History:
St Patrick's School commenced operation when the Brigidine Order arrived in Mentone in 1904 and grew to a capacity enrolment nearing 700 in the 1960s. The school was administered by the Brigidine Sisters from its inception until 1978. After the first lay principal was introduced in 1979, the Brigidines continued to be involved in staffing the school until 1990. St Patrick's celebrated 100 years of Catholic Education in 2004.
Description:
The school is situated on a block with four street frontages and is edged by the parish church and presbytery, tennis courts and clubhouse and the new O'Hanlon Centre.
The school is accommodated in a variety of well-maintained buildings both old and new, on a large and secure 3 hectare site in Mentone. Spacious playing fields, paved courtyards, adventure playgrounds and well maintained gardens create a beautiful working environment. Visual images and the architectural style of the buildings serve as a constant reminder of the school’s heritage and identity.
The main solid red-brick two-storey building was built in 1929 and consists of the library, six classrooms over a parish hall, with additional rooms added in 1967. A single-storey brick infant school was built in 1954 and had additional rooms added in 1955. In 1996 two classrooms were built on top of a toilet block.
A master plan was developed in 1999 and Stage 1, the construction of a multipurpose room, a toilet block upgrade and refurbishment of the Junior School was completed. Stage 2 was finalized in 2010 with the renovation of classrooms and the building of the O’Hanlon Centre. Stage 3 which includes the renovation of the heritage listed hall and the administration area was completed in 2011. In 2012 another classroom was built due to a high increase of siblings in that particular year.
There are approximately 350 students in 15 straight classes, with 2 classes at each level except Prep which in 2013 went to three straight classes.
Features:
St Patrick’s School is part of the evangelising, catechising and educational mission of the Church, and an integral part of St Patrick’s parish. The school works in partnership with parents to educate children to seek what is true, beautiful and good. This requires an attentive commitment to the development of the faculties of the whole child: spiritual, intellectual, aesthetical, physical, social and emotional. The children participate and grow in a supportive community, preparing them to contribute to the wider society to which they belong.
Our Catholic faith informs all the means by which these goals are achieved, and thus we prepare our students for a life to be lived in time and eternity. In the words of our school motto, we are striving to place “Christ at the heart of all”.