Motto	Educare Et Sanctificare 'To Educate and Make Holy'
Address	53 Anderson Road, WOREE QLD 4868
Postal Address	PO Box 259E, EARLVILLE QLD 4870
Phone Number	(07) 4044 4200
Fax Number	(07) 40546617
Email Address	office@smcc.qld.edu.au
Web Site	http://www.smcc.qld.edu.au
Total Enrolments	876
Year Levels Offered	7-12
Student Population	Co-Educational
Principal	Mr Wayne Wood
Parish Priest	The Rev Fr Martin Kenny PP
Parish Number	(07) 4054 1171

About our School

Situated in the southern suburbs of Cairns, St Mary's opened in 1986 and boasts a proud reputation for providing quality Catholic co-education for the families of this exciting and dynamic region.  Inspired by Mother Mary, our College is a place where individual strengths are nurtured and developed and where faith and a sense of "family" are fundamental to who we are.

The College has a strong academic focus.  We offer a stimulating academic and vocational curriculum, along with comprehensive co-curricular opportunities for our students to pursue their interest in sport, the arts, and service leadership.

St Mary's offers a broad technology rich curriculum delivered by quality and dedicated teachers.  The College has many outstanding facilities, with exciting new building projects around the corner that will bring about more contemporary and flexible learning spaces to optimise student learning.

Committed and dedicated staff work closely with parents to provide students with the supportive and caring environment essential for their spiritual, academic, social and physical development. 

Characteristics of Student Body

In 2018 St Mary's had a total of 876 students with the following demographics

Attendance trend

School Annual Improvement

• School Renewal and Validation occurred in May 2017
• 'St Mary's Strategic Directions 2018-2020' has been developed and shared with the college community
• Building Master Plan currently in development (with University of Melbourne)
• Implementation of St Mary's Shared Practices Framework that promotes teacher consistency and a culture of collaboration. With focus on:
  • Essential Skills of Classroom Management
  • Learning Intentions/ Success Criteria
  • LINK-S vocabulary focus: Cognitive verbs
• Addition of new position: 'Director of Community Engagement'
• Additional guidance counsellor for 2018 (2.4 FTE guidance counsellor) 

SCHOOL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES  (from Strategic Directions 2018-2020) Resourcing our future

• A lived and celebrated Catholic Identity
• School improvement agenda
• Emphasis on learning
• Wellbeing and personal growth
• Community connections

LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL AGENDAS

• Preparation for the new QCE system.
• Significant professional development allocated in 2018 for teachers in preparation for the new QCE system and ATAR.
• Continued response to Shaddock Report
• Preparation for NAPLAN online

ROUND THE CORNER CONSIDERATIONS

• Potential growth in the southern corridor and implications for enrolments (MacKillop Catholic College will offer Year 7 in 2020)
• Other areas of catchment area are gentrifying and impact on enrolments
• Possible change in staff demographic mix
• Significant building program planned to enhance the facilities at the College:
  • Sport Precinct (2018)
  • Hugh O'Brien Centre renovation
  • Library renovation
  • Performing Arts Centre Masterplan to provide further detail

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL PLANNING

• Attention to priorities set out in the Strategic Directions 2018-2020
• Alignment of Building Master Plan and College Business Plan
• Planning to effectively manage disruption resulting from ongoing building work
• Staffing considerations to effectively respond to increased access to LSL
• Continued focus on building teacher capacity

Distinctive Curriculum Offerings

St Mary's offers a wide range of subjects, supported by good resources and highly trained and dedicated teachers.  Students are offered a vibrant curriculum of core and elective subjects based on the Australian Curriculum for Years 7-10 and in line with the offerings of the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA).

In the Senior School, a comprehensive range of authority and authority registered subjects are offered.  Also, Vocational Education and Training School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Programs are offered in an impressive on-site Trade Training Centre with trade qualified staff.

We offer a comprehensive learning support programme for students with special needs as well as extension opportunities for the academically gifted.

Extra Curricular Activities

St Mary's is justifiably proud of its students' outstanding achievements in a wide range of sport, performing arts, public speaking and debating events.  Students have the opportunity to participate in music and drama productions, choir, orchestra, concert band, stage band and a range of other vocal and instrumental ensembles.  Instrumental tuition is available to students through the College's Instrumental Music Program.

Students are also involved in public speaking competitions such as Lions Youth of the Year, Rostrum Voice of Youth, Cairns Junior Speakers Contest, and Rotary Debating.

There is a wide variety of sporting opportunities including Rugby Union, Rugby League, Cricket, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming and Athletics.  St Mary's is proud to be a part of the Confraternity Rugby League and QISSN Netball carnivals.  Seniors and Juniors compete in the CISSA (Cairns Interschool Senior Sporting Association) each year.  Students have the opportunity to participate in the Trinity Coast South Trials and Peninsula Championships and many students progress to State and National Titles.

Social Climate

The College has a fundamental belief in the promotion of a Catholic spiritual and religious ethos.  This is achieved through staff formation, life-giving relationships and formal Religious Education.  We believe in the uniqueness and dignity of each individual.  We endeavour to encourage each member of our community to be inner-directed, responsible, compassionate and just.  Students, staff and parents learn best in situations of loving relationships and mutual respect.  Hence, examples of forgiveness, honesty and integrity are evident in the conduct of all who would participate in our community.  St Mary's is a Catholic school which follows traditional Catholic values and therefore takes very seriously its call to be a voice for and educate the underprivileged and marginalised in our society.

The Responsible Thinking Process is designed to foster the highest levels of respect for all people and to allow individuals to develop a sense of respect for themselves.  A retreat program runs in all year levels, providing students with the opportunity for personal and communal prayer and reflection.

Each student belongs to a Homeform group which is facilitated by one teacher.  There is also a Pastoral Leader who oversees each Year level, caring for student wellbeing and managing behavioural expectations.  Heads of Year are specialists in the respective age group of the students that they are guiding and are well versed in the typical developments and behaviours associated with that age group.

Counselling services are provided by the College with professional counsellors on staff, as well as a Careers Counsellor and an Indigenous Education Liaison Officer.  A Campus Minister exists to provide a spiritual support base for students and staff.

St Mary's does not tolerate bullying and has established a culture where this is not accepted by students.  Bullying and its consequences are regularly the focus of Social and Emotional Learning classes which are conducted weekly.  St Mary's follows clear guidelines when responding to bullying issues and looks to work with all involved to bring about change.

Parent Engagement

St Mary's recognises that parents and families play an important role in supporting their child's education.  Parent engagement is more than being involved and informed about school activities.  The College actively looks to engage parents and works closely with the College's P&F Association and College Board to improve outcomes for students.

Parent Satisfaction

Parents strongly agree that:

• this school is a place of learning in a Christian environment.
• the school delivers an RE Program that is values based and meets student needs.
• this school always aims to improve the quality of education it provides.
• this school takes parents' concerns seriously.
• the school encourages my child to persist with their learning when it is difficult.
• my child looks forward to going to school.
• the school is meeting the academic needs of my child.

Data Last Updated Wed 20 Nov 2019