St Luke’s welcomes a new language

August 26, 2025

Thanks to a new partnership with the Portuguese Embassy, St Luke’s College is welcoming a fully qualified teacher to offer Portuguese as a co-curricular subject for Grades 4–9 – at almost no cost to parents.

If the response is as lively as expected, the programme will expand to more grades, and St Luke’s may one day offer Portuguese as a formal National Senior Certificate language.

Colleen Traviss-Lea, Interim Executive Head at St Luke’s, said: “With so many Portuguese families in Bedfordview, this partnership is our way of embracing that heritage, ensuring our students feel seen, valued, and connected.“

Matt Mare, CEO of ThriveEd, echoed the sentiment: “At ThriveEd, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter schools. Every school is unique, shaped by the needs and passions of the community it serves.”

St Luke’s is deeply committed to building authentic connections with local communities, and celebrating culture is one way of doing this. After all, for our students, staying grounded is just as important as spreading their wings.