Culture & Values

Our History 

St Mary's Primary School was opened on the 25th January 1885 with the attendance of over forty pupils. Miss Mary McGrath of Jeffcott was the first teacher. Rev T Scanlon was the Parish Priest.

On Sunday 14th September 1922 the convent and classrooms were blessed and opened by the right Rev Dr D Foley, Bishop of Ballarat. Four Sisters of the Order of Notre Dame de Missions resided in the Convent and taught in St Mary's Primary and Sacred Heart High School.

5th March 1929 marked the official opening of the present St Mary's Primary School by the Right Rev Dr D Foley. Rev J Coughlan was the Parish Priest at this time. The Classroom Block has in the centre of its northern face an ornamental façade in cement which rises in a triangular shape and bears the letters A M D G (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - All for the Honour and Glory of God). A shield is fashioned in relief with Cootamundra Wattle and Shamrocks to represent Australia and Ireland. It bears the school motto - 'Fidelis Esto' (Be Thou Faithful) and the dates 1885 - 1928. Other lettering includes 'No 181 Registered Primary School' and 'Sub - Primary School'. A cross surmounts the whole façade. The school property is set on a corner block at the intersection of Woods and Byrne St., Donald.

The Sisters of Mercy from Ballarat East were welcomed to Donald in 1962 and replaced the Sisters of Notre Dame de Missions. From 1962 to 1975 St Mary's was a Primary and Secondary School with classes from Prep to Year 10.

In 1976 a multi-campus secondary school embracing Charlton, St Arnaud and Donald was founded and named McAuley College. McAuley College closed in 2003.

St Mary's once again became a Primary School and had the Sisters of Mercy as Principal until 1992. The first lay Principal, Mr. Brian Hudson, began in 1993. He was followed by Mr. Tony Capurso in 1998. Mr. Les Butler began as Principal in 2004 , Mrs. Anne Anderson in 2011, Mr. Daniel Gooch 2012 to 2014, Mrs. Anne Anderson again in 2015 and Mrs Melissa Drum in 2021 until present day.

In 2006 a refurbishment took place of the Administration Block, a new canteen was built and the toilets were fully enclosed to provide greater security for the students. A new school fence was erected, a courtyard shade sail was installed and the facia of the Classroom Block was re-rendered and painted. 2006 also saw the planting of ten plane trees around the school oval boundary to provide natural shade for the students in future years.

In 2007-08 St Mary's replaced the toilets, erected a shaded verandah around the Classroom Block and constructed a new playground.

St. Mary’s has been enhanced further during 2010 with the construction of a Multi-Purpose Room and an outdoor learning area. These additions allow for whole school activities and provide opportunities for students to complete activities outdoor in a sheltered and comfortable space.

St. Mary’s is continually upgrading facilities to ensure students and staff are teaching and learning in safe, modern and engaging facilities.

St Mary's has a present enrolment of 34 pupils; a dedicated staff of lay teachers and a tradition-rich in the history, courage and faith of the Donald Parish Community.

Culture & Values

These are the foundational values of St. Mary’s Primary School

• Every child can learn and has the right to quality education.

• All staff members have the responsibility to support each student achieve their potential.

• St. Mary’s Families are the prime educators and the staff and school community will work with families to achieve the best outcomes for their child/ children.

• All students have the right to be safe.

• St. Mary’s school aims to provide a quality Christian education to each child academically, physically, spiritually and emotionally.

• St. Mary’s school welcomes all families and aims to work in partnership with them to provide a quality education.

• St. Mary’s School commits to meeting the individual learning needs of each student and to differentiate the learning to meet those needs.

• St. Mary’s school commits to providing a catholic education to all students and no student will be refused enrolment owing to financial constraints.

• St. Mary’s School commits to inform parents of their child’s progress and the school expectations of students and family as members of the school community.

• St. Mary’s School provides students with opportunities to be informed and understand the expectations of the school. The students will be provided with ongoing

• opportunities to gain these understandings.

• St. Mary’s School Staff commit to providing each child with opportunities to achieve their potential and undertake to ensure each child makes a minimum of 12 months

• of progress each school year.

• St. Mary’s School Community commit to implementing the Child Safety Standards to ensure the safety of each student.
  

School Prayer