Welcome to St. Catherine's School

St. Catherine's School, Berwick was officially opened on Sunday 23rd November, 1997 by Bishop Coffey, just over three years since planning began for this second school for St. Michael's Parish.

In mid - 1994 Mr. Terry Synan (then Director of Catholic Education for the Sale Diocese) examined the future needs for Catholic Education in the western end of the Diocese. Based on the work done by Terry and Mr. Bill McMahon (Educational Consultant for the Sale Diocese) the wheels were put in motion for the development of a new school.

A steering Committee of Monsignor Gallagher, (Parish Priest of St. Michael's) C.E.O. Personnel, future parents of the new school, members of St. Michael's Parish Education Board and staff from St. Michael's School was established to discuss the many issues confronting the establishment of a new school. A site was selected on Clyde Road, Berwick and on the last day of the 1996 school year the plans of Architect - Mr. Ted Adams were put into action by S. & B. Lamble Builders.

Although the buildings didn't start until the end of 1996 St. Catherine's School actually began its life in three rooms at St. Michael's school at the beginning of 1996. Thanks to the efforts of Parents and Parishioners the original St. Michael's school buildings, which had been built by the Parishioners back in 1961, were about to be brought back to life. The possums were evicted and following three wonderful Working Bees and some financial support from the C.E.O. we were up and running.

The rest as they say is history - St. Catherine's began with 67 students in 3 classes and on the 16th June, 1997 opened at our own site on Clyde Road. The development of St. Catherine's is a further reflection of St. Michael's Parish commitment to education.

On the 28th October 2001, we Officially Opened our first permanent classroom block, which consists of 5 classrooms, a circulation area and a computer lab. Our school has grown to 492 students across 18 classes in 2007.

Berwick is a rapidly growing area and St. Catherine's will be well placed to meet the future demands for education with the building of a Junior Secondary Campus of St. Francis Xavier College adjacent to our buildings. From 2003 you will have the opportunity for your children to attend Prep-Year 9 on the one site.

St. Catherine's offers a Catholic education based on the Gospel values. We value all students and families as part of our young and growing community, within St. Michael's Parish, Berwick.

I hope our website is both informative and interesting to you.

Trish Stabb

PRINCIPAL