About St. Christopher's

St Christopher’s, is a “faith and learning community” where students, staff and families work together in an educational partnership. Central to our mission as a Catholic school is the development of individuals who have a deep and personal connection to their faith. Students and staff at St Christopher’s are challenged to live out the teachings of Jesus in a contemporary context. The involvement of parents and families in the faith development of their children is also strongly emphasised.

We aim to help our students become citizens who are equipped to face the challenges that their lives in the 21st century will surely bring. Staff at St Christopher’s work collaboratively to ensure that the curriculum, they provide, helps to achieve this important aim. St Christopher’s has a strong emphasis on the teaching of Literacy and Numeracy and catering for the individual needs of our students. A continued strong focus on professional learning, supports teachers in their endeavours to provide quality education for our students.

The strengths of St Christopher’s include:

the importance placed on connecting faith and action
a strong reputation within the local community
a willingness to embrace new pedagogy and practice
a strong focus on using Information and Communication Technology
a strong focus on continued improvement and learning as a staff to ensure to ensure better outcomes for the students
shared leadership and responsibility among staff
a calm gentle and respectful atmosphere that provides a nurturing environment for children
a commitment to providing personalised education programmes that meet the needs of out students
a genuine respect for parents as the initial educators of their children and respected stake holders in their child’s education
home-school learning partnerships and celebrations

Background

St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School is located in the northern Melbourne suburb of Airport West. It is one of two Catholic primary schools within St Christopher’s Parish, the other being St Augustine’s in Keilor. St Christopher’s first opened in 1962 with an enrolment of 112 students. The current enrolment is in excess of 700 students. It remained under the direction of the Sisters of Charity until 1988 when the first lay principal was appointed. St Christopher’s is located on a relatively quiet suburban street in a pocket of land bordered by the Calder Freeway, Tullamarine Freeway and the Western Ring Road. The area surrounding the school is a mix of residential, commercial and light industrial properties.

The school is made up primarily of permanent buildings, with six learning areas and the central office/library. A new block of contemporary classrooms was opened in 2010 to cater for the school’s growing population. A multipurpose facility with specialist classrooms and office space was funded by 2010 grants from the Governments Building the Education Revolution program. It has replaced the hall built in 1961 which was used as the original Parish Church, School and Hall. The school remains committed to continual refurbishment and the updating of its facilities.