Principal’s Message
Thank you for considering Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Earlwood.
As principal, I am committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to experience success in their academic, sporting, or creative endeavours. Our teachers are highly skilled and qualified practitioners who strive to develop strong relationships with their students to know them as learners and cater to their individual learning needs.
I believe in a holistic approach to education where each child has the opportunity to develop their spiritual, social, academic, sporting, and creative domains ensuring they are well equipped to accept the challenges of high school and life beyond.
Our pedagogical principles provide our students with the skills necessary to confidently participate in 21st-century learning. They are encouraged to be self-directed and collaborative learners constantly reflecting on what and how they learn best.
We provide all children with opportunities to engage with and develop their Catholic faith. We work in close partnership with the parish and wider community to ensure the children have a sense of belonging to a universal family of believers.
Margrita Cutrupi
Principal
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Earlwood was established in 1923 by the North Sydney Sisters of Mercy. The first school was opened in the garage of Mrs Hocking’s house, under the principalship of Sr Francesca Cleary, with 23 children enrolled. The current school building situated on St James Avenue, was blessed and opened in 1926 by His Grace the Most Reverend Michael Kelly D.D. Archbishop of Sydney.
Up until 1986, Our Lady of Lourdes was under the leadership of the Sisters of Mercy with 18 Sisters undertaking the role of school principal over the 63-year period. In 1987, we saw the first lay principal appointed to the school.
Over the years, the school has enjoyed building developments and refurbishments creating what is today a very contemporary and well-resourced primary school with school enrolments reaching 410 students.
Charism
We are proud of our deep connection with the Sisters of Mercy and the legacy created by Catherine McAuley. The Mercy values of service, respect, compassion, justice, courage, and hospitality guide our policies and practices and are embedded in our pedagogical principles.
Collaboration and respect are very much part of the school’s ethos and support our vision that all students should experience success.
Vision
At Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Earlwood, we commit to modelling our teaching and learning on the person and message of Jesus Christ. In partnership with parents, carers, and parish, we commit to imparting Catholic beliefs, values, practices, and traditions within a faith-filled community.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, and other visionaries who have come before us.
As a Catholic school, we value our history, spirit of community, and cultural diversity.
We share in the evangelising mission of the Church, we commit to the development of the whole person as a child of God, and we seek to empower the individual to promote the Kingdom of God.
Mission
Loving – Celebrating being Catholic in our parish school
We celebrate being Catholic in our parish school by bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the school community. We endeavour to inspire our students, to instill love and hope, and to develop the self-esteem of each individual.
Learning – Ensuring high-quality teaching and learning
We ensure high-quality teaching and learning and promote the achievement and development of ‘personal best’ for each individual. We provide high-quality education that enriches and challenges each student to develop the skills for life-long learning.
Living – Making a difference in our world
We make a difference in our world by equipping our children with knowledge and skills for a hope-filled future. We promote an active partnership between home, parish, school, and community. We encourage children to live with joy and meaning, fostering in students personal qualities to enable them to live balanced, healthy and meaningful lives in a constantly changing world.
The participation of our parish priest in our school life contributes to the growth and development of our school community.
Parish Priest: Fr Patrick
A: 280 Homer Street, Earlwood NSW 2206
P: (02) 9558 1254
E: secretary@lourdesparish.com.au
Mass times
Wednesday: 8.30am
Thursday: 8.30am
Friday: 9.00am
Saturday Vigil: 5.00pm
Sunday: 9.30am, 10.45am Italian, 6:00pm Maronite Mass in English