School History

St Peter's Catholic School has a rich history here in Halifax, first starting out as St Theresa's Convent and Boarding School back in 1927.

1926

The old Church in Halifax, which was first built in 1914, is converted into a combined church and school by being raised on high blocks and having two verandas added.

1927

The Sisters of Mercy begin teaching at what is then called St Theresa’s Convent and Boarding School at Halifax in January. The sisters provide day school facilities for boys and girls to scholarship standard and boarding facilities for 40 boys aged 6 to 12 years old in the large convent. On 3 July, Bishop Joseph Shiel visits to bless and officially open the school.

1935

On 5 October the Sisters of Mercy conduct a garden fete in the convent grounds.

1952

On 16 November, during silver jubilee celebrations for the school, Bishop Hugh Ryan blesses and officially opens a new infant school and large play shed at St Theresa’s. The building is actually the original presbytery which has been enlarged and improved.

1964

During the first half of the year, a team of volunteers paint the interior of the school, both upstairs and downstairs. They also completely replace the floor of the school building. To celebrate the completion of the work the school holds its first of many annual dinners, inviting more than 200 guests from across the parish. A new roof is also donated to the school by a local farmer.

1965

Renovations continue at St Theresa’s Convent and Boarding School, with 52 volunteers working together to paint the exterior of the buildings and replace the guttering and drain pipes.

1967

A shortage of sisters and improved transport to and from the school leads to the closure of boarding facilities at St Theresa’s Convent School.

1969

On 4 January the old St Theresa’s church and school building is demolished to make way for a modern new school complex. For the six months that it takes to build the new school, classes are held in the old boarding house. With the completion of the new complex the school is renamed St Peter’s Catholic School, and it is blessed and officially opened by Bishop Leonard Faulkner on 8 June.

1974

The Halifax parish purchases a small bus to transport children to St Peter’s to help keep the school operating. The Parish Priest, Fr Publius Cassar, drives the bus each morning and afternoon for four years.

1976

On 5 July, Bishop Faulkner informs Fr Publius Cassar that the Sisters of Mercy will no longer be able to supply sisters to teach at St Peter’s Catholic School. The School decides to trial lay administration of the school for the next two years. 

1977

The school comes under lay administration and Patrick Smith is welcomed as the first lay principal of St Peter’s Catholic School. At the end of the school year the Sisters of Mercy were withdrawn from the school. On 3 December a function is held to formally thank and farewell the Sisters. Bishop Faulkner presides at a concelebrated Mass followed by a small concert, a presentation to the sisters and a barbecue.

1978

With the two year trial period of staffing St Peter’s Catholic School with lay teachers being declared a success, a residence is provided for the principal, who had been living at the Capuchin Friary. The new principal’s residence is blessed and opened by Bishop Leonard Faulkner on 22 December. The Parish also bought a bigger bus to cater for the growing population of the school.

1988

Robert Dalla Pozza is welcomed as the second lay principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

1991

Carmel Ashton is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

1994

Bernadette Williams is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

1995

Janette Allen is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

1999

Kathy Taylor is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

2006

Damir Muftic is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

2007

Prep and Year 1 students at St Peter’s Catholic School prove to be winning gardeners two years in a row. In 2006 they win prizes at the Ingham show for their carrots and Italian parsley, and they win again this year for their zucchinis and lettuce.

2010

Penny Collins is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

2012

On 23 July, all the students from St Peter’s Catholic School travel to Townsville to participate in the Diocesan Launch Mass for Catholic Education Week. Following Mass, Bishop Michael Putney gives the students a guided tour of the Sacred Heart Cathedral and explains the significance of each part of the building. The bishop also visits St Peter’s Catholic School during the week.

2013

Johnathon Greer is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

2014

St. Peter’s Catholic School teams up with Gilroy Santa Maria College to create an Indigenous garden. Staff and students work together to create a carpet snake design in the garden, featuring a series of stepping stones.

2015

Tracey Nuttall is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

2021

Mary-Ellen Pattinson is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.

2022

Paula Jerome is welcomed as principal of St Peter’s Catholic School.