Federal Education Minister Jason Clare visited students and staff from St Felix Catholic Primary School, Bankstown, yesterday and met with Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins and Sydney Catholic Schools executive director Tony Farley.
The official party was welcomed by St Felix principal Fran Bonanno and school captains Dominic Nassar and Matilda Escolme before touring kindergarten and Year 1 classrooms speaking with students and attending the Years 2 to 6 assembly where they were greeted with a student musical performance.
St Felix primary school has demonstrated exceptional NAPLAN learning growth for students from Years 3 to 5 over the past five years, among some of the highest results across Sydney Catholic Schools, with 98 per cent of students at the school from a language background other than English.
Ms Bonanno said St Felix had highly effective teachers and support staff with a focus on collaborative planning and individualised learning which was reflected in the school’s strong NAPLAN results.
“Good results come from good teaching and a belief that children can and will achieve regardless of their social or economic background,” she said.
“There is a moral imperative that we ensure all children are provided with the best opportunities possible.”
Ms Collins said the visit provided an “important opportunity to speak with the minister about key issues affecting Catholic education, including ensuring school choice and religious freedom for faith-based schools, implications of the review of the National School Reform Agreement and the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan”.
FULL STORY
Education Minister engages with students at high-performing Catholic school in Bankstown (NCEC)
