About
History
From its humble beginnings at High St on the 10th March 1919, St Mary’s opened under the guidance of Miss Anne Hanrahan with 75 students. St Mary’s Primary School has grown to its current student population of approximately 490 students and fifty staff at its present Murlong Street site.
Mary MacKillop together with Julian Tenison-Woods founded the Josephite schools so that children in remote and rural areas would have access to a Catholic education. In July 1923, the arrival of three Sisters of St. Joseph in Swan Hill, began the long and close association of the Josephites with Catholic Education in Swan Hill. In 1923 Bishop Foley blessed the foundation stone of the new convent, later known as MacKillop House, which was burnt down in 1989. Extensive refurbishment took place between 1980 and 1990 at the High Street site, which is now occupied by MacKillop College.
The long tradition of St. Mary’s School being headed by St. Joseph sisters ended in 1996 when, after 73 years, a lay principal was appointed for the beginning of the 1997 school year. However, the Josephite characteristics of hard work, dedication, community and family unity are still strong features of our school.
The new school is set on the old Shamrock Park site, with its boundaries being Murlong and Karinie Streets. Stages one and two of the building program were completed in December 1996 enabling all students to attend school on the one site, after nearly two years of being a dual campus school while building progressed. St Mary’s currently comprises ten permanent and fourteen portable classrooms, a multipurpose room, canteen and an administration building, which houses a library, computer lab, staffroom and offices. 2010 saw the completion of our newset building the Gymnasium which houses a full sized basketball court, seating for 600 people, 2 classrooms, 2 interview rooms and toilet and kitchen facilities.
Our school community is made up of both town and rural families with the majority of children having to bus to school. Factors such as extreme weather conditions and rural remoteness can impact on our families in many ways with 23% of families receiving Education Maintenance Allowance. We also have strong links with the Italian Community, which is best demonstrated through our annual Italian day in term 1 each year.
We are committed to the gospel values, a strong school family identity, quality curriculum and ‘best practice’ learning and teaching practices within an environment that values the individual whilst developing cooperation and team skills. These together with a warm sense of welcome, genuine care and dedicated and highly professional staff are hallmarks of our school.
Our beautiful landscaped gardens and quality playing space are excellent features of our school along with well presented classrooms that promote learning in a positive and secure environment. This reflects the pride this community takes in its school.
