Our School
St Cecilia's Primary School Glen Iris
Wurundjeri Country
St Cecilia’s is a Catholic co educational Parish Primary School, Prep to Year 6, with 267 students.
A friendly, welcoming atmosphere characterises the school in which all students are known personally and encouraged, challenged and supported in their learning by a caring and dedicated staff. We aim to highlight the relevance of faith in life and contemporary culture, and our personal commitment to Gospel values permeates our relationships and actions. Our Religious Education program seeks to integrate family and school life in a context of faith. We recognise individual learning styles and value the effort and contribution of each child.
We offer a well-balanced, comprehensive curriculum that retains a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy. The school is the ideal size to cater for individual differences as well as providing a very attractive learning environment.
We have a broad range of extra-curricular programs in the arts, music, LOTE [French], gardening, camps and sport which add to the school’s program.
Student welfare and support programs ensure that the needs of students are addressed through the appropriate provision of services and through intervention and support programs that meet the needs of individual students.
We place a strong emphasis on values and encourage a positive approach to learning. We employ strategies to help students take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour.
We are committed to educating students, academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually in order to help them make a positive contribution to society. We hope learners from St. Cecilia’s will be adaptable problem solvers and capable of dealing with the demands of their lives today and in the future.
Catholic Schools exist not to be different, but to make a difference. Our mission is to develop life-long learners, provide religious education and relevant, holistic and quality education to assist students in their search for meaning for life.
FACE
Providing student leadership opportunities is one of our strengths at St. Cecilia’s Primary School.
It is our intention to enhance this feature of our school even more.
Leadership is about the art of motivating, influencing and directing people so that our students work together to achieve the goals of the team. It’s important for our students to experience leadership opportunities during their schooling, to learn the art of building relationships within teams, defining identities and achieving tasks effectively. It also provides an opportunity to learn to identify and display effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Leadership begins with identifying and understanding our school values. Our values are our fundamental beliefs – those principles we consider to be worthwhile and desirable. At St. Cecilia’s, we believe all members of our Year 6 class should be capable of exercising leadership in different contexts.
The more leadership is encouraged, the more it flourishes.
Vision & Values
“An inclusive community that inspires courageous learners to make a difference by living Christ’s love for others.”
St Cecilia’s is a Catholic Primary School built on the Gospel values and believes that every person is created in the image and likeness of God.
We are a welcoming community, living and learning in faith. Our quality curriculum nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, emotional and creative development of all.
Our broad range of learning experiences prepares children for our changing world and fosters skills, values and attitudes needed in the active pursuit of a sustainable global future.
We aim to work in partnership with school, home and parish, which strengthens relationships and promotes active community involvement.
Meet the St Cecilia's Team
Marty McKenna
Principal
Matthew Mooney
Deputy Principal & Digital Technology Leader
Fr Kevin McGovern
Parish Priest
Lucy Csaplar
Office Team
Sharon Simpson
Office Team
Dipal Dayaram
Office Team
Kate Sutherland
Year 4 Teacher, Learning Diversity & Student Wellbeing Leader, Mathematics Leader
Marnie Chapman
Foundation Teacher & Literacy Leader
Libby Watkin
Year 1 Teacher
Jacqui Chalkey
Year 3 Teacher
Tracey Toner
Year 3 Teacher & Literacy Leader
Annmaree Hoy Foundation Teacher & Religious Education Leader
Joanne Hurley
Year 4 Teacher
Jacqueline Everitt
Year 1 Teacher
Pauline Kilduff
Year 2 Teacher
Helen Lloyd
Year 2 Teacher
Bella Lascock
Learning Support Officer
Carmel Brownhill
Year 2 Teacher
Kerryn Aikman
Year 3 Teacher
Trish Revere
Foundation & Year 5/6 Teacher
Louise Jury
Year 5/6 Teacher
Fiona Walsh
Year 5/6 Teacher
Fiona Tyrrell
Year 1 Teacher
Teresa Galgani
Learning Support Officer
Library Leader
Allison Tucci
Learning Support Officer
Caterina Cerrina
Learning Support Officer & Gifted and Talented Leader
Antonella Gray
Learning Support Officer
Donna Evans
Learning Support Officer
Voula Theonas
Learning Support Officer
Gavin Griffith
Year 4 Teacher
Robyn Mustey
Learning Support Officer
Katherine Aldcroft
PE Teacher
Anna Clarkson
Gardening Sustainability
Julie Drum
Art Teacher
Irene Poulton
Literacy Support
Madame Cecile Dutrieux
Language (French) Teacher
Majo Prieto Romero
OSHC Leader - Camp Australia
Erica Christie
Year 3 teacher
Stefania Miller
Music Teacher
Meet Our Parish Priest
Welcome to St Cecilia’s Parish Primary School. We are very glad to welcome you to our school and parish community. Our school strives to be inclusive and caring, and to embrace all its members. We have a very strong sense of community at St Cecilia’s. Parents, staff and students all work together closely, understanding that the formation of each young person is a collaborative effort. Families at St Cecilia’s are not only of great support to the school, but also come together to help each other in times of need.
Students are given a very strong foundation in the traditions, beliefs, stories and values of the Catholic Church. Faith formation is fostered in partnership with the parish through family, whole school and class liturgical celebrations, and the sacramental programs for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation.
St Cecilia’s School belongs within St Cecilia’s parish community. Especially while your children attend our school, we invite you and your family to join our parish community as often as you can for Sunday Mass. Above all, we invite you to join us for the great celebrations of Easter and Christmas. Getting a busy family to Sunday Mass does take some organising! Even so, it is very worthwhile making the effort when you can. Going to Mass together enriches family life.
At St Cecilia’s, faith is something that is alive and lived daily. The school and community make faith real for the students by challenging them to think about what we can do for others in tangible ways. The message of ‘living Christ’s love for others’ is expressed in the way that staff and students care for each other, through numerous outreach and social justice initiatives, and through daily prayer and meditation.
We want to prepare our students to be future leaders of their communities and of the Church. Our school strives to do this by providing our students with opportunities to grow in confidence and self-belief. All students are given leadership responsibilities throughout their time at St Cecilia’s. They are also instilled with a strong sense of social responsibility, and encouraged to stand up courageously for what is right and just.
We are confident that during their time in the St Cecilia’s community, you and your children will find a place rich in faith, life and education. It is a place where all aspects of each student’s development are nurtured. We hope that you will all come to feel very much at home.
Father Kevin McGovern
Parish Priest
Our History
It began with a school. In the late 1920s, Catholics around Glen Iris asked for their own Catholic primary school.
And towards the end of 1929, Our Lady of Victories Parish in Camberwell bought four blocks of land: two in Hillside
Parade, and two more in Van Ness Avenue. The building of the school began in 1930. It was blessed by Archbishop
Mannix on the 12th of July, 1931. The first Mass here was celebrated a fortnight later, at 9am on Sunday the 26th of July 1931. That was 90 years ago.
St Cecilia’s School opened in 1932. There were 44 children, and two Josephite sisters to teach. The Sisters of St Joseph remained at the school for 41 years until the end of 1972. Since then, for the last 49 years, our school has been a lay staff.
Over time, there has been a major redevelopment of the school and parish facilities. Between 2007 and 2014, older buildings were removed; the Tennis Club was relocated with new courts and a new clubhouse; new classrooms and a massive new building were constructed; there were significant renovations of the original school building and the presbytery; and there was extensive landscaping and other projects.
All up, about 5.2 million dollars was spent. This included a large grant from the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution. A Masterplan Committee with school and parish representatives consulted with all stakeholders, planned carefully, and saw the project through to a great outcome.
Our Policies & Useful Documents
At St Cecilia's school we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).