A Catholic Single-Stream School
At Santa Clara School, we take pride in being one of the few Catholic single-stream schools in the area. This unique structure enables us to cultivate a warm, close-knit community where every child is known by name and feels truly valued.
Our single-stream setting fosters a safe and engaging learning environment that encourages all students to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Teachers and staff build strong connections with students not only in the classroom but also through sport, learning support, excursions, extracurricular activities, and mentoring opportunities.
Santa Clara School offers:
- Tailored and nurturing learning environments that meet the needs of individual students, including those from non-English speaking backgrounds
- Close monitoring of each child’s academic progress and social-emotional wellbeing
- Stronger, more meaningful relationships between students and teachers
- A learning environment where every student is supported to reach their full potential
- Opportunities for student leadership and voice
- A strong sense of community and personal responsibility, promoting connectedness and belonging
Inclusive Co-Education in a Diverse Community
At Santa Clara School, we are proud to offer co-educational learning in a vibrant and inclusive Catholic environment. Our boys and girls learn alongside one another, gaining fresh perspectives, developing important social skills, and building the confidence to express themselves respectfully in the presence of others. Co-education encourages collaboration, mutual understanding, and equality—values that are essential for thriving in today’s world.
As a multicultural school community, Santa Clara celebrates the rich backgrounds and experiences of our families, with over 60% of students from language backgrounds other than English. This cultural diversity adds depth and meaning to classroom discussions, broadens worldviews, and nurtures empathy, acceptance, and global-mindedness from a young age.
The advantages of co-education in our multicultural setting include:
- Enhanced learning through the sharing of diverse ideas, experiences, and perspectives
- Development of mutual respect, confidence, and healthy self-esteem
- A spirit of cooperation and constructive, inclusive competition
- Equal opportunities for all students to lead, participate, and grow
- A real-world learning environment that reflects the diversity of our society
- Greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds
Santa Clara School provides a welcoming and supportive space where every child—regardless of gender or background—can feel a true sense of belonging and is empowered to reach their full potential.
Personalised Learning and Student Support
At Santa Clara School, we are committed to helping every child reach their full potential through a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy and a personalised approach to learning. We understand that every learner is unique, which is why we offer a range of targeted intervention and support programs designed to meet the individual needs of our students.
To further support student growth, Santa Clara School offers evidence-based intervention programs, including MiniLit and MultiLit, to assist students who require additional support in reading. These structured programs are designed to build essential literacy skills in a supportive, small-group setting.
We also cater for students from non-English speaking backgrounds through tailored learning plans that support the development of Australian Standard English, along with a functional language program focusing on oral language and comprehension.
For students requiring more specialised assistance, our school provides Individual Education Plans (IEPs), ensuring learning experiences are adapted to meet their academic and emotional needs. Teachers are further supported through access to an on-site Educational Psychologist, enabling timely guidance, assessments, and strategies to enhance student wellbeing and learning outcomes.
High-achieving students are extended and challenged through differentiated classroom instruction, in-class enrichment tasks, and opportunities to engage in project-based learning and critical thinking activities. Our teachers work to ensure that these students are inspired to go deeper in their learning and continue to strive for excellence.
At Santa Clara, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.
Beyond the Classroom: Extracurricular Opportunities
At Santa Clara School, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. We offer a diverse range of extracurricular activities designed to support the personal growth, creativity, and wellbeing of every student. These opportunities allow students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build confidence in a safe and inclusive environment.
Our programs encourage teamwork, leadership, and community engagement, ensuring that all students feel valued and inspired to take part. Whether through sports, the arts, or service, students are supported to make meaningful contributions to their school and the wider community.
Extracurricular opportunities at Santa Clara include:
- Private music lessons (keyboard and guitar)
- School and interschool sports carnivals
- Auslan language learning
- URSTRONG friendship program
- Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum
- Digital Technology (1:1 iPad program for Years 4–6)
- Class Buddy system
- Student Leadership Committees
- Participation in community events and celebrations
- Acts of service supporting local charities
At Santa Clara, our extracurricular offerings are another way we nurture well-rounded, confident, and compassionate learners.
Growing Young Leaders
At Santa Clara School, we believe that every child is a leader. Leadership is not limited to a badge or title—it’s about taking initiative, showing kindness, and making a positive impact in the classroom, playground, and wider community. Through a variety of meaningful opportunities, students are supported to build confidence, responsibility, and a strong sense of service.
From the early years, students are encouraged to develop leadership skills such as active listening, teamwork, and empathy. In the junior primary, these values are explored through class responsibilities and collaborative learning. As students progress into upper primary, they take on more formal roles through our Leadership Committees, classroom responsibilities, and school-wide initiatives.
Our upper primary students proudly represent Santa Clara at community events, including the ANZAC Day service, LifeLink Launch, and the Performing Arts Festival Opening Mass. They also lead within the school—speaking at assemblies, supporting younger students through buddy activities, and acting as captains at sporting and interschool events.
A highlight of our leadership program is the Student Code of Conduct, which was developed by students, for students. It reflects the values of our school community and sets clear expectations for behaviour. Students actively uphold and model these values, supporting one another to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment.
At Santa Clara, leadership is a journey shared by all — and every student is given the opportunity to grow, lead, and shine.
Student Engagement and Wellbeing
At Santa Clara School, we are committed to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment, grounded in Catholic values, where every student is encouraged to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
We believe strong, healthy relationships between students, staff, and families are the foundation of a positive school culture. Honesty, mutual respect, and genuine care are at the heart of our approach to student wellbeing. Pastoral Care is not a separate program but a vital part of all teaching and learning at Santa Clara, woven into daily classroom life.
From the early years, our students are supported in identifying and developing their personal strengths; using them to make a positive difference within the school and beyond.
All staff are trained in the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM), a research-based approach that equips teachers with strategies to improve engagement, wellbeing, and academic outcomes — particularly for students with complex learning needs. The BSEM focuses on:
- self-regulation
- building strong relationships
- student wellbeing
- personal growth
- academic achievement
In addition, our school implements the URSTRONG friendship program as part of our Health curriculum. This engaging, child-friendly approach empowers students with the skills to build positive, respectful friendships and navigate social challenges with confidence.
Inspiring Innovation Through STEM
At Santa Clara School, we foster a love of learning through curiosity, creativity, and exploration. Our engaging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program provides students with exciting, hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination and build real-world problem-solving skills.
From coding and robotics to engineering challenges, science investigations, and sustainable gardening, our students explore a wide range of STEM concepts through meaningful, integrated learning opportunities. Lessons are designed to be active, practical, and fun—encouraging students to think critically, collaborate with others, and apply their knowledge in innovative ways.
A highlight of our program is the Makerspace—a creative learning hub where students work with our specialist STEM teacher each week. This dedicated space allows students to tinker, build, code, design, and test ideas, developing key skills such as computational thinking, logic, reasoning, and resilience.
STEM activities across the year levels include:
- Coding with Bee-Bots and digital platforms
- Lego engineering and model building
- Problem-solving in our Makerspace
- Sustainable gardening and science experiments
- Computational thinking tasks and digital design
At Santa Clara, STEM learning empowers students to explore the world around them, think like innovators, and prepare for the dynamic future ahead.
Preparing for the Journey Ahead: Transition to High School
At Santa Clara School, we support each child in making a smooth and confident transition to secondary school. We maintain strong relationships with a range of local secondary schools, with many of our students going on to attend Catholic colleges such as St Norbert College and Ursula Frayne Catholic College.
As part of our transition program, students are given opportunities to visit secondary schools, take part in orientation activities, and experience high school environments through events such as school tours, performances, and workshops. These visits help familiarise students with new settings and build their confidence for the next stage of their learning journey.
Our ongoing partnership with St Norbert College is especially valued, with a sibling discount maintained across both schools, offering practical support for families and strengthening our shared sense of Catholic community. We also appreciate the connection with Ursula Frayne Catholic College, where our students are welcomed and supported in continuing their education.
At Santa Clara, we are proud to walk alongside our students and families, preparing them for a positive and successful start to high school and beyond.
