Transition to grade 6 is provided at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School. Community of Learners provides an early learning program for our 3 to 5 year olds, including our Kangaroos Program for four years olds commencing school the following year.

The school has one intake at the beginning of each year for Transition. Children entering Transition must be five by the 30th June in that year.

Link to Fees page

Students do not have to be Catholic to attend St Mary’s. All families who desire a Catholic Education for their children are welcome.

On enrolment parents and children agree to actively support the Catholic ethos, teachings and values. There is also an expectation that families will support the school’s approach to behaviour management and that the children will follow the school rules.

St Mary’s offers Physical Education lessons twice a week and Greek and music lessons for each class once a week. We also have a school choir, school ensemble and “thinking outside the square’ program which provides opportunities for students with skills and talents in areas such as art, public speaking, technology and problem solving.

No. St. Mary’s is inclusive of all faiths and cultures. Students receive two and a half hours of Catholic Religious Education instruction each week which is integrated with other learning areas. Students also learn about other religious practices and beliefs faiths through the RE curriculum. All students are involved in liturgies and masses as they arise.

Within all classes, both multi-age and straight there is a wide range of academic, social and emotional needs. Teachers use a wide range of strategies including differentiation and small group work to tailor instruction to the individual child.

We have an active Parents and Friends committee at St Mary’s and everyone is encouraged to take an active role. Parents and Friends meet once a month, usually on a Tuesday. There are many social activities and family events planned throughout the year including Welcome gatherings, morning teas, Family Fun nights and the School Fete. Families are always invited to share in our weekly celebrations at assemblies, liturgies and masses.

All students are supported in their learning, regardless of their ability. We have an inclusive curriculum and students are supported within the classroom by their classroom teacher and Inclusion Support Assistants.

Classroom teachers extend and support the learning of all children within the classroom. Students who are identified as gifted and talented have the opportunity to participate in enrichment programs , including interschool events such as Tournament of The Minds, International Competition and Assessments (ICAS) and various academic competitions.

Art

Private after school art lessons are available for students through the Arty Kids Program.

Activities include working in the style of famous artists, painting canvases, working with pastels, mixed media, sculpture, decorating frames/mirrors and depend on the children’s interest. Classes are held on Tuesday and on Wednesday 3:15-5pm for 6 weeks during term time. The cost of the 6 classes is $210 per child and $180 for every additional child in the same family. Classes are limited to 12 children.

Email: pascale.zufferey@artyobsessions.com or register your interest at www.artyobsessionscom/arty-kids

Music

Private piano and violin lessons are available during school hours or after school. Cost for individual tuition is $30/half hour session or $20/20 minute session for younger students. Please contact the school for an enrolment form.

Sport

Coaches for various sports are employed throughout the year through the sporting schools program to conduct sessions for students after school.

Language

A bus from the Darwin school of Languages collects a small group of children after school on Tuesdays for Italian lessons.

Children can be supervised at school from 8:20am, alternatively there is before school care. School buses are available for morning and afternoon transport. Students are supervised at all times for bus transport in the afternoon. We have a ‘Kiss and Go’ pick up procedure for parents wishing to pick their child/children up by car, this procedure is fully supervised to ensure a smooth pick up for all. Students who need to walk home are escorted across both Smith and Cavanagh Streets for their safety.