Background
St Andrew’s School is a double stream co-educational parish school with an enrolment of approximately 400 students from Kindergarten to Year 6. The school was established in 1996 by the Archdiocese of Perth and thus has a long tradition of providing outstanding Catholic education in the Clarkson area. The school retains a strong link to the Josephite Sisters and the Blessed Mary Mackillop.
St Andrew’s is a multicultural community, consisting of children from many ethnic backgrounds. The school offers an innovative child-centred curriculum with specialist tuition in, Digital Technology, Indonesian, STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics), Music and Physical Education. Emphasis is given to the care and development of each child as an individual and a contributing member of the community.
Our aim is to provide an academic program appropriate to the needs of each individual; while providing a social climate that heightens awareness of independence and cooperation. Where possible, children with disabilities are integrated into mainstream school life.
The School Advisory Council has as its primary responsibility the financial management of the school. The Parents and Friends Association have a strong commitment to develop and provide resources to meet the needs of all students.
Teaching Students about St Andrew, the Patron Saint of our School, our School Motto and Emblem
St Andrew – Patron Saint of our School
St Andrew was a Galilean fisherman who was singled out to be Christ’s first disciple. He preached the Gospel in the lands around the Black Sea and in Greece and was eventually crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras. (He used an x-shaped cross when he died as he did not feel that he was worthy enough to be crucified as Christ was.) He is often termed as the “fisher of men”, after his preaching and conversion of followers of Jesus and you will see that he is often symbolised with a fishing net.
St Andrew’s feast day is recognised as the 30th November and the school always has a significant celebration to acknowledge this event. The school’s decision to honour St Andrew’s life in this way was after receiving input from staff, students and the community.
Our School Factions
Our school factions honour the significant events and destinations within St Andrew’s life.
Galilee – Green Faction (Where St Andrew was born)
Amalfi – Blue Faction (The place where Jesus visited Andrew)
Patras – Red Faction (Where St Andrew was crucified)
Our Motto
‘Companions on the Journey’ is founded in the implicit understanding that all members of the Saint Andrew’s School community are called to walk with and believe in the love of our God. We embrace Catholic community as a way of supporting each other through teaching and living the Gospel values that Jesus asks us to espouse and display. This is done by incorporating the ‘Making Jesus Real’ program into our daily lives.
Our School Emblem
St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School in Clarkson, Western Australia, features an emblem rich in symbolism that reflects its Catholic identity and community values. The emblem consists of several key elements:
- The Church (Symbolically): As the home of God.
- The Dove (Holy Spirit): The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending upon the school community, highlighting the spiritual guidance and presence within the educational environment.
- The Waters of Baptism: Depicted within the church, these waters signify the cleansing and welcoming nature of the Christian faith, reinforcing the school’s commitment to nurturing students’ spiritual growth.
- Tongues of Fire: Representing the presence of God with His baptized followers, these flames underscore the empowerment and inspiration drawn from the Holy Spirit, encouraging a dynamic and passionate faith journey.
Collectively, these symbols intertwine to convey the school’s motto, “Companions on the Journey.” They reflect a community united in faith, supporting each other in spiritual and educational growth, guided by the principles of the Catholic Church
Our School Prayer
Loving God,
As the community of St Andrew’s
we thank you for your guiding hand
and ask for your continued blessings upon us.
May our school be a place where we value truth, justice, kindness
and the special gifts of one another.
May we have the strength and commitment to meet life’s
challenges, with St Andrew
as our guide.
Amen
