AS thousands of students return to Catholic school’s this week their prayers will go to the archdiocese’s newest school Star of the Sea Primary School at Cleveland.
The school, which caters for families in the parish and from Stradbroke Island will open its doors on the site of the oldest parish in Queensland to the first 76 students in Prep to Year 3, Stage 1 of a three stage building project.
Foundation principal Karen Bakon said it was an amazing feeling to know that the school community was beginning its journey in 2009 – the same year Queenslanders celebrate the state’s 150th anniversary of its separation from New South Wales.
It was also the same year both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church dioceses celebrate their sesquicentenary.
“Although Cleveland is the oldest parish in the diocese, as it was established in 1843, this year sees faith and educational opportunities being offered for the first time at Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School,” she said.
She paid tribute to the members of the steering committee and the parishioners who, under the leadership of parish priest Father Frank O’Dea, had worked for many years to bring their vision of a school on the parish site to fruition.
With an increase in student enrolments, the third year of Prep, the expansion of existing schools from the southern Gold Coast north to Childers and west to Kingaroy and the opening of Star of the Sea, 2009 was set to be a busy and exciting year.
Executive Director of Catholic Education David Hutton said strong growth in both student numbers and new infrastructure represented the desire for parents to pursue a Catholic education for their children.
Mr Hutton said the significant growth in enrolments in 2009 indicated the value families placed upon a faith-based, high quality education for their children.
For further information or to find out the nearest Catholic school for enrolment check out www.bne.catholic.edu.au or call (07) 3033 7000.
