Dear Parents,

I wish to extend a warm welcome to your family on behalf of the St. Mary’s learning community. I look forward to working in partnership with you on the educational journey of your child.

St Mary’s Primary School, Bairnsdale is first and foremost a Catholic school. We embrace our Faith by living out our Christian values with courage and kindness, seeking justice and respect for all. 

There are 482 students in our school and we pride ourselves on the fact that we know each and every one of them. We have a team of dedicated teachers, Learning Support Officers and Administration Staff who are committed to all students. We have a culture of high expectations in both behaviour and learning. We are committed to providing evidence-based, targeted teaching that enables all students to achieve their best. We believe that teaching should engage, inspire and challenge the students as they navigate and participate in our rapidly changing world.

The safety of all students is our primary concern. We are committed to providing an environment where all members feel safe, valued and respected. This is reinforced through our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour where our school-wide expectations are Respect, Resilience and Safety.

Our learning spaces are contemporary and flexible in design and cater for a range of educational experiences. We are fortunate to have large, expansive areas for the students to enjoy.

It is a great privilege to be the Principal of this wonderful school and my door is always open. I often tell prospective parents that our school should feel like a favourite pair of shoes, extremely comfortable, tangible and a perfect fit. I hope that you find St Mary’s a ‘perfect fit’ for your child.

Mrs. Lisa Parwata
Principal

Acknowledgment of Country

St Mary's Primary School Bairnsdale is situated on the land of the Gunaikurnai people, the traditional custodians. We acknowledge the ongoing relationship that they have held with this land, which has provided protection, connection with culture and is always a place of learning. We also acknowledge Elders past, present, and emerging.