St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Strathmore VIC
Gender
Co-Ed
Years
Prep-6
Enrolments
402
Established: 1937
Principal: Mr Shane Byrne
Address: 92 - 114 Woodland Street, Strathmore 3041
Key Information
Staff
31 Teaching
13 Non Teaching
Fees
See Website (Primary)
Languages
Italian
About our school
St Vincent de Paul Parish PrimarySchool is found in Strathmore. The Sisters of Charity opened St Vincent de Paul School, North Essendon (as it was known then) on 26th January 1937. It was not until 1941 that the Parish of St Vincent de Paul, North Essendon, was established and in 1943 the area was re-named Strathmore.
It was 26th January 1937 that the Sisters of Charity opened St Vincent de Paul School, North Essendon (as it was known then). The first sisters appointed to undertake the Catholic Education of the forty students were Sr M. Avellino Walsh, Sr M. Helana Parker, Sr M. Majella O’Shea and Sr M. Frances Donovan with Carmel Considine appointed Sister in charge in 1938.
In the following sixty years, the student enrolment has grown to peak at 680 in 1960-61, with 11 staff and classes of 80-90 students. Our present enrolment sits around 430 students with 18 classes of between 18 – 28 students.
It was not until 1941 that the Parish of St Vincent de Paul, North Essendon was established and in 1943 the area was re-named Strathmore. The Columban Fathers administered the Parish until 1946 when Fr Durkin was appointed Parish Priest. It is interesting to note that Strathmore Parish has only had 6 Parish Priests with Fr Frank Larsen appointed in 1977, Fr Dom De Giorgio in 1992, Fr Peter Ray in 2007, Fr Tony Doran in 2021 and Fr Nhan Le in 2025.
St Vincent de Paul School provides an inclusive curriculum catering for students’ individual needs. We offer an extensive curriculum which aims to provide opportunities for students to reach their full potential.
We integrate our curriculum through the Inquiry Approach to Learning.
We believe that as a Catholic school, St Vincent de Paul School is a place where an individuals can feel part of a caring, nurturing and supportive community that continues to develop in people the faith, qualities and values as taught in the Gospel.
We are committed to the faith development of every child in our community where all members feel appreciated and respected in an atmosphere of justice and equality.
Catholic philosophy is the foundation of all of our policies and programs, providing students with opportunities to develop spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically and academically.
We aim to provide opportunities that enable all members of the school community to learn and develop their unique gifts in an atmosphere that makes them feel safe, challenged and worthwhile.
St Vincent de Paul Primary School aims to empower students to become lifelong learners equipped to face the challenges of life with hope, faith and resilience.
Principal's Message
On behalf of the St. Vincent de Paul Primary School community, I extend a warm welcome to you and your family. For over 80 years, our school has proudly served the families of Strathmore and Essendon, offering a rich tradition of quality education grounded in faith and community.
At the heart of our school are our Catholic values, which shape all aspects of school life—including our policies, programs, and approaches to teaching and learning. These values guide us in supporting each child’s spiritual, emotional, social, physical, and academic development.
Our dedicated staff work in close partnership with families to provide a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment. We are committed to explicit direct instruction as the foundation of our teaching approach. This means that students are provided with clear, structured, and carefully sequenced lessons where skills and concepts are taught explicitly and practiced consistently. This evidence-based method ensures that all students build strong foundational knowledge and develop the confidence and competence to achieve success.
We continuously evaluate and refine our teaching practices to ensure they reflect the most effective,evidence based approaches. Our focus on clarity, modelling, guided practice, and ongoing feedback ensures that students know what they are learning, why it matters, and how to apply their knowledge in different contexts.
In partnership with families, we foster the development of essential learning dispositions—such as problem solving, resilience, communication, respect, and self-discipline—so that students become independent, motivated learners who are well-equipped for the future.
We look forward to welcoming your family into our vibrant, faith-filled school community.
Shane Byrne – Principal
