Search Results

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Mass and Liturgy Religious education at St Patrick’s is not confined to Religious Education classes. Christ is at the centre of all of our endeavours. As a learning community joined together in faith we aim to bear witness to Christ’s vision and values in all aspects of school life. In doing so, we extend our formal religious education to include class mass at church and whole school liturgies. Class Mass at Church Classroom teachers prepare liturgical celebrations with their students. Students have an opportunity to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist through attending class mass. Every class prepares for and attends at least once per semester. Mass is held in the St Patrick’s Church at 9am on weekdays. Families and members of the Parish and school community are always welcome to attend these celebrations. Whole School Liturgies Whole School Masses are celebrated during the year. Special Liturgies are celebrated in accordance with the Liturgical Calendar and the school community is welcome to attend. Places of worship are the Parish church, stadium and court yard.

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Principal's Welcome Welcome to St Patrick’s Primary Kilmore, a coeducational primary school situated 65km north of Melbourne’s CBD. St Patrick's is a member school of Marist Schools Australia and governed by Melbourne Archidiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS). As principal, I can say it is a privilege to work alongside and serve the community of St Patrick’s Primary in Kilmore. Our school has a rich history and the parish, which was established in 1849, has shown a commitment to provide Catholic education to the families in the district for well over 120 years. St Patrick’s in an invitational community that is driven by the mission of the church. The school provides a safe, caring and supportive learning environment that is centred on the child. Situated alongside Assumption College, a college established by the Marist brothers in 1894, the two schools are committed to providing a space where students have the opportunity to thrive and to realise their potential. Like most schools, St Patrick’s is a busy, productive and inspiring place to be. The school highly values Family School Partnerships where home and school actively work together to engage our families in a shared conversation about learning. The vision for our staff as professionals is outlined in the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (A.I.T.S.L) standards and we believe in a culture of constant feedback and improvement. The AITSL standards can be found here . If you are new to our community I extend a warm welcome and thank you for trusting your child to our care. To our existing families I thank you for your generous support and ongoing understanding. I do not tire in reminding myself and our community “That it takes a village to raise a child”. Michael Bourne, Principal

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Language - French St Patrick's offers the study of French language and cultre to our students. French is a major language spoken across five continents, and the official language in 29 countries. It is also one of six official languages of the United Nations. The French language also aligns St Patrick's with one of the languages taught at Assumption College. Gabby- Alliance Française French Poetry competition finalist, 2021 Students interact with the teacher and their peers using simple language and gestures for exchanges such as greetings, farewells, and for talking about self and family. They participate in group activities through song, rhyme, games and transactions. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the state-wide Alliance Française French Poetry competition. They develop a curiosity for French culture and traditions, and compare cultural differences. The study of a second language contributes to the overall education of students, enhancing communication, cross-cultural understanding, cognitive development, literacy (in both English and French) and general knowledge. Have a look at this video to see what French looks like at St Patrick's:

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Homework At St Patrick’s Primary School, we recognise that learning takes place wherever a child is, whether it is at school, at home, or out in the community. We also recognise that parents are the first teachers of children and what an important ongoing role that is for a child. We believe that homework complements classroom learning, fosters good study habits and provides an opportunity for students to be responsible for their own learning outside of the classroom. The amount of time spent on homework varies, and will increase as a child progresses through school, starting with at least 40 minutes a week for Prep classes, through to two hours a week for Year 6. The homework will include reading, and may also include maths and other tasks as set by the classroom teacher from time to time. Parents will be expected to sign their child’s diary to confirm that their child is undertaking the necessary homework tasks. St Patrick’s Primary School has a policy with respect to homework, and that can be found here .

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Transitioning to Prep Starting prep is a very exciting time for the whole family and the beginning of your child's journey through school. At St Patrick's, we aim to provide a welcoming and supportive community filled with opportunities for children to grow in confidence as they begin their first school year. Our Transition to School program is made up of several parts which include: Transition conversations Kindergarten contact Discovery days Additional transition sessions Additional family meetings Transition mornings; and Family information sessions. Once at school, the transition is further assisted through: Wednesday rest days at the beginning of the school year, where Preps do not attend school so they can take a break midweek to help them get used to attending school on a full time basis. These dates will be confirmed towards the end of 2025. the Buddy program where each prep student is "buddied up" with a senior student. More information about the Buddy program can be found on the wellness programs page here . 2025 dates Enrolments Open Families are asked to register an enrolment enquiry through the school office. The Enrolment Officer will be in contact and provide you with further information and move the enquiry to the application stage. Children must turn 5 years of age before 30 April in the year they are commencing school. Monday 3rd March School Tours Families wishing to become familiar with our school are invited to attend a school tour with staff and student leaders present. To book a school tour, please go to the Book a Tour webpage under the Enrolment tab. Mondays: 24 February, 24 March and 31 March at 2:00pm. Tuesdays: 18 February, 4 March, 18 March, 1 April, 29 April at 9:15am. Prep Information Evening This is an opportunity to welcome all parents and carers who are applying for a Prep position at St Patrick’s in 2026 . Important and up to date Information about our school and the enrolment process will be shared during this session. This session is compulsory for all families wishing to apply and will be held in the school stadium as a face to face event. Monday 28 April 6:00pm - 7:00pm Enrolments Close Families are asked to complete their online applications by Friday 2 May 2025 to ensure that the enrolment application is given consideration. The school can take up to 105 prep students in 2026 and in the event that more applications are received than places available, a waiting list will be created. Friday 2 May Application Meetings Application meetings are an opportunity for us to begin to get to know the child and parent/carer. They are a time for parents to ask any questions you may have and to explore how to best support their child as they make the transition from kinder to school. Please note, these meetings do not aim to determine if your child is ‘school ready’. If you have any questions regarding school readiness, it is best to have a conversation with your child’s kindergarten teacher. These are compulsory for all families. Throughout May and June Letters of Offer sent out Once places are determined, letters of offer will be sent out to families at the end of Term 2. An acceptance form must be completed and returned to the school to secure the enrolment offer. Please note, any delay with Australia Post deliveries may impact when you receive your letter of offer. End of Term 2 Kindergarten visits Throughout Term Three and Four, our staff will contact each child's kindergarten and/or visit the children at their kindergarten to understand their education journey so far and to put things in place to support their transition. Terms Three and Four Discovery Days Mondays in Term Three (dates to be confired) , our library will be open for you to visit and start discovering what school is like. It will be a chance to share a favourite story and meet some new friends. These sessions are not compulsory. Information on how to book online will be sent with your Letter of Offer. By invitation, as required Additional transition sessions Held during Term Four, on Tuesdays to be confirmed , these small group sessions focus on supporting those children and families who may be new to the school or who would like to build their confidence at St Patrick's in a smaller setting. These sessions are by request from the family or invitation from the school. To be advised Additional family meetings Between now and when the child begins, parents/carers may want to meet and discuss any further concerns or ideas they may have to provide their child with the best possibly start to school. Meetings can be initiated by parents or the school as needed. As needed Transition mornings Three mornings filled with fun and forming new friendships. All children are required to attend to learn about school and meet their new peers and teachers. Your child’s 2026 class and teacher will be announced at the final session. All three sessions are compulsory for all students. Term Four Wednesday 12 November Thursday 20 November Tuesday 25 November 9:15am - 10:45am (compulsory) Family information sessions Whilst the children attend their transition mornings, parents/carers will attend these compulsory family information sessions. They are an opportunity for the school to pass on information. It is also an opportunity to meet other parents and ask questions. These are compulsory. As per transition mornings Held in the school stadium (compulsory)

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Communication Communication is a fundamental element of the relationship between the school and their families. St Patrick's ensures that there are as many opportunities for the school to get messages to families, and families to communicate to the school. Some of the more regular methods of communication are shown here. Newsletter The school newsletter is a document that is communicated to families every Thursday via email. Hard copies of the document can be collected at the front office on Fridays. The newsletter provides details on upcoming events, curriciulum, reviews of recent activities, community news, as well as reports from the principal and other curriculum leaders. SIMON Everywhere App SIMON Everywhere is a simple smartphone app where information can be quickly sent to parents. Through push notifications, parents can be informed of urgent information, upcoming events as well as providing reminders. As such we request that ALL parents and carers download the app and have it ready to receive notifications. Through the app, families can also access their Parent Access Module (PAM) to update student medical information, access school reports, report student absences, etc. The SIMON Everywhere app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Facebook Group St Patrick's manages a private Facebook Group for parents and carers only. This Facebook group is the place where photos of students will be posted, as they will not be posted on the main corporate Facebook page. We encourage all parents and carers to join the Facebook group by going to the group and answering the membership questions at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stpatskilmorefamilies (note that membership will not be accepted without all questions being answered). Seesaw App Seesaw gives families an immediate and personalized window into their child’s school day, and makes communication with teachers seamless. Seesaw empowers students to independently document their learning with built-in creative tools, and provides an authentic audience for their work.

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Specialist Subjects At St Patrick's we recognise that education is far more diverse than the traditional English and maths. To that end we provide our students with a range of specialist subjects to complete the curriculum. Physical Education Physical Education (PE) at St Patrick's focuses on developing students Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS), teamwork, cooperation, respect and to promote the benefits of leading an active lifestyle. Each class attends a weekly one hour PE lesson where students practise their movement skills, develop new movement strategies and concepts to give them the confidence to participate in a range of sporting and game based activities. For more information about Physical Education and other opportunities in sport click here . Language (French) Students in Prep – Year 6 will be involved in weekly French lessons. The students learn functional language through speaking, communicating, using gestures, reading and writing. Each class attends a French lesson for one hour a week. For more information about French, click here . Visual Arts Visual Art is an integral part of school life at St.Pats. Our students get "messy" and learn techniques that develop their creativity and curiosity. Each class attends a visual art class for one hour a week. For more information about visual arts, click here . Science Science at St Patrick's supports students in developing their skills and interest in Science, which is taught on a semester basis and each class attends science for one hour per week. For more information about Science, click here .

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. COVID-19 Management St Patrick's Primary School works closely with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS) to ensure that the school is doing everything it can during these unprecedented times to provide a safe and secure environment and continue to deliver educational outcomes for our students. As the world continues to grapple with the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, St Patrick's will continue to act in accordance with the guidance of the time and remain flexible and fluid as things evolve. In managing the COVID-19 situation, the school continues with the cleaning schedule of the school and implement the standard social distancing protocols required. Face to face school assemblies and year level liturgies/masses will continue to be reduced in 2022 and all PSG meetings will still be face to face with the option of telephone or video conferencing. Independent music lessons for drums, guitar and piano, as well as vocals, continue to take place onsite with the music teachers. Families who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 virus are encouraged to visit the School Fees webpage here , and the Concessional Fee Policy. I wish all St Patrick’s students & families the very best as they continue to adapt to this unusual holiday time. Best wishes Michael Bourne School Principal COVID Safe Plan

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Family School Partnerships “To build and strengthen links with families and the local community to improve student learning and wellbeing outcomes.” Catholic Education Melbourne's Family–School Partnerships initiative At St.Patrick’s, we are dedicated to building and strengthen links with families and the local community to improve student learning and wellbeing outcomes. “Each person’s formation takes place within a process that is implemented over many years by several educators, starting with parents.” – Pope Francis (2014) What is Family School Partnerships? Family-school partnerships are collaborative relationships and activities involving school staff, parents and other family members of students at a school. Why are they important? At St. Patrick’s we believe that families are the first educators of their children and they continue to influence their children’s learning and development during the school years and long afterwards. It is vital for schools and families to work in partnership together. Research tells us that the most effective schools have high levels of parental and community involvement and that this involvement is strongly related to improved student learning, attendance and behaviour. A copy of the school's Family School Partnerships Policy can be found here . To find out more about Family School Partnerships watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GQQ2bzdugA “To be hoped that the school and the family will be in harmony... to the process of education and the individual’s formation.” – Pope John Paul II (1981)

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. School History St Patrick's Primary School Kilmore is a far cry from the Catholic primary school started sometime in 1848, being school number 358, situated on the highway. There are some unconfirmed reports of there being a boys and girls school as early as 1844. A Brief History St. Patrick's Catholic Parish, centering on the township of Kilmore and the surrounding rural district, is situated approximately 60 kms north of Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Australia. St. Patrick's was the first inland Catholic parish to be established (1849) in the southern part of what was then the Colony of NSW and is now the State of Victoria, Australia. Earlier parishes in Victoria were Melbourne (1839), Geelong (1842), Portland (1847) and Port Fairy (1849). The parishes of Melbourne, Geelong and Kilmore represent the three oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Melbourne whilst the parishes of Portland and Port Fairy are the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Ballarat. Early Parish Primary Education in Kilmore St Patrick's Primary School Kilmore is a far cry from the Catholic primary school started sometime in 1848, being school number 358, situated on the highway. There are some unconfirmed reports of there being a boys and girls school as early as 1844. The Vicar General, Dr Geoghegan wrote in an application to the Denominational Schools Board, dated July 3 1848: “There are sufficient Catholic children here (Kilmore) to entitle the teacher to Government aid.” On March 27, 1849, the Bishop wrote: “There is an unaided school at Kilmore….. The average attendance is 30 - 40. The schoolroom is most inadequate and unsuitable…” And so in 1850 school number 358 officially opened, as a boys-only school, with government aid. The girls school, using the same name and number, opened on the opposite side of the highway in 1851. The school inspector Childers visited the schools in 1851 and wrote: “I visited this school in Sydney Street on April 30 accompanied by the clergyman, Rev. C. Clarke …The school is a slab hut with shingled roof, not plastered, no floor. Is in good condition, and was erected in 1848... Schoolroom is 86 x 11. Has glass windows, a fireplace, and two windows. There are 33 boys and 7 girls present." In 1854/55 the bluestone school was built in the church grounds, which was later demolished in 1956, and replaced by the brick school. In 1875 the Mercy Convent opened with Sisters teaching primary levels. Then in 1890 the new Mercy boarding and day school opened. In 1893 the Marists began Assumption College, taking over the boys day school, and then taking boarders in 1901. And more recently... With humble beginnings, there has been a rich history of Catholic education in Kilmore, being initially provided by local parents or community members acting as teachers, then later by the Mercy nuns, Marist brothers and then Parish school teachers. Catholic primary education has had a number of locations including the Parish centre (next to the Church), the now-Kilmore International School when the school was known as St Joseph’s, and the last school site opposite Assumption College from 1968 when it changed its name to St Patrick’s, and now at the current site since 2011. Today, our Parish Priest is religious head of our school, governed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS). Our school is a beautiful and very well-resourced school that can accommodate up to 582 students in 21 classes, with over 70 teaching and non-teaching staff members.

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic education provider in Kilmore, Victoria where we work collaboratively to maximise student outcomes. Transition to Secondary School Transitioning from primary school to secondary school can be a time of great emotion. Whilst some students transition to other local secondary colleges, and participate in their transition days, the majority of our students transition across to Assumption College. St Patrick's likes to ensure that its students are ready for that move by implementing a range of transition sessions and programs to assist St Patrick's Primary School prides itself on its relationship with Assumption College (ACK). That deep bond between the schools extends to our Year 6 to Year 7 transition program. Our transition program is a year-long program that includes key staff from Assumption College attending St Patrick's throughout the year, as well as regular tours and invitations to participate in Assumption College events. In 2021, the transition program was extended for Terms 3 and 4 to include a fully immersive experience where the Year 6 St Patrick's students select one of Assumption College's Year 7 subjects that interests them and attend that subject onsite at Assumption College three times per week with the Year 7 students. All Year 6 students participate in this transition program regardless of which secondary school they attend for Year 7. The program is about providing our Year 6 students with a secondary experience such as attending different classrooms for different subjects, having different teachers and participating in a different style of learning. These experiences are transferable to any secondary school setting. Assumption College provides all Year 6 students with an Assumption email address and access to the Assumption SIMON Learning Management System (LMS) at the start of the program and are emailed a booklet of subject alternatives. Students electronically select a number of subject preferences and, depending on timetabling, the student will be allocated one of their preferences. As students could be allocated any one of their preferences, families are encouraged to work with their child to ensure that the subjects that are selected are reflective of the child's interests. Our Year 6 students fully participate in whichever class they attend. The class is conducted for 75 minutes, three times a week. Students are required to complete all work set both for in the class, and outside if required. Students also participate in all class assessments. Where students are required to have a laptop, St Patrick's provides the students with those laptops. As the Year 6 students are at Assumption College for almost four hours per week, there is an adjustment to the learning expectations at St Patrick's. Students continue to participate in their regular Literacy, Maths, RE and specialist subjects. Whilst students do not participate in formal SEL or Inquiry lessons, these subjects are incorporated into the other areas of their learning. As such, SEL and Inquiry are not reported on in the Semester 2 report, however their Assumption College subject will be. The content of this part of the report depends on the subject that the student participates in. Students at St Patrick's Primary School receive a unique transition experience that we believe is not replicated anywhere else. By giving our Year 6 students six months of genuine transition in a secondary school environment, the students learn how to move around a large campus, how to find and get to and from classrooms. In addition, they receive the benefits of the experience of having different teachers each day as well as engaging with current Year 7 students, from whom they can learn from their transition experiences, which helps to reduce transition anxiety in students. At St Patrick's we pride ourselves on developing the whole child, not just their academics, and this program is another way that St Patrick's sets up our students for success into the future, regardless of the secondary school they attend in Year 7. For those students who do attend Assumption College in Year 7, the Year 7 coordinator keeps in touch with the classroom teacher and throughout the year will occasionally attend the Year 6 classrooms so that the children have the chance to ask any questions they may have and it also gives them the opportunity to get to know them. For students with need, during the Parent Support Group (PSG) sessions in Terms 2, 3 and 4 there are ACK staff participating in the meeting so parents have the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have. Class teachers also fill in a personal transition form on each child in Year 6, including information about them so that their secondary school teachers have up-to-date and relevant information about the student before they get to their secondary school.

Assessment and Reporting Assessment and reporting is a critical element in the education process. Assessment allows teachers to track a student in their learning journey, and the reporting of that assessment ensures that the information is shared to families and goals are set going forward. Teachers, Students and Parents/Carers work in partnership in the assessment and reporting cycle. At St Patrick's, assessment is an ongoing process, both formally and informally, as they watch, record, collect data and help develop the children in the classroom. That assessment is not just academic, but can also include their social and emotional wellbeing as well. The following formal assessment and reporting events take place during the year: Term 1 - "Get to know you interviews" for parents and teachers to meet early in the term. Term 1 - NAPLAN 11-23 March 2026 for Years 3 and 5. A report to the child’s family is then distributed at a later date. Term 2 - Mid-year written school report, delivered electronically through PAM (below). Term 2 - Three-way conferences, between parent, student and teacher, where students lead the meeting to present their learnings. Term 4 - End of year written school report, delivered electronically through PAM (below). In addition to the above, there are a range of literacy and numeracy tests that the students do throughout the year to assess and develop their skill and progression in these areas. Productive partnerships are valued by the school community. At any time of the year, parents/carers are welcome to make an appointment with the classroom teacher to discuss their child’s progress. To access reports, the school uses the SIMON system and the Parent Access Module within SIMON provides access to your children's information, including reports. To access PAM, click on the SIMON logo below: