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School Profile
Background and Students
St Mary’s School is a co-educational, Kindergarten to Year Six, single stream school, with a current enrolment of 214 students. It draws most of its students from the local parish community and the immediate local area. Approximately 17% of students come from non English speaking backgrounds.
The smallness of the school promotes a caring, supportive, happy and welcoming parish school community. The school is small enough to care but big enough to dare.
St Mary's School has a long and proud tradition as a school, having operated on its present site since 1888. It was originally opened by the Marist Brothers with 65 boys as students, but when numbers increased to 300 they moved to their current site next door in 1916. The Sisters of St Joseph then ran St Mary's School as a secondary school. In 1956 it became a primary school and was run by the Sisters of Mercy until 1989, when the first lay principal was appointed.
During 2009 the kindergarten classroom and multi-purpose room were refurbished and extended, creating greater capacity in these rooms for flexible learning spaces and school assembly areas. In 2010, as a result of Federal Government funding, the refurbishment of all the other classrooms and the building of two new learning environments is occurring, completing the development at St Mary’s School of learning environments for twenty-first century pedagogy.
Thanks to the ongoing generous support of the parents, St Mary’s school is very well resourced. Over the past seven years a major focus for resource development and purchasing has been the upgrade and expansion of our technology resources and facilities. This upgrade has enabled the implementation of a number of innovative ICT projects and programs and enhanced teaching and learning at the school including: robotics, multi-media, laptop program, i-learn project and the integration of interactive whiteboards as an effective teaching and learning tool.
Religious Dimension
We believe that the heart of life and learning at St. Mary's School is the person and message of Jesus Christ as presented in the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church.
We believe that pastors, parents and teachers share the challenge of handing on to our students Jesus' message of joy, love, justice and peace in relevant and meaningful ways. Our school motto is: Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with our God. Our emphasis is on relevant and meaningful religious education, the development of prayer experiences, on social justice issues and the support of parish programs.
The school and parish work closely together as a positive and active team. The Parish Priest is Father Anthony Smith, SJ, and three part-time Pastoral Associates support Father in his work. The school is involved in Parish Masses as well as whole school and class Masses. Sacramental programs are Parish based. Over 40% of our school's families are actively involved in the St. Mary's Parish. Such involvement includes coordinating the liturgy for the 9.00am Family Mass on Sunday, group leaders for the Sacramental programs and the children singing in the St Mary’s Parish Children’s Choir.
Key Needs of the School
In 2006 and 2007 a process of school review and improvement was undertaken, with the school’s involvement in the IDEAS (Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievements in Schools) project and the school’s implementation of the Sydney Catholic Schools ‘School Review and Improvement Framework’ including the ‘Cyclic Review of Our School’s Learning Journey’. In October 2007, St Mary’s was one of six pilot schools for the External Validation of the ‘Cyclic Review’
At St Mary's there is a very strong culture of learning and much has been achieved. The school has been recognised for its innovative practice and programs, evidenced by St Mary’s hosting the inaugural NSW Schools iNet Learning Walk in 2007, presentations at Robotics Symposiums and IDEAS forums and students’ achievements at the regional and state Robocup competitions. The school’s NAPLAN and ICAS results also reflect the high quality of teaching and learning at St Mary’s School.
Major future directions include further development of whole school pedagogy and reconceptualising schooling for the twenty first century. This will include the restructuring of learning environments, maximising the use of available resources to reflect contemporary learning, and sustaining quality teaching and learning programs that meet the learning needs of all students.
Teaching and Learning at St Mary’s School
St Mary’s School, as a faith and professional learning community, affirms the inherent dignity of each person and respects the right of all to learn and to grow. Therefore we aim to:
- Maximise learning outcomes and learning opportunities for all students thus encouraging their enjoyment of learning and skilling them to be successful life-long learners.
- Acknowledge diversity and support personalised learning through implementing a school wide pedagogy that is inclusive, innovative and effective. This is achieved through differentiated learning, targeted intervention programs particularly in Literacy and Numeracy and Special Education and Gifted programs.
- Engage and empower all members of our school community in their learning through the integration of ICT across the curriculum and the fostering of authentic and responsible student voice and ownership of learning.
- Develop creative and critical thinkers and learners who effectively utilise available technologies to assist in problem solving both in the present and the future.
- Empower our students to act responsibly and thus make a difference personally, locally and globally through developing their understanding of global connectedness, environmental stewardship and their involvement in sustainability projects and outreach programs.
- Identify and enrich the leadership potential of all members of our learning community through our leadership development program and school initiatives.
- Challenge students to be the best they can be and achieve high academic excellence. At St Mary’s we believe ‘It Is Easy to Be Ordinary, We Want To Be Extraordinary.’
Staff
The staff consists of the Principal, 7 classroom teachers, administrative staff (1 secretary 5 days p.w and 1 admin support-10 hours per week), Special Needs teacher (1.5 days p.w), Intervention and Gifted Education teacher (3 days p.w), Reading Recovery teacher (2.5 days p.w), Teacher Librarian (2 days p.w), library assistant (1 day p.w), Specialist teachers (1 day p.w)- French, Music, PE, Executive Release teachers (AP 2 days p.w, REC 1 day p.w, Coordinators ½ day p.w) and four Teacher's Aides (various hours)
The Executive leadership team currently consists of the Principal, Acting Point Three Coordinator, Acting Point Two Coordinator and Acting Religious Education Coordinator. The Leadership team meets weekly. Each member of the Leadership team has specific roles and responsibilities linked to the Annual Improvement Plan and involving them in key areas of the school.
School Community
There is a high degree of parental interest, support and practical involvement at St Mary's. Parents are actively informed and consulted through a variety of school opportunities and initiatives which support them in their role as partners in their child’s learning. These opportunities and initiatives include: Parent membership on the School Advisory Council and committees such as the Leadership Development Committee; the Parents and Friends Association; parent contribution to the IDEAS project, SRI, student leadership programs, environmental stewardship initiatives, staff development days, school promotion, social and fund raising events and attendance at parent education sessions.
The Parents and Friends Association is most supportive of the school. It actively raises and donates funds towards specific school needs and projects as well as seeking to build community spirit.
The parents of St Mary's students have high expectations and are keen and appreciative of all efforts to inform and involve them in the teaching and learning of their children. Many parents volunteer in the classrooms and library and assist with specialist support programs.
St Mary’s school has a culture that promotes engagement with parents and the wider community. The warmth and welcoming nature of the St Mary's community is often remarked upon and valued by all.
By: Rosemary De Bono 24 April 2010
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