Frequently Asked Questions - St Joseph's Narrabeen

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions from prospective parents.  

Can I tour the school? 

Of course! We welcome you to visit, perhaps with your child or family members as well. We have some small group tour dates available here. 

Is there an electronic version of the enrolment form?

There is! You can find it here

What are the next steps in regards to enrolling?

The next step is to submit the application, and then come and meet us for an interview. Our principal Virginia Outred will meet with you and your child to talk more in detail about your goals and hopes.
The enrolment procedure is further detailed here.

Will I definitely get in?

There is a limit as to how many enrolments we can take. We can’t guarantee you a place as the numbers will be capped when the class is full. The best way to lock in a spot is of course, to apply.

How can I get to know more about the school?

Our FacebookInstagram and Vimeo pages are a great place to start – give them a follow and have a look at what we get up to!

Do I need to be Catholic?

You don’t need to be Catholic, and nor does your child. We are a Catholic school and your child will learn about religion and faith. They will attend church (St Joseph’s Church is next door to the school) and we expect parents to support their lessons in faith as they would do all their other lessons.

We are very proud to be an inclusive community with students and staff from a wide range of backgrounds, including non-Catholic and non-religious backgrounds; what we all share is a commitment to Catholic values. We welcome applications from all families seeking a Catholic education for their children.

How much religion is taught?

Religion makes up a small percentage of the curriculum, and the values we talked about underpin all our learning. We don’t do a lesson on “happiness and joy” or “kindness” but we weave in those values as part of the curriculum and as part of daily life at the school. For example, at the moment it’s Lent, which lasts for the 40 days before Easter. The students all made a collective promise to practice ‘goodness and gratitude’ for each day of Lent. Every morning, they take a moment to think of something they’re grateful for and a good deed they can do and they take turns sharing this. It’s a beautiful and natural way for our students to learn about what our values mean in our community.

What’s St Lucy’s?

St Lucy’s is a special education school based in Wahroonga that rents a space from us at the front area of the school. They are a separate school to us and operate a Kindy and Year 1 “satellite” class here, with their own teachers and enrolment process. To ensure we are as inclusive, they share a uniform with St Joseph’s.

Have I left it too late to enrol?

At St Joseph’s Narrabeen, we are still accepting enrolments for Kindergarten to Year 6, with limited availability in selected classes. Find out more here or contact us with specific requests. 

How much are the school fees?

Information about our school fees can be found here. St Joseph’s Narrabeen Fee Schedule

What curriculum is offered in Catholic schools?

Catholic schools offer the same curriculum as government and independent schools in NSW as determined by NSW Education Standards Authority. Additionally, Religious Education is undertaken as part of every student’s course of study. 

Secondary schools offer a broad choice of subjects, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. Subject selection processes are designed to maximise student choice and cater for students’ needs.

Do I need to be in the catchment area?

While being local allows you to fully embrace the community around our school, we are open to accepting enrolment applications outside a traditional catchment area.

What about diverse learners and students with special needs? 

Catholic School Broken Bay school system is proud of its comprehensive and inclusive support of diverse learners, including gifted students and students with a range of other special needs. 

Various specific support services for students with special needs are available, including:  

  • Consultation services for class teachers to assist them in the provision of reasonable adjustments for students with special needs 
  • Services to students with hearing and vision impairment 
  • Special education services to assist schools develop and implement an inclusive model of support for students with disabilities 
  • Transition planning support for students with disabilities. A variety of support is also offered to cater for students of different abilities, including twice exceptional and gifted and talented students.

What is your approach to bullying?

Catholic Schools Broken Bay expect high standards of student behaviour and appearance. All schools have policies and procedures relating to behaviour management and anti-bullying which are informed by the Catholic Schools Broken Bay’s Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing Policy

This policy and associated programs are based firmly on Catholic values and focus on building quality relationships and fostering resilience. School expectations, standards and procedures are outlined within these policies, addressing matters such as school rules, responsibilities, reward systems, support structures, programs and services. Each school is committed to creating a safe and supportive learning community for its students, staff and families. 

 Couldn’t find what you were looking for? Please let us know if you have any more questions, we are always happy to have a chat and we would love to talk more about how our school can cater for your child. 

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