St Mary’s Catholic Primary School - Yarram

## 1. Overview St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Yarram is a small to medium Catholic primary school serving families in the Yarram community and surrounding rural areas. As a Catholic school, it provides faith-integrated education with a strong focus on character, service, and wellbeing. Class sizes tend to be around 20 students per class, allowing students to receive personalized attention within a supportive, family-like setting. The atmosphere is nurturing and inclusive, emphasising faith, respect, and a positive school culture. Students are encouraged to participate in community activities, develop values-based leadership, and grow academically and socially within a caring parish-school environment. ⸻ ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: strong literacy and numeracy foundations, with a focus on writing, reading, and mathematical thinking; faith-based education supports overall growth; emphasis on ICT literacy and hands-on science exploration. - Special programs: opportunities for extension in reading and mathematics; faith formation and values-based education; availability of targeted learning support where needed. - NAPLAN / trend: recent years show steady or improving trends in reading and numeracy, with continued focus on high-quality teaching practices to support all learners. - Student-teacher ratios: typically small-to-medium class sizes, with a favourable teacher-to-student ratio that supports individual feedback and supervision (approx. 1:12–1:18 depending on year level). - Support for diverse learners: dedicated support for diverse learning needs, including targeted literacy/numeracy interventions, in-class adjustments, and access to SEN and EAL-type supports where required. ⸻ ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: a range of team and individual sports, including soccer, netball, cricket, football (AFL), athletics, and swimming programs through the year. - Strong teams or achievements: participation in local and district inter-school competitions with opportunities for student athletes to contribute to school teams. - Music, arts, drama programs: school choir or vocal groups, occasional performances, musical instrument lessons, and school concerts. - Clubs: robotics, coding, chess, debating, and other clubs that promote problem-solving and teamwork. - Partnerships: connections with local clubs, community groups, and Catholic education networks to support competitions, workshops, and enrichment activities. ⸻ ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: proactive, whole-school anti-bullying strategies with clear policies, restorative practices, and a positive behaviour framework. - House system: house-based activities and events to promote belonging, teamwork, and healthy competition. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: access to wellbeing staff or a school counsellor to support students' mental health and social-emotional needs. - Transition support for new students: orientation programs, buddy systems, and family evenings to help new students settle in smoothly. ⸻ ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds: on-site spaces for physical education and sport. - Libraries: well-stocked library with a focus on literacy and inquiry. - Science labs: practical science activities and experiments to support science learning. - Music/performing arts centers: spaces for music, drama, and performance. - Tech/innovation labs: computer/ICT resources and opportunities for digital learning. - Cafeteria: on-site or shared canteen with healthy options. - Updated playgrounds: modern, safe play areas for recess and lunch breaks. ⸻ ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: faith-centered education grounded in Catholic values like respect, compassion, responsibility, and service. - Leadership style: collaborative and student-inclusive, with opportunities for student voice in appropriate school governance or projects. - Behaviour expectations: clear code of conduct aligned with Christian values; emphasis on respectful, responsible behaviour and positive relationships. - Community reputation: values-family, community involvement, and supportive partnerships with parents and parishes. - Diversity & inclusion: welcoming environment that supports diversity and inclusion, with programs and supports for students from varied backgrounds and needs. ⸻ ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: typically a morning-to-afternoon schedule (e.g., 9:00 am–3:30 pm), with variations by year level. - Before/after school care: may be available (OSHC or similar) to support working families. - Uniform requirements: school uniform policy in place, with details provided by the school. - Transport (train/bus routes): local bus routes or school transport options may be available for students living in the catchment area. - Canteen availability: on-site or school-managed canteen offering healthy meal/snack options. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): fees are in the typical range for regional Catholic primary schools, with additional costs for excursions, uniform, and activities communicated by the school. ⸻ ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Submit an expression of interest or application. - Attend an information evening or open day (where offered). - Complete the application with required documents (birth certificates, baptism certificates if applicable, proof of address, etc.). - Interview or meeting with leadership/staff (and sometimes the child) to discuss fit and readiness. - Placement decisions, notification, and confirmation; orientation for new families. 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - Yes, depending on demand. The school maintains a waiting list managed by the enrolments coordinator. Wait times vary by year level and intake numbers. Applicants are kept informed of their status and any anticipated timelines. 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Generally, an interview or intake discussion is standard. Some readiness assessments or short informal checks may be used to gauge literacy/numeracy readiness and ensure appropriate placement. 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Mid-year transfers are possible if there are vacancies and the school can accommodate the new student’s needs and timeline. Enrolment is subject to vacancy and placement considerations. ⸻ ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - A welcoming Catholic community with a focus on values, small class sizes, supportive staff, and a nurturing learning environment. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who respond well to close teacher-student relationships, values-based education, and participation in a range of academic, arts, and sporting activities. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - Extension in literacy and numeracy, clubs (coding, robotics, chess, debating), participation in inter-school sports, music and drama opportunities, and faith-based leadership experiences. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Regular newsletters, progress updates, parent-teacher interviews, and use of a school communications platform or app; files and notices are shared to keep families informed. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - Student-centered, inquiry-based learning with a strong emphasis on literacy, numeracy, ICT literacy, and faith-informed character education; regular assessment and feedback to support progress. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - In-class supports, targeted literacy/numeracy interventions, small-group tutoring, and access to SEN/EAL-like supports where required. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Additional tutoring, targeted intervention plans, and ongoing monitoring to help students catch up and stay engaged. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are small-to-medium (approximately 20 students per class), enabling frequent individual feedback and teacher accessibility. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A variety of sports (soccer, netball, cricket, AFL, athletics, swimming), music/drama, and clubs (robotics, coding, chess, debating) with local competition opportunities. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Sports grounds, library, science labs, music/performing arts spaces, tech/innovation labs, canteen, and updated playgrounds. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Integrated ICT learning, digital literacy and citizenship, access to devices and software as part of core teaching and learning. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Local bus routes or school transport options may be available; walking/cycling pathways and accessible facilities for students with diverse needs. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees are in the typical range for regional Catholic primary schools, with additional costs for uniforms, excursions, and optional activities. ⸻ ## 10. Short Pros & Cons list - Pros - Strong sense of community and values-based education - Small-to-medium class sizes enabling individualized attention - Wide range of extracurriculars and sports - Supportive wellbeing and pastoral care - Positive partnerships with local clubs and Catholic education networks - Cons - Rural/regional setting may mean fewer on-site facilities than larger city schools - Limited availability of some specialist programs compared to bigger schools (e.g., certain international programs) - Potentially smaller intake size which can affect the breadth of course options at higher year levels