Mother of Good Counsel School

## 1. Overview Mother of Good Counsel School is a Catholic primary school in Cairns North, Queensland, offering a faith-informed education forPrep to Year 6. The school focuses on building a nurturing community where students develop academically, socially and spiritually within a supportive environment. It is a small-to-medium sized school, with class sizes typically in the low 20s, allowing for close teacher-student relationships and personalized attention. The atmosphere is inclusive, values-driven and centered on fostering resilience, community involvement and character development. As a Catholic school, MOgc emphasises values-based learning, respectful conduct, and strong partnerships with families. The school aims to create an uplifting, safe place where students feel known, supported and encouraged to strive for their personal best. --- ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: Focus areas commonly highlighted include English literacy and numeracy, with an emphasis on developing confident readers, writers and mathematical thinkers. Religious Education is integrated into daily learning, alongside core subjects to support a well-rounded academic program. The school also supports student wellbeing as part of a holistic approach to learning. - Special programs: Catholic faith formation and community service are typically core components. Opportunities for leadership, student council or roles within the school community may be available. Gifted and talented or accelerated learning options may be offered where possible, depending on year level and cohort needs. - NAPLAN trends: Look for steady progress in literacy and numeracy and consistent performance relative to state benchmarks over time, with targeted programs to address any gaps. The school will usually report year-to-year trends rather than raw scores. - Student-teacher ratios: Class sizes are generally small-to-medium, with a focus on maintaining supportive teacher-to-student ratios. Overall ratios tend to be favorable for individualized attention, often around 1:12 to 1:22 depending on year level and staffing. - Support for diverse learners: Programs and supports for diverse learners are typically in place, including assistance for EAL learners, learning support for students needing extra help, and access to specialist staff where available. Collaboration with families and external professionals may be part of the approach. --- ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: A range of team and individual sports are commonly available, including soccer, athletics, cricket, swimming and possibly rugby league or AFL, depending on season and facilities. Inter-school events and carnivals are typical. - Strong teams or achievements: The school often participates in local and district-level competitions, with opportunities for students to contribute to school teams and showcase teamwork and sportsmanship. - Music, arts, drama programs: Music and performing arts programs, choir or instrumental opportunities, and theatre or drama experiences are commonly part of the extracurricular offering. - Clubs: Robotics, chess, coding and debating clubs are typical possibilities, along with language or cultural clubs and other interest groups. - Partnerships: Local clubs, community groups or external competitions may provide additional opportunities for competition, coaching or exposure to broader activities. Notes: Specific offerings can vary by year and cohort; check the current school calendar for exact programs. --- ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: Schools in this space typically have a clear anti-bullying policy, restorative practices and ongoing education to promote respectful relationships and a positive school climate. - House system: A house or pastoral system is often in place to foster belonging, friendly competition and leadership opportunities across year levels. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to school counsellors or wellbeing staff is commonly available to support social-emotional learning, stress management and student welfare needs. - Transition support for new students: Orientation activities, buddy programs and gradual entry processes are usually provided to help new students settle in smoothly and build connections quickly. --- ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds: Outdoor playing fields or courts suitable for a range of sports. - Libraries: A library or resource centre supporting reading and research skills. - Science labs: Dedicated spaces for science activities and experiments. - Music/performing arts centers: Facilities for music practice, rehearsals and performances. - Tech/innovation labs: Computer or technology spaces that support digital learning and coding activities. - Cafeteria: On-site canteen or cafeteria for daily meals and snacks. - Updated playgrounds: Modern, safe play spaces with equipment for active play and exploration. Visual note: The facilities are typically designed to support a well-rounded learning environment, with emphasis on safety, accessibility and student engagement. --- ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: Education grounded in Catholic faith, respect, responsibility, service, and character development, with an emphasis on community and family partnership. - Leadership style: A leadership approach that combines pastoral care with instructional leadership, aiming to empower students and involve families in school life. - Behaviour expectations: Clear codes of conduct emphasizing respect, honesty, responsibility and kindness, with consistent routines and positive reinforcement. - Community reputation: The school generally aims to cultivate a positive, welcoming community reputation, with active parent involvement and community partnerships. - Diversity & inclusion: Efforts to embrace diversity and foster an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported. --- ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: Day-to-day school hours align with local guidelines for primary schools, including start and finish times appropriate to Prep to Year 6. - Before/after school care: Arrangements for before/after school care or supervision are often available via school-approved providers or on-site services. - Uniform requirements: A specified school uniform is typically required, with details provided by the school on what to wear and where to purchase. - Transport (train/bus routes): Transport options commonly include school bus services or public transport routes; information on routes and drop-off/pick-up arrangements is provided by the school. - Canteen availability: On-site canteen or snack facilities may be available to students. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Fees are present, with ranges that typically fall into a moderate category for Catholic primary schools; details are provided in the official fees schedule. --- ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Inquire with the school, attend information sessions or open days, submit a completed application form with required documents (birth certificate, immunization records, baptism/confirmation details if applicable), and participate in any recommended admission interview or family conversation. Timelines vary by year level and availability; families are typically advised of decisions within a set timeframe after the application is submitted. 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - There can be a waiting list when vacancies are limited. Expression of interest is usually recorded, and priority may be given to siblings or current parish families, followed by order of application and availability. The school will communicate wait times and next steps. 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - An interview or family conversation is common, focusing on alignment with the school’s values and community expectations. There is typically no formal academic entrance exam for primary-level entry. Documentation such as immunization records and baptism details (if applicable) may be requested. 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Yes, subject to vacancy availability and alignment with the school’s programs. Transfer inquiries usually require submitting transcripts or reports from the student’s current school, along with enrolment forms and any required documentation. --- ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - Parents often choose MOgc for its Catholic values, nurturing environment, smaller class sizes, and strong sense of community where children are known and cared for. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who value a faith-based, inclusive community, supportive relationships with teachers, and a balanced focus on academics, wellbeing and character development tend to thrive. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - Opportunities typically include extended learning in literacy and numeracy, leadership roles, sports teams, arts and music programs, drama and debating, robotics or coding clubs, and participation in inter-school events. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Communications are usually via newsletters, emails, a school portal or app, and regular parent-teacher meetings. Timely updates on events, assessments and student welfare are common. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - A student-centered approach that combines faith-based values with evidence-informed teaching, differentiation to meet diverse learning needs, and a focus on building literacy, numeracy and critical thinking skills. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Small-group or one-on-one support within the classroom, targeted intervention programs, and access to Learning Support staff where available. Collaboration with families is key. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Early identification, targeted teaching strategies, access to support staff, and ongoing communication with parents to track progress and adapt plans as needed. - How does the school communicate with parents? (duplicate) - See above: regular updates, parent-teacher meetings, and a transparent approach to sharing student progress and school news. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are typically small-to-medium, with a focus on providing opportunities for individual attention through close teacher-student contact and differentiated instruction. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A range of sports, music/arts, and clubs such as robotics, chess, coding and debating, with opportunities to participate in inter-school events and community competitions. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Sports grounds, libraries, science labs, music/performing arts spaces, tech/innovation labs, a cafeteria and updated playgrounds. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Emphasis on digital literacy and safe technology use, with access to devices and age-appropriate software to support learning and interactive lessons. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Bus services or public transport access are commonly available, with school-approved arrangements for drop-off/pick-up and accessible facilities where applicable. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees are in a moderate range for a Catholic primary school, with additional costs for book lists, camps or excursions and agreed optional activities. Specifics are provided in the school’s current fees schedule. --- ## 10. Short Pros & Cons list - Pros - Catholic-values education in a nurturing, close-knit community - Small-to-medium class sizes enabling individual attention - Strong emphasis on wellbeing, character development and faith formation - Range of extracurriculars, arts and sports, with opportunities for leadership - Clear communication with families and supportive school culture - Cons - As a smaller school, the range of elective programs and specialized subjects may be more limited than larger systems - Fees and uniform costs are a consideration for families - Availability of some advanced programs may depend on staff and enrolment numbers - Mid-year transfers are subject to vacancies and may require adjustment time for new students If you’d like, I can tailor these sections more precisely by confirming MOgc Qld’s current programs, facilities, and enrolment details from their official materials.