Lisieux Looks to the future

The head of a new school coming to Torquay is excited about the opportunity to help shape and grow a community from scratch.

Lisieux Catholic Primary School Principal Susan Ryan said other local schools were at capacity, so the vision for a second Catholic school emerged over several years of planning.

“It’s an incredible opportunity and our vision is to nurture each individual and foster a love of life, learning and God’s creation.

“To me, it means being able to bring together the very best of everything: the best approaches to learning, to facilities, to play spaces, to curriculum, to pedagogy.”

The name of the school in South Beach Road (part of the Nazareth parish cluster) is inspired by the French town of Lisieux, the birthplace of St Therese.

The school’s logo incorporates a rose (Therese’s signature flower) and the temporary junior school on the site – located in a former home that will operate as a prep-grade 2 school for Term One – will be known as the Carmel Centre, in recognition of the convent where Therese lived.

“It’s a fantastic way to begin the growth of our school community, and our focus will be on building a sense of belonging,” Ms Ryan said.

Lisieux’s Stage 1 building will be complete in April 2018, with the school estimating it will have 50 pupils next year and accepting enrolments through to Grade 6 for 2019.

Stage 2 will start almost immediately and begin the development of more learning spaces (both inside and outside) and a school oval.

“We have a limited number of vacancies for Prep-2 remaining and we are accepting enrolment applications from any families in the catchment area who support the ethos of the school,” Ms Ryan said.

“It is not necessary to be Catholic to enrol at Lisieux. We are an inclusive community.”

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