School targets kids with poor attendance record

Sydney
11 November 2001

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School targets kids with poor attendance record

A new Catholic primary school opening at Mt Druitt in 2003 will aim to attract children from families with a history of poor school attendance.

The new school, which will be located in the grounds of the Holy Parish Centre in Luxford Road, Emerton, is the brainchild of parish priest Fr Paul Hannah.

Mt Druitt is an area with typically low school attendance rates.

It has taken three years of planning between the Catholic Education Office in the Parramatta diocese and the Holy Family community to capture the vision of the Mt Druitt community and its special educational needs.

Fr Paul said that many children and families from the Mt Druitt community were keen to learn but had not had positive experiences in the traditional school setting.

Sr Brenda Kennedy, who has been appointed inaugural principal of the new school, says there is already a vision in the community and the new school will be an expression of that vision.

“We need to make it a place kids want to come, where they can be motivated, have fun and have their individual needs met,” she said.

“And we’re not just looking to educate the child, we plan on getting their families involved in education too. The school will complement and build on the spirit of the successful community- based projects such as the cooperative shop, market garden, preschool and life development programs.

“Education is not confined to four walls. It is not confined to a classroom.

“We need to think outside the box and see how this school can best meet the needs of the community,” the principal said.