St Mary's Catholic Primary School - Mackay

## 1. Overview St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Mackay is a Catholic, co-educational primary school focused on faith-based learning and community. The school aims to provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where students develop academically while growing in values and service. The school is a small-to-medium sized community, with class sizes typically around 20–25 students. The atmosphere emphasizes warmth, belonging, and partnerships between school and families to support each child’s learning and wellbeing. ⸻ ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: Strong literacy and numeracy foundations with integrated STEM and digital literacy. Emphasis on faith-informed learning and critical thinking across key subject areas. - Special programs: Catholic character education, religious education program, and opportunities for leadership and extended learning within the classroom. Gifted and talented opportunities may be available for extension learning. - NAPLAN / trends: Data-informed teaching with a focus on steady improvement over time in reading and numeracy; school uses NAPLAN trends to plan targeted support and enrichment. - Student-teacher ratios: Around 1:12 to 1:20, depending on year level and staffing. - Support for diverse learners: Access to differentiation within classes, EAL/D support where needed, and targeted support for students with additional learning needs (SEN) through school-based planning and referrals. ⸻ ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: A range of school-based sports and PE programs across seasons, with opportunities to participate in inter-school events and district competitions. - Strong teams or achievements: Participation in local inter-school activities; achievements vary by cohort and year. - Music, arts, drama programs: Active music and performing arts offerings, with opportunities to participate in school concerts and productions. - Clubs: Robotics, chess, coding, debating, and other enrichment clubs are typically available or offered through the school’s extracurricular program. - Partnerships: Connections with local clubs, community groups, and district-level competitions to broaden opportunities beyond the classroom. ⸻ ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: Clear anti-bullying policies, proactive social-emotional learning, and a focus on respectful behaviour and positive relationships. - House system: A house-based structure supports pastoral care, friendship, and healthy competition among students. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to school wellbeing staff and supports to address student wellbeing, mental health, and strategy for positive behaviour. - Transition support for new students: Orientation activities, buddy systems, and targeted support to help new students settle in smoothly. ⸻ ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds: On-site spaces for PE and outdoor activities. - Libraries: Dedicated library resources to support reading and research. - Science labs: Access to science facilities for practical experiments and inquiry. - Music/performing arts centers: Space and facilities for music practice, rehearsals, and performances. - Tech/innovation labs: Access to technology resources and digital learning tools. - Cafeteria: On-site dining options for meals and canteen services. - Updated playgrounds: Modern play areas and outdoor learning spaces. ⸻ ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: Catholic values of faith, service, respect, compassion, and integrity underpin daily learning and community life. - Leadership style: Collaborative and student-inclusive, with opportunities for student voice and leadership within the classroom and school activities. - Behaviour expectations: Clear expectations centred on respect, responsibility, and kindness; restorative approaches are used to address behaviour. - Community reputation: A supportive, close-knit school community with strong engagement between families, staff, and parish. - Diversity & inclusion: Commitment to welcoming families from varied backgrounds and ensuring inclusive practices across teaching and student support. ⸻ ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: Typically a daytime schedule aligned with local schooling hours; information on exact start/end times is available from the school. - Before/after school care: Before and after school care options are usually available to families. - Uniform requirements: Regular school uniform is required, with specified terms for sport or activity days. - Transport (train/bus routes): Public transport options and bus routes served by local networks; details available from the school or local transit authority. - Canteen availability: Canteen or tuck-shop services are commonly available on certain days. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Fee structures fall within a moderate range for Australian Catholic primary schools; exact figures and any levies or additional costs are provided by the school at enrolment or on request. ⸻ ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Start with an expression of interest or online application, followed by submission of required documents (birth certificate, immunisation records, etc.). The school will provide a timeline outlining key dates for applications, interviews, and offer of placement, often aligning with the Australian school year calendar. 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - Waiting lists are common when year levels are full. The school typically manages a priority list based on enrolment policies, with siblings often given precedence. Waiting times vary by year level and demand. 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Entry may include documentation review, interviews or tours, and assessment discussions. Some years may have more targeted assessments or classroom observations as part of the process. 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Mid-year transfers are considered where places are available, with a streamlined intake process to support transition and continuity of learning. ⸻ ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - A caring, faith-based community with a focus on holistic development, strong literacy and numeracy, and strong family-school partnerships. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who respond well to a supportive, values-driven environment with opportunities for leadership, collaboration, and involvement in a range of activities. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - A mix of classroom extension, gifted/talented opportunities where available, and diverse extracurricular options in sports, arts, robotics, coding, and debating. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Regular updates through newsletters, emails, parent-teacher meetings, and digital learning platforms; open channels for feedback and involvement. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - A student-centred approach with integrated faith-based values, data-informed teaching, differentiation, and opportunities for collaboration and inquiry. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Targeted support within the classroom, additional interventions, and referrals to school-supported learning services as needed. - What support is available for academic challenges? - In-class differentiation, targeted assistance, and access to learning support staff and resources to help students catch up or advance. - How does the school communicate with parents? - See above; ongoing, multi-channel updates and opportunities to engage with teachers and leadership. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are typically around 20–25 students, with teachers able to provide differentiated instruction and closer monitoring of progress. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A broad range including sports, music, arts, robotics, chess, coding, and debating, with pathways to participate in local and district events. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Sports facilities, libraries, science labs, performing arts spaces, and technology/innovation resources. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Emphasis on digital literacy, integrated technology in the curriculum, and responsible use of devices to enhance learning. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Access to local transport options; information on routes and accessibility can be provided by the school and local transit services. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees are within a moderate range for Catholic primary schools; additional costs may include uniforms, excursions, and activity fees. ⸻ ## 10. Short Pros & Cons list - Pros - Catholic values and a nurturing, inclusive community - Small-to-medium class sizes with strong student support - Broad range of extracurriculars and enrichment opportunities - Focus on literacy and numeracy with faith-informed learning - Transition and family communication support - Cons - As with many smaller schools, offerings may vary year-to-year based on staffing and enrollment - Some specialist programs may operate with limited capacity or require waitlists - Fees are in the moderate range; families should verify current costs and any levies