Why choose us?
St Francis de Sales Catholic Primary School Woolooware is a nurturing place focused on respectful, high quality relationships. We take a holistic, personalised approach to the development of each child, enabled by passionate and experienced teaching staff that challenge and support every student.
We have contemporary learning spaces as well as an array of co-curricular activities that include the arts and sport. Along with the strong support of our parents, students are encouraged to take risks in a safe and supportive environment, emerging as resilient and creative thinkers ready to take on the world.
Principal’s Message
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to St Francis de Sales Catholic Primary School Woolooware, where we aim to inspire hearts and minds to wonder, think, create, and learn.
I am proud to lead a school that is focused on being a centre for excellence through:
- teaching Catholic knowledge and beliefs and encouraging acts of service
- an individualised approach to learning where students are empowered to set their own goals and achieve consistent growth in all curriculum areas
- providing a comprehensive Newman Selective Gifted Education Program with flexible learning pathways, an inquiry learning focus and extension and enrichment activities
- specialist teachers in Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Sport, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and MEG Chinese Language Program
- engaging with the latest technology to develop skills in Global Competencies and encouraging our students to become life-long learners.
Our school motto ‘Friendship and Service’ is reflected and lived out in words and actions as we thrive in a faith-filled community. We live out the Mercy traditions and values of welcome, respect, compassion, stewardship, excellence, justice and service.
Our students and families share a wonderful sense of community, and it is our privilege to work in partnership with families to develop the faith of our students and to assist them in achieving their full potential.
I invite you to visit our school to see first-hand the amazing St Francis de Sales community and the wonderful opportunities we have to offer.
Ms Tracy Burns
Principal
History
St Francis de Sales’ Catholic Primary School Woolooware has a rich history. In 1960, the church St Francis de Sales’ was built, and in 1963 it was converted into a school.
The original church and grounds were converted into classrooms, a hall, playground spaces, staff and office areas. The Sisters of Mercy staffed and ran the new school at Woolooware. Sister Patricia Anderson, the first principal, is still a significant and special presence in the school today. The classrooms and facilities now reflect a revitalised, contemporary learning environment.
Charism
The legacy and spirit of Saint Francis de Sales lives on in our school as a place where our students are encouraged to ‘not be anything but what you are and try to be that perfectly’. Our interest in the creative arts subjects and the support we give all our students, encouraging their uniqueness and to be the best person they can be, is a reflection of St Francis de Sales, our patron saint, and how he treated others when he was alive.
Our connection to the vision of Catherine McAuley and her mercy values still permeate the school ethos today. At St Francis de Sales’ we work at providing a Catholic education that encompasses the mercy values and charism of the Mercy traditions. In the words of Catherine McAuley we ‘resolve to do good today and better tomorrow by being shining lights, giving light to those around us.’
The dual charism we share to reflect the spirit of St Francis de Sales and the traditions of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy is alive and lived out in word and actions in many ways throughout the school.
Mission
In the spirit of St Francis de Sales, we are empowering our students for the future.
Vision
With St Francis de Sales and Catherine McAuley as our models, we are inspiring hearts and minds to wonder, think, create and learn. We encourage the students to reach their full potential and work in partnership with parents, parish and the wider community.
Motto
We are committed to our school motto in ‘friendship and service’.
Crest
Our school crest includes a quill and book which symbolises St Francis de Sales as a scholar, one of the great writers of the Church and our Catholic identity. The waves are part of our physical coastal surroundings and culture of the area. The Mercy Cross symbolises the Mercy traditions and values present in our school.
The community of St Francis de Sales’ Catholic Primary School Woolooware belongs to the parish of St Aloysius Cronulla under the guidance of our parish priest, Rv James McCarthy. The school and parish work closely together to ensure the spiritual and faith development of each child is nurtured through prayer, celebrations and outreach. The Mercy charism and heritage is evidenced by the students adopting one of the seven Mercy values for each year of their schooling. The students learn and understand how they can strive to live these values each day.
Parish Priest
Rev James McCarthy PP
Pastoral Associate
Mrs Cathy Sammut
Parish Secretary
Mrs Kim Plummer
Mass Times
Tuesday: 7.00am, 9.30am
Wednesday: 7.00am, 9.30am
Thursday: 7.00am, 9.30am
Friday: 7.00am, 9.30am
Saturday Vigil: 8am, 5pm
Sunday: 8am, 10am, 6pm (Youth Band)
Contact Details
18 Giddings Avenue
Cronulla NSW 2230 Australia
(02) 8522 0300
admin@stalcron.org.au
www.stalcron.org.au
