining our school families to celebrate Mass.
The Primary Religious Education Curriculum Framework is used to implement the ‘To Know, Worship & Love’ resources, in which standards and stages of student development are taught through the Inquiry Process, which incorporates the Pedagogy of Encounter. This ensures that a faith seeking understanding approach is achieved.
Students explore concepts pertaining to:
- Knowledge and Understanding by demonstrating skills to assist students to live the values of the Gospel.
- Reasoning and Responding by developing critical and analytical thinking skills.
- Personal and Communal Engagement by encouraging students to behave as active and socially just citizens in the school, Parish and wider Community.
- Scripture and Jesus by developing students’ understanding and ability to interpret scripture in light of Jesus as a positive social role model.
- Prayer, Liturgy and Sacraments; by providing students and parents with support and opportunities to pray, meditate, celebrate Mass and liturgy and commence or continue on their personal sacramental journey.
- God, Religion and Life by encouraging students to make connections between Catholicism, Christianity and the morality of everyday life in the school, Parish and wider community.
At each level, learning is focused on the dimensions of religious learning and the key practices and beliefs students need to engage with at this stage of their faith journey.
Sacramental Program
A school-based family program supported by The Western Port Parish is offered to families wishing to continue their child’s Sacramental journey in the Catholic Faith Tradition at St. Joseph’s School.
Students are prepared for the Sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation in partnership with the Parish Priest, their classroom teachers, parents and families.
The Western Port Parish has a Baptism Program for school-aged children who wish to receive the sacrament of Baptism. Parents are also encouraged to begin and/or continue their sacramental Journey through the Western Port Parish and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Program.
Parents are encouraged and welcomed to attend Sacramental evenings These involve students, classroom teachers and their parents learning in partnership to understand and meaningfully practice the Catholic Faith.
Click here to view the Horizons of Hope document
The School implements the understandings from the ‘Horizons of Hope’ document. The Horizons of Hope, Education Framework for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, supports Catholic school communities to engage in dialogue about the distinctive nature of learning and teaching, leading learning, and enhancing Catholic identity in our schools. The framework is a living document which provides examples of practice from schools, as well as additional strategy statements in the areas of Leadership, Wellbeing, Diversity, and Religious Education.