Year 7 2027
Key information for families starting Year 7 at St Mary's in 2027: the Information Evening on Wednesday 26 August 2026, Orientation Day on Tuesday 24 November 2026, laptop program, uniform fittings, and the first weeks.
Around 150 students will begin Year 7 at St Mary's on Wednesday 27 January 2027 — roughly 90 continuing from our own Junior School and 60 joining us from local Catholic and government primary schools. Year 7 is organised into six homerooms of about 25, each with a homeroom teacher who sees the class every morning, and the year level is led by Mr Nick Papadopoulos, Year 7 Coordinator. This page sets out what happens between now and the first day.
Year 7 2027 Information Evening — Wednesday 26 August 2026, 7:00pm
All Year 7 2027 families (including current St Mary's Year 6 families) are asked to attend. Students are welcome and encouraged to come.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| When | Wednesday 26 August 2026, 7:00–8:30pm (doors open 6:30pm) |
| Where | Mary MacKillop Hall; enter via the main entrance on Chapel Road or the Sutherland Street car park (overflow parking on the Main Oval from 6:15pm) |
| Program | 7:00pm Welcome — Dr Helen Carmody, Principal · 7:10pm Life in Year 7 — Mr Tom Brennan, Head of Senior School, and Mr Nick Papadopoulos · 7:35pm Learning, laptops and the Learning Hub — Mr David Okafor, Deputy Principal – Learning & Teaching · 7:55pm Wellbeing, House and camp — Mrs Siobhan Reilly · 8:05pm Uniform, buses, fees and forms · 8:15pm Questions; displays open (Uniform Shop, Music, Sport, OSHC, Canteen) |
| Bring | Questions; a phone to scan the QR codes for the BYOD portal and uniform fitting bookings |
| RSVP | Via the link in your offer email or enrol@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au. Walk-ins welcome. |
Slides and a recording will be posted in the Parent Portal by Friday 28 August 2026 for anyone who cannot attend.
Orientation Day — Tuesday 24 November 2026, 9:00am–2:30pm
Every Year 7 2027 student spends a full day at the college in their 2027 homeroom.
- Arrive 8:45–9:00am at the Senior gate on Sutherland Street. Staff and Year 10 peer support leaders will meet students and take them to the Hall.
- Wear current primary school uniform. Bring a snack, lunch, drink bottle, hat and a pencil case. The canteen will be open, but cash is not needed.
- The day includes homeroom activities, a sample timetable of four lessons (Science in the Carroll Science Centre, PE in the Sports Centre, Religious Education and Humanities), a campus treasure hunt, House allocation and a House cheer-off.
- Parents attend a short session 9:15–10:15am in the Learning Commons (Parent Portal and Learning Hub set-up, laptop questions, fee statements) and then collect students from the Hall at 2:30pm. Students may also travel home on college buses (casual fare $8) if a parent has emailed permission.
- Students who cannot attend should email Mr Papadopoulos via enrol@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au so an alternative visit can be arranged.
Laptop program (BYOD)
Year 7 students bring their own laptop under our Bring Your Own Device program. Full specifications and support details are on the Laptop Program (BYOD) page; in brief:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum spec | Windows 11 or macOS device, 13-inch or larger screen, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 8-hour battery; touchscreen and stylus recommended but optional. iPads and Chromebooks are not suitable for Years 7–12. |
| College BYOD portal | Pre-configured devices with 3-year warranty and accidental damage cover, roughly $1,100–$1,600. Orders placed by Friday 27 November 2026 are delivered to the college ready for collection at the Uniform Shop fitting week in January. |
| Existing device | Perfectly acceptable if it meets the spec. Bring it to Orientation Day and our ICT team will check it. |
| Set-up | Learning Hub, Microsoft 365 and printing are installed at the ICT help desk on the first day. The BYOD agreement is signed by student and parent via the Parent Portal. |
| Insurance | Devices are not covered by college insurance; the portal's accidental damage cover or your home contents policy is recommended. |
Uniform fittings
Year 7 students wear the Senior uniform: in summer (Terms 1 and 4) navy tailored shorts or skirt with a white blouse (girls) or grey shorts and white short-sleeve shirt (boys), with the compulsory navy wide-brim hat; in winter the navy blazer, jumper, tie and tartan kilt or navy trousers. Sport uniform is worn only on the timetabled PE/sport day.
- Fitting appointments: Monday 30 November – Friday 11 December 2026 and Monday 18 – Friday 22 January 2027, 9:00am–3:00pm, Uniform Shop (Hall foyer). Book a 20-minute slot via the Parent Portal › Uniform Shop from Thursday 27 August 2026.
- Cost: a full summer and winter set is typically $650–$850; the blazer ($195) can be purchased in Term 1 before winter. Second-hand blazers and kilts are usually available at the P&F second-hand sale on Saturday 13 February 2027, 9:00–11:00am, Hall foyer.
- Uniform Shop regular hours: Tuesdays 8:00–11:00am, Thursdays 1:00–4:30pm; see Uniform Shop.
The first weeks of 2027
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 27 January 2027 | First day, Years 7 and 12 only. Arrive 8:30am at the Senior gate; Homeroom 8:40am; dismissal 3:25pm. Full summer uniform with hat. |
| Thursday 28 January 2027 | All Senior students return; normal timetable begins |
| Thursday 11 – Friday 12 February 2027 | Year 7 Welcome Retreat (one day per homeroom group, off campus) — see Retreats |
| Friday 26 February 2027 | Senior Swimming Carnival, Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre |
| Wednesday 24 – Friday 26 March 2027 | Year 7 Camp (details and medical forms at Information Evening) |
Year 7 students are also welcome to try out for CSSA Wednesday sport, audition for ensembles, and join Homework Club (Monday–Thursday 3:30–4:30pm, Learning Commons, free) from the first week. More on the transition itself is at Year 7 Transition.
Fees
Year 7 tuition in 2026 is $9,300 per year plus the $650 family capital levy; 2027 fees will be published in November 2026. Sibling discounts apply, and CSEF ($256 for secondary students) is available to Health Care Card holders. See Fees & Payments.
Contact
Year 7 Coordinator — Mr Nick Papadopoulos · Senior Office (03) 9555 0140 Head of Senior School — Mr Tom Brennan · Senior Office (03) 9555 0140 Registrar — Mrs Kate O'Brien · enrol@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au · (03) 9555 0120