Choosing the right education for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

As parents, carers, or grandparents you have a choice - and the right - to offer your child the best education available.

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle proudly hosts some of the best schools in Newcastle, Maitland, the Hunter and Upper Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Manning regions.

Catholic schools offer a unique educational experience which forms the child or young person as a person of integrity, compassion, faith and wisdom. Catholic schools also work closely with their local parish to enhance in students a capacity to make sense of their world, to make judgements and to recognise the uniqueness of others within a faith community.

Each school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, P&F committees, clergy, parishioners, and support staff who work together to focus on students; encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. This means that Catholic schools don’t just teach religious studies, they seek to develop spirit, mind, body and character and cultivate Gospel values that support lives filled with joy, endeavour and hope in the future.

Each Catholic school has a commitment to focusing on each individual child’s ability, offering a unique array of educational, creative, sporting and formation opportunities for students.

Finally, Catholic schools offer peace of mind to parents; knowing they’ve made the right choice and the best investment for their child’s future. It is because of this and the many opportunities available to students that we believe choosing a Catholic education, is the right choice to make.

Why Do Families Choose St John’s?

Academic Excellence

At St John’s Primary School, Lambton, we promote academic excellence in a supportive and safe environment, encouraging all students to pursue the highest level of achievement. We are committed to the journey of strengthening the collaborative learning culture of St John’s, working together to provide engaging and relevant learning opportunities for all students. We are a school focused on using online diagnostic testing and data to better inform teaching and learning experiences. St John’s is committed to ensuring quality literacy and numeracy programs to meet all learning needs and students are encouraged to strive for excellence in all that they do.

St John’s is a Gifted Education Lead School in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. The focus for St John’s Gifted Program involves identifying gifted learners and providing specific opportunities for learning, training and practise. St John’s has high expectations for all students, with an increased focus on gifted learners and their needs.

St John’s Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) and Gifted Education Committee assist teachers with collating and analysing data, identifying the strengths and needs of students and providing appropriate strategies to meet their needs.

Contemporary Learning

At St John’s, we believe that deep learning that extends beyond the boundaries of subject specific content calls for strong engagement with 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity and citizenship to engage learners. These skills prepare learners to be collaborative problem-solvers who strive to contribute to the common good in today’s world. Learning at St John’s is underpinned by teaching methods and spaces that are engaging and adaptable. Flexible learning spaces complement teacher pedagogies and encourage creative teaching and learning. Learning environments at St John’s enable students to work in a variety of ways, to be social and collaborative, to do independent and project work and to participate in direct instruction. Open plan collaborative classrooms enable teachers to deliver an integrated curriculum with a focus on innovative and creative thinking.

Supporting the Wellbeing of Students

St John’s Lambton values and supports the uniqueness of each student, understanding the imperative of providing a learning environment where the full range of students needs can be addressed in academic, pastoral, social and co-curricular programs. All members of the school community remain firmly focused on Student Wellbeing, working to provide meaningful and inclusive learning programs which cater for the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social and physical dimensions of all students. St John’s Pastoral Care initiatives, Social and Emotional Learning Program, Leadership days and programs, Wellbeing Week activities, mindfulness activities, student social supports, the Buddy Program and a variety of playground options provide students with the skills, confidence and resilience to thrive.

Social Justice Initiatives

St John’s is a community of welcoming, belonging and connectedness. As a Catholic school, the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic tradition are central to our actions and interactions within and beyond the school environment. Our school motto ‘Love one Another’ underpins student, staff and family involvement in the school, the parish and the local Lambton community. We support the work of Catholic Mission, Caritas, Project Compassion and St Vincent de Paul, acknowledging a responsibility to assist those less fortunate and responding to the call of social justice and to the needs of the wider community. Students are provided with many opportunities to attend significant local events such as commemorative services and celebrations, developing a sense of belonging, responsibility for and taking an active part in the local community.

Encouraging Creative Pursuits

Students from St John’s participate in a multitude of learning experiences and opportunities in the area of Creative Arts. A qualified music teacher delivers a comprehensive music, dance and drama program to all students on a weekly basis. This program is tailored to the needs and interests of each class, while delivering the required curriculum content and outcomes. All students are encouraged to participate in the whole school musical, audition for ASPIRE, perform in the school band or choir and receive private music, piano or guitar lessons. These experiences offer students opportunities for personal expression, enjoyment, creative action, imagination, emotional response, aesthetic pleasure and the creation of shared meanings.

Please note that band pariticpation and private lessons incur additional fees.

Opportunities in Sport

St John’s offers a range of sports across both our internal and external sporting program where students can compete at representative level in swimming, athletics, cross country, netball, tennis, soccer, rugby league, rugby union, AFL, touch football, hockey, gymnastics, basketball and softball. Other sporting opportunities including:

• St John’s students are encouraged to participate in a variety of school representative teams in various sports and competitions including soccer, netball and a Term 4 schools basketball competition on a Friday evening. Parents assist with coaching and managing teams.
• Students in Years 2, 3 & 4 attend daily swimming lessons for a two-week block in Term 4.
• All students K – 6 enjoy a number of community games activities eg. Harmony Games.
• Students participate in a school “Run for Fun with Colour” run by the school P&F.