FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Parent Assembly
Fees
April fee account statements have been sent out via email. Please contact the school office if you have not received your statement or if you are having difficulty in processing payments. NB 2025 fees are to be paid in full by the end of November, and this is especially important for families who are finishing at St Mary's this year.
Free Webinars for Parents
Lithium Safety
- Only charge e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools in the garage or shed, away from living areas and exit doors.
- Never use or charge batteries or equipment showing signs of damage such as swelling, leaking, discolouration, or odours
- Only use chargers that comply with relevant standards and have been supplied with, or deemed compatible with, your battery or device
- Never leave devices on charge for extended periods (e.g. overnight) or unattended
- Switch off once fully charged
- Don’t charge phones on your pillow or in bed, only charge devices on hard surfaces
- Buy products from reputable brands and suppliers
For further information go to https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/chargesafe
Follow the Fear - a Guide to Online Bullying
Whether you’re a student being harassed in a group chat, a parent unsure how to help your child, an educator overwhelmed by tech-fuelled drama, or a professional watching your reputation unravel this resource is for you.
Relay for Life
School Year Safely: Tips for 2025
Getting In and Out of the Car:
- Always use the door closest to the curb to prevent stepping into traffic
- Make sure your child waits until the car has completely stopped before exiting.
Walking Safely:
- Encourage distraction-free walking by asking your child to remove headphones and put away devices while crossing streets.
- Teach your child to stay alert, follow traffic signals, and use designated pedestrian crossings.
Using the Bus Safely:
- Wait at the bus stop together, standing at least one step back from the edge of the road.
- Always meet your child at the bus stop on the same side of the road—never call them across from the opposite side.
- Wait for the bus to leave before crossing the street, ensuring it is safe to cross.
Using Wheeled Transport:
- Remind your child that helmets are mandatory when riding a bike in public—it’s the law.
- Encourage helmet use and protective gear for other wheeled activities, such as scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades.
Never sacrifice safety for convenience, source: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au
CVCON 2025 enrolment forms
Uniforms
St Mary's School uniforms are available to purchase from Lowes in Grafton Shopping World. The sports uniform is worn on Wednesday and Friday each week.
Attendance
- If your child is arriving to the school after 8:45am please sign them in at the office.
- Please use Compass to record full day absentees. Partial absences are recorded by staff when students are signed in and out of the office.
- Students who leave a school event early will have a partial absence recorded.
- A medical certificate or other documentation may be requested where frequent absences due to illness occur.
- Generally, extended leave (greater than 10 days) during the school term would not be approved. These absences are recorded on the roll as unjustified and a completed Form 01 Extended Leave Notification Travel/Other Greater than 10 Days is required.
- In exceptional circumstances parents may complete an Form 02 Approved Extended Leave Application - Travel/Other Greater than 10 Days for consideration by the Principal, explaining why an absence for extended leave is in the best educational interest of the student. The Principal may decline or accept this application.
Parking in Hoof Street
There are a small number of parking spaces near the Sunrise Shop (corner of Hoof and Turf Streets) for use by their customers. To assist this small business, we suggest parking away from the corner.
Overseas Visa Details
Reminder: Parents and Carers are to keep the school informed of any change in residency/visa status during the course of their child's enrolment, with evidence of new visa status provided. Parents should be made aware that the school must be informed of any change in residency status.
Working With Children Check (WWCC)
At St Mary's we are committed to creating and supporting a culture of safety for children and ensuring that children are protected. All employees and volunteers are required to have a current WWCC.
NB - The vast majority of volunteers in schools are parents of a child attending the school at which they are volunteering (eg reading groups, fetes, camps, excursions and canteen) and therefore do not require a WWCC. Exceptions to this are
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volunteers interacting one-on-one with a child not their own,
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working with children who have a disability,
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offering mentoring services,
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when the volunteer is not a parent or close relative.
Child Safeguarding Statement
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) is wholly committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
As school communities and as individuals, we commit to fostering communities of safeguarding that recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all children and young people. Our commitment is drawn from the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, in love and justice, whereby the dignity and sacredness of each child is respected. Additional information may be found on the DLCS website or by using this link: Child Safeguarding Policy.