New Family FAQ

Welcome to St Mary's College. Every family arrives with the same practical questions, so we have gathered the thirty we hear most and answered each in a sentence or two, with a link to the full page. If your question is not here, the Junior Office or Senior Office on (03) 9555 0100 will be glad to help.

Getting started

How do I get access to the Parent Portal?

An activation email from noreply@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au arrives about two weeks before your child starts. Set a password, then download the St Mary's Connect app. See the Parent Portal Guide.

What is Learning Hub and do I need it?

Learning Hub is the Senior School learning platform for homework, timetables and the assessment calendar. Parents have observer access; Junior families do not need it. See the Learning Hub Guide.

Where do I find term dates?

Term 4 2026 runs Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026; 2027 begins Wednesday 27 January. Full dates on Term Dates.

Which House is my child in?

Every student belongs to MacKillop (green), Chisholm (blue), Polding (gold) or Romero (red), and siblings share a House. Your child's House appears in the Portal. See Houses.

The school day

What time does school start and finish?

Junior School 8:45am–3:20pm; Senior School 8:40am–3:25pm, with a 2:45pm finish on Wednesdays for Senior students. See Daily Schedule & Bell Times.

How early can my child arrive?

Gates open at 8:00am and yard supervision starts at 8:15am. Students should not arrive before 8:15am unless booked into Before School Care (from 6:45am).

Is there before and after school care?

Yes — Wattle Creek OSHC in the Hall Annexe: before care 6:45–8:30am ($22), after care 3:15–6:15pm ($34), Child Care Subsidy applies. See OSHC.

Can parents attend assemblies?

Junior assembly is Fridays at 2:30pm in Mary MacKillop Hall and parents are always welcome. Senior assembly is Mondays at 8:40am fortnightly. See Assemblies & Celebrations.

How much homework should I expect?

Prep–Year 2 nightly reading; Years 3–4 about 20 minutes; Years 5–6 30–40 minutes; Years 7–8 60 minutes; Years 9–10 90 minutes; VCE 2–3 hours. See the Homework Policy.

Uniform

Where do I buy uniform?

The on-campus Uniform Shop (Noone Imagewear) in the Convent Building, open Tuesday 8:00–11:00am and Thursday 1:00–4:30pm, or online via the Portal. See Uniform Shop.

When does summer uniform start?

Summer uniform is worn in Terms 1 and 4 — from Monday 5 October 2026 — and the navy wide-brim hat is compulsory in those terms. Winter uniform is worn in Terms 2 and 3.

Is there second-hand uniform?

Yes — the P&F sells quality second-hand items on the second Saturday of each term month, 9:00–11:00am in the Hall foyer (next: Saturday 12 September 2026). See Second-hand Uniform.

When is sport uniform worn?

Only on your child's timetabled PE or sport day (and Friday sport for Junior students). House polos are worn for carnivals. See Sport Uniform.

Food

Is there a canteen?

The Harbour Café is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday for Junior students and Monday to Friday for Senior students. Order online by 8:30am; sandwiches are $5–6.50 and the hot meal of the day $7.50. See Canteen Menu & Lunch Orders.

Can my child pay with cash?

Junior canteen is cashless (online orders only). Senior students can use their student card, topped up through Portal > Payments.

Is the school nut-free?

St Mary's is a nut-aware school: the canteen sells no nuts and we ask families not to send nut products. See the Anaphylaxis & Allergy Aware Policy.

Getting to school

Is there a school bus?

Two college buses run: Route A (Wattle Creek Station – Hillview – Ferntree Rise) and Route B (Riverbend – Kingsley Park – Old Mill Road), $1,320 per year or $8 per casual trip. See School Buses & Transport.

How does Kiss-and-Drop work?

The Chapel Road zone operates 8:15–8:45am and 3:15–3:45pm with a two-minute limit — stay in your car and children exit kerb-side. See Kiss-and-Drop & Parking.

Can my child ride a bike or scooter?

Yes. The bike shed is beside the Junior Gate, helmets are compulsory, and scooters are permitted from Year 3.

Where can I park for evening events?

The main car park off Chapel Road, with overflow in the Sports Centre car park off Convent Lane. The staff car park is not for parent use. See College Map & Parking.

Absences and health

How do I report an absence?

Before 9:00am via the Portal, the absentee line (03) 9555 0111 or SMS 0428 555 011. Otherwise you will receive an SMS at 9:30am. See Absences & Late Arrivals.

My child is running late — what do we do?

Sign in at the Junior Office (Prep–Year 6) or the Senior Office kiosk (Years 7–12) for a late pass.

What medical information does the school need?

An annual Medical Update on the Portal, and a GP-signed action plan with in-date medication for any student with anaphylaxis, allergy, asthma, diabetes or epilepsy, due at the start of each year. See Medical Forms & Health.

When should I keep my child home?

With a fever in the last 24 hours, vomiting or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours, conjunctivitis, an undiagnosed rash, or if they are too unwell to take part in class.

Communication

How does the school communicate with parents?

Through the fortnightly Lumen newsletter (Mondays), Portal notifications, SMS for urgent matters, and Junior Class Pages. See Communication & Newsletters.

Who do I contact with a concern?

Start with the class or homeroom teacher, then the year level coordinator, then the Head of School — Ms Priya Natarajan (Junior) or Mr Tom Brennan (Senior). Staff respond within two school days.

Money

What are the fees and how are they paid?

2026 tuition: Prep–Year 2 $4,850; Years 3–6 $5,150; Years 7–9 $9,300; Years 10–12 $10,450, plus a $650 capital levy per family, billed in four instalments or by direct debit over ten months. See Fees & Payments.

Is there a sibling discount or fee assistance?

Yes: 10% off the second child, 25% off the third and free tuition for the fourth. Health Care Card holders can apply for CSEF ($154 primary / $256 secondary), and confidential hardship arrangements are available through the Business Manager.

Getting involved

Do I need a Working with Children Check to help out?

Yes for any volunteering — classroom reading, canteen, excursions — and it is free for volunteers, followed by a 20-minute online induction. Spectating at assemblies or carnivals does not require one. See Volunteering & WWCC.

How do I join the P&F?

Everyone is a member — just come to a meeting on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm (next: Wednesday 9 September 2026), or email pandf@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au. See Parents & Friends.