By connecting to the real world of students’ lives, authentic learning enables students to become lifelong learners who contribute to society and the wider world as active and discerning citizens. Authentic learning is central to our work as Catholic educators because it promotes the continual growth and wellbeing of the whole person — spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.

Our school wide vision for learning, ‘A time to learn, a place to grow’, articulates how students learn best across St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Oatley from Kindergarten to Year 6.01-oatley-learning-approach-maths-physical-task

  • A time to inquire: To inquire is to question and make meaning.
  • A time to engage: To engage is to be actively involved.
  • A time to achieve: To achieve is to continually stretch your own abilities.

A clock has many parts and pieces that work in unity together, much like the faith community of St Joseph’s. Our families, parish and school are the mechanisms that work harmoniously, gathering momentum to create new futures. The internal clock mechanism has gears inside it to count the seconds, minutes, and hours we spend; our time at St Joseph’s.

The face of the clock looks directly outward displaying a watermark of our school motto that calls us to grow in faith and knowledge and to live in peace. Framing our clock face are our values.

The three hands on a clock move round and indicate the time and how it should be spent. The hour hand, the minute hand and the second hand are three arrowed hands guided by the three spiritual gifts of St Joseph, St Mary of the Cross and Our Lady Help of Christians.

The clock tower itself is built with the strong foundations of our principles of engagement, inquiry and achievement, and it is constructed with essential skills for deep learning, creating new futures for all.