St John Vianney’s Parish School was established in 1986 by the current Parish Priest, Fr John O’Neill.
The school opened with two classes, Kindergarten and Year 1, a total enrolment of 68 students. Sr Ursula Smith RSJ, a cousin of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, was the founding Principal.
History of our School
Originally the students were accommodated in portable classrooms. During 1986 work commenced on stage one of the school building. The building program was interrupted by the 1986 floods and the students were unable to move into the new building until April 1987.
Stage two of the building was completed in 1988. This stage consisted of four classrooms, which accommodated Years 3 and 4, a common learning area and the staffroom. In 1989 Mr Richard McGuinness was appointed the first lay Principal.
Stage three of the building was completed in 1992 and occupied by Years 5 and 6 students in 1993. Mrs Inke Soos was appointed Principal in 1994.
Stage four saw the administration block completed in October 2000.
In 2002 a major fundraising project was initiated to provide air-conditioning in all learning spaces, and by 2005 our goal was complete. Our learning spaces now provide an environment conducive to learning in all weather conditions.
By 2008, interactive whiteboards were installed in all classrooms, the library and learning support room. The multi-purpose room and refurbishment of the infants classrooms was completed in July 2011. The provision of Federal Government funding enabled the completion of the multi-purpose hall in 2011, which now provides a facility for whole-school gatherings, collaborative learning and parish functions.
Now and Into the Future
By the end of 2016, Apple TVs, iPad Pros and document cameras had been provided for all learning spaces, library and learning support (16 in total). Every learning space is now equipped for 21st century learning and our students enjoy a modern, interactive and stimulating learning environment.
A conference room was completed within the Library in August 2016, providing staff with a facility for professional learning conversations and a space for teachers to view and analyse Kindergarten to Year 6 (K-6) numeracy and literacy data, tracking of student progress and future planning. The refurbishment of the staffroom and the Infants' and Year 3 and 4 toilet blocks, were completed at the end of 2016.
The year 2016 marked 30 years of Catholic education at St John Vianney's Primary School. Our school now looks forward to providing local Primary students a high-quality Catholic education well into the next 30 years.