History:
St Joseph鈥檚 School Sorrento has served the needs of the Southern Peninsula since 1932. In the early days the school attendance was less than 50, with a staff of two nuns. Lay principals have been leading the school since 1984 after 51 years of the school being served by the Sisters of Mercy. The school now has an enrolment of approximately 200 students. St Joseph鈥檚 School is part of the St Mary鈥檚 Star of the Sea Parish. The school shares its grounds with the church and the faith life of the children is of prime importance in the school.
Description:
St Joseph鈥檚 School is situated in a very unique setting. The school is situated in the township of Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, surrounded by national parks and beautiful beaches. A peaceful and calm atmosphere is reflected in the environment of the school which is welcoming to all. It is set between Port Phillip Bay and the back beaches facing Bass Strait. The surrounding beaches, lack of busy traffic and beautiful scenery, place the school in the most idyllic of settings. It is within walking distance to the township of Sorrento.
The school architecture is a federation style and sits comfortably in the local environment. Since 2012 the school has undergone extensive renovations. These renovations created four flexible learning spaces that house our Preps, 1/2s, 3/4s and 5/6s. In 2016 the basketball court was resurfaced and a running track was added to the top playground. 2018 saw the beginning of the refurbishment of the library which was completed early 2019.
Features:
St Joseph's shares ownership of a swimming pool that enables the school to offer a comprehensive swimming program at no cost to the families, and with minimum disruption to the curriculum.
The school provides a private bus service which runs from Truemans Road, Tootgarook to Sorrento.
A strong commitment has been made to improving and maintaining the facilities. The school playground easily accommodates the students. Many favourable comments are made about the school鈥檚 charm and quaint setting.
All curriculum areas within the school are aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, including the Capabilities, the Physical, Personal and Social Learning and Faith Based Inquiry. Students and staff have access to the latest technology through interactive whiteboards and computers in all classrooms, with 1:1 availability for all students. Specialist classes are offered in the areas of, Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education and Italian.
Lunchtime and Extra Curricula activities included: Dance, Master Art Classes, Robotics, Garden Club, Little Shredders Skiing.
The School Improvement Plan takes its life from the School Vision Statement. Our Vision Statement is the fabric of our school. It represents our key beliefs that we hold for students and the school community, based on Gospel values. St. Joseph鈥檚 School believes in equal access to education for all.
The school has an open door policy and we encourage all to visit our school, to meet the principal and to see our school in action.