History:
Christ the Priest Catholic Primary School, Caroline Springs, was established in July 1999 by the Parish of St Peter Chanel, Deer Park, under the leadership of the Parish Priest, Fr Karmel Borg. Mr Anthony McCluskey was appointed the foundational Principal. The school was commissioned to serve the rapidly growing ‘green-field’ suburbs of Caroline Springs, Burnside, and surrounding areas.
The school boundaries extend within the parish boundaries from the western side of Westwood Drive, Burnside, to Hopkins Rd, Rockback. North–south boundaries extend from Kororoit Creek, Caroline Springs, through to Boundary Rd, Derrimut.
The school was opened in 2000 on the Brookside Learning Centre in Caroline Springs, which is a unique site in that it comprises two schools: Caroline Springs College (State Government), and Christ the Priest Primary School (Catholic).
The original concept at Brookside was for a sharing of facilities between sectors, but Christ the Priest was established as a separate entity with its own facilities and management structure.
The Catholic identity of Christ the Priest is an absolutely essential aspect of our existence and culture. Gospel values are very much the cornerstone of all interactions and processes. As a community we are definite about ‘being different’, standing proud as a Catholic school.
Description:
* A welcoming environment and community with a shared vision of, 'Inspiring learners to grow, learn and succeed within a dynamic Catholic community.'
* A sacramental program for families who choose for their child to receive the sacraments.
* Structured and formal welfare support programs for children and families.
* Counselling and psychological services with a psychologist on staff.
* Pastoral structures that promote self-discipline to ensure children learn in a safe and gentle environment.
* Student Services which support children of all abilities and needs.
* Classroom helper courses and opportunities for families to assist in the classroom.
* A warm, inviting building, conducive to learning and their own unique exterior decking and secure ‘backyards’.
* A safe, fenced school environment, with a wide variety of facilities.
* Before and After School Care Program provided by OSH Club.
* Wide access to Information Technology, providing opportunities for children to learn skills that will support them now and in their life of learning.
* A high-quality Physical Education program with a Phys. Ed specialist and interschool sports involvement.
Features:
The development of school grounds and facilities has been designed to welcome our families together as a school community. Christ the Priest School is a place where the whole child is valued, which involves providing opportunities for physical, spiritual and mental growth. The school hall, where many of our community gatherings are held, opens on to a shady, landscaped area for further opportunities to gather. The school has a thriving garden club and vegetable beds, which are regularly harvested and sold to families. During lunch times, many extracurricular clubs are offered, such as: choir, band, drama, prayer, and Lego. Our library is a warm and welcoming space which students access during class time with their teacher or during our first break, where they can quietly play.
The facilities on the school grounds include:
* two adventure playgrounds covered with shade sails
* a fitness track with granitic sand running surface
* a soccer pitch
* two basketball courts (one of them a multi-purpose court)
* two cricket nets
* backyards to classrooms
* large sandpits
* courts marked for simple ball games
* seating for children
* outdoor table settings.
These facilities provide the community with a wide range of both passive and active learning and recreational areas.
Curriculum and Special Programs include:
* a Religious Education based on Horizons of Hope
* a curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum.
Christ the Priest School has five specialist teachers; Drama, Music, LOTE (Italian), Visual Art and Physical Education.
Programs at Christ the Priest School include:
* Fountas & Pinnell P–6
* SMART Spelling
* Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI)
* Parent Helpers Program
* PASAP P–2 (Pattern and Structure Awareness Program)
* New Arrivals
* Integrated Curriculum
* Digital Technology Program (P–6)
* Physical Education Program (P–6)
* Interschool Sports (Year 6)
* Student Leadership.