Principal’s Welcome

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most significant decisions you will make as a parent. When you join the family at Our Lady Star of the Sea (OLSOTS), you are not just enrolling your child in a school – you are joining a learning community where they will be seen, valued, and safe.

Since 1992, we have been partnering with families in the beautiful Esperance region to provide a holistic, Christ-centred education from Pre-Kindergarten (Three-Year-Old Kindy) right through to Year 6.

The OLSOTS Experience: What We Offer Your Family

• A True Family School: Because we are not a big school, your child will never be just a number or a face in the crowd. We pride ourselves on truly knowing our students, celebrating their unique gifts, and tailoring their learning journey accordingly.
• Academic Excellence with a Purpose: We don’t guess when it comes to your child’s education; we use proven, evidence-based teaching strategies. From our gold-standard literacy foundations (InitiaLit, PreLit, and SpellEx), to our explicit Mathematics approach our students are equipped to achieve strong academic outcomes and thrive as learners. Our early childhood learning environments are purposely designed to reflect the interests of our children through a play-based approach.
• Tools for the Future with The Fundamentals: Your child will experience technology as a tool for creativity and agency, not just consumption. With a dedicated 1:1 iPad program in Years 3–6 and integrated digital technologies in our junior years, we prepare our students to navigate a changing world with confidence.
  At OLSOTS, we hold firm on the power of pen, paper, and physical books. Brain research is unanimous: deep cognitive retention, handwriting, and physical reading build critical pathways in young minds. We use technology, yes – purposefully and appropriately- but technology serves the learning; it does not replace the human element of teaching. 
• A Vibrant, Holistic Growth Journey: Education here goes far beyond the core curriculum. Your child will discover new passions through specialist programs in Science, Art, Physical Education, Dance, Robotics, and LOTE (Auslan).

Living Our Values: Head, Heart, and Hand

In close partnership with our Parish, we don’t just teach values; we do our best to live them out through our CORE pillars: Courage, Optimism, Respect, and Excellence.

When your child graduates from OLSOTS, they won’t just leave with academic achievements – they will leave as independent, empathetic young people who know how to “Walk with God” and contribute meaningfully to their world.

Artificial Intelligence

You hear a lot about AI in the media. I guess the question isn’t about ‘If we will use AI?’ but ‘How will we use AI’?

We can’t influence the macro questions about AI that concern most people, but we are actively exploring AI behind the scenes for one primary reason at this stage – to cut administrative workload for our teachers. Why? Because every hour a teacher saves on paperwork is an hour returned to planning brilliant lessons and giving your children one-on-one attention. A human from OLSOTS will keep you posted on what else we decide to do in this very fast-moving space.

Come and See For Yourself

We value open and honest partnerships with parents and caregivers. The best way to understand the unique energy and warmth of our school community is to experience it firsthand.

I am deeply honoured to lead this exceptional school, and I invite you to get in touch, take a tour, or simply pop in and say hello. My door is always open.

Sean Gordon OAM
Principal