About LACEC and Santa Teresa

About LACS and Santa Teresa

 

Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School (LACS) is a K - 12 school in Ltyentye Apurte / Santa Teresa, an Aboriginal settlement of approximately 600 people belonging to the Eastern Arrernte people. The community is located roughly 83 km southeast of Alice Springs - on the northwestern tip of the Simpson Desert.
The people speak Arrernte and use English as their second language. Ltyentye Apurte (pronounced 'L-Ginga Porter') means 'clump of beefwood trees' in Arrernte. Temperatures are extreme, ranging from -1 to 45 degrees and there is year round access via an unsealed road.
Santa Teresa was founded as a Mission in 1953 by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the OLSH Sisters. The school is governed by the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Darwin. Marist Brothers have a presence in the school community. There are 45 staff at the school, 28 of whom are Aboriginal. With an enrolment of approximately 145 students, the school has small class sizes and features specialist facilities such as a community library, a workshop, food technology and STEM rooms. Every classroom has access to the Internet and there are PCs, laptops, iPads and Interactive Whiteboards throughout the school.
The school's current strategic direction is the reinvigoration of a bilingual pedagogical approach, which entails a greater focus on culture. Teachers work as members of a team in partnership with local Arrernte staff.
Non-Aboriginal teachers live in close proximity to each other and the school. The standard of accommodation is generally good. LACS offers a secondary curriculum. The school has high student attendance rates and a successful literacy program showing significant student progress. LACS offers a Student Nutrition Program providing a healthy, cooked breakfast, morning tea and lunch for students and staff.
The school hours are 8:30 am - 3:00 pm (Monday to Thursday) and 8:30 am - 1:00 pm (Fridays). 
Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School as seen from Drone. (November  2020).

Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School as seen from Drone. (November 2020).