Catholic school to provide an alternative to traditional education with 6am to 6pm timings

PROMOTED  as “the school of tomorrow, today”, St Luke’s Catholic College at Marsden Park is set to open its doors to its first influx of primary school students in February.

Principal Greg Miller at the site where the new school is being built. Pictures: Carmela Roche

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PROMOTED  as “the school of tomorrow, today”, St Luke’s Catholic College at Marsden Park is set to open its doors to its first influx of primary school students in February.

The Catholic school is considered to be the first western Sydney school which will operate from 6am to 6pm five days a week and has been designed to allow for community and business involvement.

St Luke’s Catholic College principal Greg Miller said the school aimed to provide an alternative to traditional education.

Artist’s impression of the new St Luke's Catholic College in Marsden Park.

“It will progress young people from early learning to Year 12 and beyond, through a developmental and student-centred approach to learning with a focus on ‘learning how to learn’,” Mr Miller said.

“It will integrate a number of services, including early learning, out of school hours care, primary and secondary, plus there will be a high-needs studio.

“It will also be open from 6am to 6pm to cater for the busy lifestyle of families in this new estate area.”

He said it has investigated using time differently and better which involves new ways of learning that cater for individual students.

St Luke’s Catholic College is coming up fast at Marsden Park.

“Within a Catholic faith environment, students will learn how to be responsible global citizens, how to think creatively and ­critically, how to communicate and work collaboratively, a school that fosters imagination and innovation,’’ he said.

“We will also be looking at getting the community and business involvement through innovative programs which will connect students with local employers. At St Lukes we believe learning equals infinite possibilities.”

Mr Miller said he received the best preparation for his new role when he spent seven years as principal at Mater Dei Catholic College in Wagga Wagga.

However, more recently he was secondary schools consultant in the Diocese of Broken Bay, providing support for secondary ­principals, school leadership teams and school ­communities.

On Februay 3 St Luke’s, located in the new Elara estate, on the corner of Northbourne Drive and Frontier Ave, Marsden Park will open its doors to its first kindergarten students and, on Monday, February 6, Year 1- Year 6 will start.