
Our Lady of Fatima Parish Primary School
Rosebud

DREAM of possibilities.
BELIEVE in yourself.
ACHIEVE great things.
“Let your light shine” Matt 5:16
Our School
Our school motto is Dream, Believe, Achieve.
Our mantra and vision for Learning through our strategic cycle 2022-2025 is:​
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DREAM of possibilities.
BELIEVE in yourself.
ACHIEVE great things.
“Let your light shine” Matt 5:16​​​
We have well equipped and well ventilated classrooms all opening up to the expansive outdoors. We are proud of our outstanding location and facilities, spacious grounds, and a professional and dedicated staff. Our comprehensive Victorian Curriculum includes specialist classes in:
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Italian
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Physical Education
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Music
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Performing Arts
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STEM
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Visual Arts
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Our School offers explicit learning and teaching, whilst recognising the unique potential and unique skills of each child. We celebrate the diversity and achievements of every student, encouraging them to gain confidence in their abilities and to achieve to their full potential.
At Our Lady of Fatima School the staff invite you to work in partnership in the education of your child. Together we will work to provide a safe and respectful environment which: inspires a love of learning; invites a curious mind; celebrates creativity​; nurtures faith; celebrates success; acknowledges growth; rewards effort and nurtures the unique potential in every child.
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Our Vision
Our Lady of Fatima is a community where the teachings of Jesus Christ are reflected and practised, where all children are empowered to develop to their full potential. Our curriculum aims to meet the challenges of a changing world both locally and globally.
We take our school motto “Dream, Believe, Achieve” along with our faith as our inspiration.
Our Mission
We take our school motto 'Dream, Believe, Achieve' as our starting point.
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Our Dream for each child is that they will:
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have a love and excitement for learning
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assume responsibility for their decisions and actions
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be encouraged to be thinkers using their gifts of creativity and imagination
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be confident risk takers with a sense of self belief
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develop a positive sense of self worth and their own uniqueness.
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We Believe that Our Lady of Fatima:
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is a community that works together living out Gospel Values and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
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provides a well-balanced Religious Education Program
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belongs to and is an important part of our parish faith community
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supports all parents and carers as partners in their child’s education
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encourages every child to reach their potential.
We Achieve at Our Lady of Fatima by:
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offering a wide variety of evidence informed teaching strategies, with a focis on explicit practice
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providing staff with ongoing opportunities for professional development to be experts in their field
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encouraging a safe and stimulating environment in which all children can learn
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ensuring current resources to maximise learning outcomes for all students
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providing ongoing assessment & reporting on students’ performance to enhance learning and teaching.
Meet our Team
We Warmly Welcome You

Sarah McDermott
Principal

Gill Carr
Deputy Principal

Tegan Senior
Student Engagement Leader

Father Jacob Alvares
Parish Priest

Justine Le Griffon
Classroom Teacher

Angela Bath
Learning Support Officer

Sarah Dean
Classroom Teacher

Sabine Cahill
Learning Support Officer

Aaron Connolly
Classroom Teacher

Amy Cook
Classroom Teacher

Gabi Fisher
Classroom Teacher, Community Engagement & REL

Amanda Heggen
Visual Arts Teacher & Sustainability

Robyn McColl
Learning Support Officer

Kym McCarthy
Classroom Teacher

Aley Allen
STEM Teacher

Loraine Dramis
Learning Support Officer

Kelly Garbett-Tazare
Classroom Teacher

Daniela Colavecchi
Italian teacher

Jacinta McRae
Classroom Teacher

Jeanine Sutherland
Classroom Teacher

Samantha Maher
Learning Support Officer

Emma Driscoll
Wellbeing & Garden

Helena Gillies
Learning Support Officer

Dan Koole
Physical Education Teacher

Vanessa Mastramico
Classroom Teacher

Jacinta Riedel
Classroom Teacher

Buddy
Wellbeing Dog

Barb Adolfi
Learning Support Officer

Claire Graham
Learning Support Officer

Fleur Koole
Literacy & Intervention Leader

Sue Millar
Administration

Leanne Senior
Administration and Finance

Donna Madigan
Learning Support Officer

Matthew Ferguson
Classroom Teacher

Liza Grande
Music Teacher

Angela Kostopoulos
Performing Arts

Jan Nagel
Learning Support Officer

Sophie Cade
Learning Support Officer

Caitlyn Gorka
Learning Support Officer
Our students say...
"the staff have high expectations and so do we"
"staff know about you and your wellbeing"
"We have lots of opportunities to learn and grow"

Our History
Our Humble Beginnings
The school opened on February 1st 1984, at 18 McCombe Street Rosebud with 60 students in Years Prep to 4, growing to Year 6 in 1986. The school consisted of two double portable classrooms, a relocatable toilet block with the administration block being located in a house on the property. Another house was used as an art room and canteen.
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A decision was made by the then Parish Priest, Fr. Lewy Keelty O.M.I. to construct the permanent school on that site. The new building comprised six classrooms and associated works. The Blessing and Opening of the new building was in October 1987 by Archbishop Sir Frank Little. The founding Principal was Mr. Martin Dixon who later in his career went on to become the Minister for Education in the Victorian Government. The school served the Catholic communities of both Rosebud and Dromana.
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Mr. Trevor Garby was appointed to the position of principal in 1991 and Father William Walsh became the parish priest in 1992. The school was further developed with the building of an administration wing and library and students continued to enrol in growing numbers. Mr. Phillip O’Gorman was appointed to the position of principal in 2000. He was joined in 2002 by a new parish priest – Father Michael Szymanski, from the Order of St Paul the First Hermit. Together, they oversaw plans for the relocation of the school to a much larger site in Hinton Street which had previously been used as the shire depot. The school moved into new facilities and opened its doors for the first time on November 15th 2004. The Church was opened three weeks later. An Aldi supermarket now stands on the site of the original school school and church on Point Nepean Road.
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The new school was well equipped and students enjoyed the spacious grounds. Mr. Philip O’Gorman retired in 2007 and was replaced by Mrs. Monica Coyle in 2008. Father Gilbert Kruk became the new parish priest in 2009. At this time, further funds were made available to build additional classrooms and meeting spaces, to refurbish the Art Room and the Multi-Purpose Hall. This allowed the school to provide a dedicated space for Before and After School Care facilities. Another grant provided funds to complete major works in the playground. In 2020 we renovated and upgraded a dedicated STEM space ajoining our Art room. After a period of transience with priests following Father Gilbert’s appointment interstate, we were pleased to welcome Father Simon Shaner who joined us from America between 2011 and 2013. Father Bart Huyn San served as our Parish Priest from mid 2013 until 2019. In 2020 Fr John Paul Mount was appointed to parish priest for both Rosebud & Dromana parishes. At the end of 2020 Mrs. Monica Coyle retired and was replaced by Mrs. Patrika Rowley for 2021.
In 2022 we welcomed Ms. Sarah McDermott as our ongoing Principal. Sarah is an exceptional educator with 25 years experience who is committed to seeing our community grow and prosper for many years to come. Regular upgrades to keep pace with technological advances, continuous professional learning for staff to ensure expert teaching practices and a commitment to offering a quality curriculum ensures our students flourish.
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In 2025, our school will see a new building project commence that includes a purposely built STEM room, new student toilets, sports shed and a beautifully designed garden that highlights the charism of Our Lady of Fatima. The school also welcomed Father Jacob, as Parish priest - interim administrator.