Saint Jude’s Catholic Primary School in Langford will commemorate its 40th anniversary by inviting its alumnus back for a special day later this month.
The celebration on Monday 28 October – which falls on the feast day of St Simon and St Jude – will begin with 9am Mass, followed by morning tea in the school hall and a time capsule remembrance.
To help memorialise the milestone, attendees can purchase a personally engraved brick to be placed in the school’s Mercy Garden.
St Jude’s Catholic Primary School welcomed its first students on 29 April 1979.
The establishment of the school was the realisation of a dream of then-Lynwood/Langford Parish Priest Father Henry Byrne, which he had shared with his Parish Council and loyal parishioners – a diverse group of new migrant families.
lt was through their strong Catholic faith, determination and hard work that the school commenced with three classes and 56 students.
Sister Maura Kelleher RSM – one of the Mercy Sisters residing opposite the Parish Church – was appointed as the foundation Principal.
Sr Maura served as Principal until Mr John Last commenced in the position in 1985. He led the school with great enthusiasm, continuing its development and growth.
It was under the leadership of Mrs Judy Hearne, from 1992 to 1999, that the school undertook its first major Capital Development Plan in 1995. A new staff room, wet area, uniform shop, eating area, and atrium were built during this period.
In 2000, the school welcomed the appointment of Sr Jilyan Dingle as Principal for a short time.
Sr Jilyan was then followed by Mrs Helen O’Toole, who implemented the final stages of the current Capital Development Plan that included the enhancement of the school grounds, a staff car park, an upgrade of the point parish/school basketball courts, beautification of the front entrance of the school, and the provision of a toilet for the disabled.
Mrs Lyn Stone was appointed Principal between 2006 and 2017.
Mrs Stone continued a programme of improvements throughout the school. Upgrades of the school’s facilities included a covered lunch area for the junior students, refurbishment of the library, and additional resources in the Kindergarten and Pre-Primary areas, as well as the construction of an all-weather multipurpose hall.
The most recent building projects completed were the extension of the Pre-Primary Classroom and the addition of new toilets in the Early Learning Block in 2014.
There has been extensive beautification to the school grounds and the general school environment both inside and out creating a school, which is a well-resourced and modern place of learning.
In 2018, the St Jude’s school community welcomed Mrs Jonnda Simpson as Principal.
Today, St Jude’s Catholic Primary School is a vibrant and varied community with close to thirty different nationalities calling St Jude’s home.
Many students, who were a part of the school’s early history, now have their own families who have also become a part of the St Jude’s school community. One of our early students was Mrs Jacqueline Edwards, who is now an Education Assistant at the school.
“It is very special to know that through their grandchildren, the families are still connected to St Jude’s today,” Mrs Simpson said.
“It is with great pride that the school community can look back to the dedication and commitment of those founding families’ and Fr Byrne’s dream to establish a Catholic school built on the strong tradition of Catholic faith and education.”
For more information about the event or to order a personally engraved paver, call (08) 6350 2500 or email admin@stjudes.wa.edu.au