St Philip Neri, Northbridge and St Thomas Willoughby Start a New Adventure
by Catholic Schools Broken Bay
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Many years ago, the sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart started two primary schools near each other. At Northbridge there was St Philip Neri and at Willoughby there was St Thomas.
Teachers, students and parents filled the community.
At SPN, the children loved to play lots of different imaginary games as well as soccer and basketball. One of their favourite activities was to play on the climbing equipment.
At St Thomas, the children played basketball on the basketball court, handball on the handball courts and in ‘The Forest’ where the colourful play equipment was found!
But there was a problem – the mums and dads and teachers knew that many families had children who needed extra support to help them learn. But where could they go?
What if one school could be a school that gave extra support to children who needed it?
Then the other school could be a school where the SPN and St Thomas children joined together as one faith and learning community.
They thought about it some more and decided that because St Thomas had a lot more space, it would become the new school for all the SPN and St Thomas children. The children would have a greater choice of friends and more opportunities to learn from different teachers.
So, the schools agreed to become one school.
At first, some children felt a little worried and scared about the changes.
“Will I make new friends?”
“Will I see teachers I know?” “Will there be equipment to play on?”
The teachers gently reminded the children, “we will all support one-another on this new journey!”
The children from SPN were invited to visit St Thomas Willoughby so that they could see what their new school would look like.
There they met the Principal, Mrs Bova. She had a friendly smile and she was excited to welcome new families to St Thomas.
Mrs Conlon was also at St Thomas to welcome the children with Mrs Bova, because Mrs Conlon was moving to St Thomas along with some of the other teachers from St Philip Neri.
A student from St Philip Neri exclaimed, “I like this school, but I’m going to miss seeing Fr Vincent!” Mrs Bova smiled and reassured them, “Fr Vincent is our parish priest too, and he is very excited to see you in school liturgies and Masses alongside the St Thomas students.” She added, “and Fr Roger also says our Masses and comes to visit our classrooms. They are both very excited to see you at St Thomas.”
Some special transition days were organised for the SPN students to visit St Thomas so that they could get to know the school, the children and the teachers.
On the first day of school in the new year, Mrs Bova met the SPN and St Thomas families at the school gate. “Welcome back, everybody! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!”
The children from SPN were happy to see their
Soon all the students were happily learning side by side, praying together, playing together and creating a new story as one big school family. The mums and dads were making new friends too!
And before long, it didn’t feel like two schools anymore. It felt like one joyful community, learning with hope, growing with love and walking together with Jesus.
This book was written by the two Principals, Mrs Margaret Holles and Mrs Enrica Bova, to help our students to look forward to the new year at St Thomas Willoughby in 2026. Mrs Bova, Mr Arcella and Mrs Conlon look forward to welcoming everyone.
Mrs Bova Mr Arcella Mrs Conlon