St Dominic Savio School

Saint Dominic Savio School is a traditional Catholic establishment. It is open to boys and girls from Kindergarten (5 years of age before July of the current school year) to Year 6. Saint Dominic Savio School is a work of the Church: the Church must exercise its full influence of “Mother and Mistress of Life and Truth”. In this spirit, the school wants to put into practice the Church’s doctrine on education, especially as it is resumed by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Divini Illius Magistri.

“Education essentially consists in the formation of man, teaching him what he must be and how he must act here below in order to attain the sublime end for which he was created; it is thus clear that there can be no complete and perfect education outside of Catholic education.”​

The Society of Saint Piux X has been present in Sydney since 1983. As the members of the parish and regular attendance at the church increased, repeated requests from parents dissatisfied with the quality of education in the Catholic Education System, prompted the Fathers to establish a school which was profoundly Catholic in its philosophy, discipline and education; which advocated and imparted to its pupils: Catholic ideals, knowledge of the Faith and the pursuit of virtue, while at the same time striving for academic excellence in all fields.

Saint Dominic Savio School came into existence and was opened in the parish hall in 1984. Its registration as a certified school was signed by the then acting Director of Education, Mr R.C. Pollock, on 2nd October, 1984. The Rockdale Municipal Council gave its acquiescence for a limit of thirty children.

In 1988, Father Gerard Hogan, the then District Superior of Australasia, called upon the Sisters of the Society Saint Pius X to help in the running of the school. Early July, 1988, saw the arrival of the first three Society Sisters in Australia, to undertake the responsibility of Saint Dominic Savio School - thus, leaving the priests more freedom to pursue their priestly apostolate in other areas.

Pre-fabricated buildings were purchased and placed between the presbytery and Sisters’ convent in September, 1988. These buildings consisted of three classrooms, one library and a teachers’ staff room. The parish hall and stage were also used by the school for end of year functions, drama, folk-dancing, art and craft, as well as other activities which necessitated more space.

Since its beginning, St Dominic Savio School has been a member of the Association of Independent Schools and operates under the jurisdiction of the NSW Board of Studies.

In order to remain faithful to Our Lord Jesus Christ, our school follows the Tradition of the Catholic Church, notably by its exclusive attachment to the Tridentine Mass and the traditional catechism. Jesus Christ reigns over our school by the truth of the catechism taught each day, by regular prayer and especially by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at which the children assist each week. All of the subjects are taught in the light of the Catholic Faith. Education is cooperation with the action of God’s grace; a solid piety and the regular reception of the sacraments will nourish in the children the life of sanctifying grace without which no education can be accomplished.