St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic School
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic School is a coeducational school for students from Kindergarten - Year 10 located in Carnarvon, Western Australia
, a coastal town located 900 kilometres north of Perth
(just south of the Tropic of Capricorn
).
St Mary’s has a current enrolment of approximately 300 students. The school's students come from Carnarvon itself or the surrounding areas and the school involves itself in many of the sporting and community activities in Carnarvon. There are approximately 40 staff members at the school. Subsidised accommodation and other financial incentives are offered through the Catholic Education Office’s Remote Area Package for Teachers.
. The last remaining Presentation Sisters that lived at the school were Sister Delores and Sister Evangelist; they left the school on its centenary on 17 March 2006.
The Curriculum reflects the values of both the Catholic Church and those outlined in the Curriculum Framework. The school believes it develops the "whole child" (spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically) in an environment rich in the Catholic tradition.
Early Childhood Education
Kindy, Pre-Primary and Year 1 are educated in the Junior Learning Centre, located across the oval from the main school buildings. Inside, there are three separate classrooms, with two large ‘wet' areas and a modern kitchen facility. The play area is fully fenced and the whole centre is fully resourced. Kindy students attend four sessions a week. Pre-Primary builds upon the knowledge and skills introduced in the previous year. Students attend full time and are actively involved in investigating, exploring, thinking and communicating. Each student is individually monitored and assessed and a report is written twice a year. Year One is a fundamental stage in the young students' learning career. It is the beginning of their formal schooling environment. Year One, therefore, immerses the students in experiences that are meaningful, whole and based on real situations that the students can relate to. Such experiences promote language enhancement, cognitive development, social interaction, physical activity and creativity. Literacy, numeracy and effective communication become a focus.
Year 2-7
The curriculum is more formal and the focus on literacy and numeracy strengthens, while developing the "whole student". The school offers educational programs for individual differences, interests, needs and levels of ability, which it believes sets the student up for future success. The school offers its students access to a range of specialist learning areas such as Science, Art, Music, Computing and Physical Education. Students have access to a state of the art computer laboratory whilst having computers in each classroom.http://www.smsc.wa.edu.au/primary_school.html| Primary School Description from school website
Both the academic and Religious Education
programs promote the development of reflection, personal commitment, self respect and individual achievement within, and outside the school. Programs such as Christian Service Learning, Young Achievement Australia, musical performances, drama productions and a multitude of other ativities contribute to the development of each student.
Middle School at St Mary's focuses on meeting student needs, in an environment that provides mutual respect and support, for both the community and the individual within the community. Positive affirming classrooms are developed in conjunction with all members of the school community.
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef lies to the north...
, a coastal town located 900 kilometres north of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
(just south of the Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
).
St Mary’s has a current enrolment of approximately 300 students. The school's students come from Carnarvon itself or the surrounding areas and the school involves itself in many of the sporting and community activities in Carnarvon. There are approximately 40 staff members at the school. Subsidised accommodation and other financial incentives are offered through the Catholic Education Office’s Remote Area Package for Teachers.
History
St Mary's Catholic School was founded in 1906 by Mother Joseph O'Connell of the Presentation SistersPresentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
. The last remaining Presentation Sisters that lived at the school were Sister Delores and Sister Evangelist; they left the school on its centenary on 17 March 2006.
Primary School
St Mary Star of the Sea Primary School is co-educational and caters for approximately 300 students from Kindergarten through to Year 7. The school has strong links to the Parish and wider communities and their involvement and support are essential.The Curriculum reflects the values of both the Catholic Church and those outlined in the Curriculum Framework. The school believes it develops the "whole child" (spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically) in an environment rich in the Catholic tradition.
Early Childhood Education
Kindy, Pre-Primary and Year 1 are educated in the Junior Learning Centre, located across the oval from the main school buildings. Inside, there are three separate classrooms, with two large ‘wet' areas and a modern kitchen facility. The play area is fully fenced and the whole centre is fully resourced. Kindy students attend four sessions a week. Pre-Primary builds upon the knowledge and skills introduced in the previous year. Students attend full time and are actively involved in investigating, exploring, thinking and communicating. Each student is individually monitored and assessed and a report is written twice a year. Year One is a fundamental stage in the young students' learning career. It is the beginning of their formal schooling environment. Year One, therefore, immerses the students in experiences that are meaningful, whole and based on real situations that the students can relate to. Such experiences promote language enhancement, cognitive development, social interaction, physical activity and creativity. Literacy, numeracy and effective communication become a focus.
Year 2-7
The curriculum is more formal and the focus on literacy and numeracy strengthens, while developing the "whole student". The school offers educational programs for individual differences, interests, needs and levels of ability, which it believes sets the student up for future success. The school offers its students access to a range of specialist learning areas such as Science, Art, Music, Computing and Physical Education. Students have access to a state of the art computer laboratory whilst having computers in each classroom.http://www.smsc.wa.edu.au/primary_school.html| Primary School Description from school website
RAISe (Literacy Initiative)
In 2006, St Mary's Primary School continued with its implementation of the RAISe literacy initiative. RAISe stands for Raising Achievement in Schools and this is the school's second year of operation. "We here at St Mary's continue to endeavour to provide a better and more rounded education for our students."Middle school
The Middle School of St Mary's Carnarvon was established in 2001 and is dedicated to providing students in Years 8 - 10 with the necessary skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century with faith and hope. The philosophy behind Middle Schooling at St Mary's is to recognise the challenges associated with the transition that young people experience as they move from being young children to becoming adolescents. At St Mary's, middle schooling methodologies are adopted to ease this period transition, and to ensure that St Mary's maximises the learning opportunities for all students.Both the academic and Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a...
programs promote the development of reflection, personal commitment, self respect and individual achievement within, and outside the school. Programs such as Christian Service Learning, Young Achievement Australia, musical performances, drama productions and a multitude of other ativities contribute to the development of each student.
Middle School at St Mary's focuses on meeting student needs, in an environment that provides mutual respect and support, for both the community and the individual within the community. Positive affirming classrooms are developed in conjunction with all members of the school community.
House system
| Colour | Name | Namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Grey | Named after George Edward Grey George Edward Grey Sir George Grey, KCB was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony , the 11th Premier of New Zealand and a writer.-Early life and exploration:... who explored the northern coastline and Gascoyne River area and Kalbarri |
|
| Forrest | Named after John Forrest John Forrest Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament.... , the first Premier of Western Australia |
|
| Stirling | Named after Captain James Stirling James Stirling (Australian governor) Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia... , the founding father and first Governor of Western Australia Governor of Western Australia The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;... |
Principals
- 2010 on - Mr Darren McDonald
- 2006-2009 - Ms Carmel Costin
- 2005 - Acting Mr John Twomey
- 2001-2004, 2006 - Mr Chris Cully
- 1996-2000 - Mrs Anne Cullender
- 1983-1996 - Sister Goretti
- -1982 - Sister Lelia
- 1977 - Sister Aquinas