Local primary school ”opens hearts and doors” to refugees
OUR Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School in Fairfield has opened its doors, and teachers and students have opened their hearts, to refugees.
Fairfield
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OUR Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School in Fairfield has opened its doors, and teachers and students have opened their hearts, to refugees coming into the local area and enrolling in the school.
Like many schools across the Fairfield area, Our Lady of the Rosary has experienced a sharp increase in the number of refugee families joining their community.
Principal Brother Nicholas Harsas said the school had 26 refugee students enrol in the last couple of months and that number was increasing daily.
“We had three on Wednesday and another three on Thursday,” Br Harsas said.
“Every day at the office we have more families waiting.”
Br Harsas said the refugee children and their parents had found in the school community a warm, welcoming, safe, happy and Christian environment.
“The students can learn in peace and harmony,” he said. “Many strategies have been put in place in the school, by staff and students, to support our newest Australians.
“That is why Our Lady of the Rosary School seems to be the school of choice for so many refugee families.”
Br Harsas said the staff and students were very proud to be able to help the refugee families.
“They made up big food hampers for each of the refugee families at Christmas and the parents couldn’t thank the school enough,” he said.
Our Lady of the Rosary also has taken on a specialist teacher to support the children from Iraq and Syria, and improved pastoral and educational resources are available to the families.
The refugee students also have had their school fees paid by a bursary from the Catholic Education Foundation.
“I’m so proud that the children have been so welcoming,” Br Harsas said.
“I’m just glad we can provide a safe, happy learning environment.”
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