The school gates are opened at and supervised from 8.30am. The school gates are closed at 9am.
As part of our attendance requirements all late arrivals must sign in through the school office.

School Buses: Country Bus Service

Children wishing to travel to and from school on country buses must complete an ’Application for Permission to Travel’ form, available from the school office. The bus interchange is located at Ararat College. Children travelling on buses may need to change buses at the interchange in the morning and afternoon.

School Buses: Town Bus Service

Children living within the Ararat city limits can utilise the town bus service. Parents of children wishing to use the town bus service need to contact Christians Bus Lines directly on 5352 1501 to organise pick-up and drop-off times and locations. 

All bus travellers at St Mary’s assemble in their bus lines in the Davey Hub at the end of the school day.
A member of staff accompanies the children to their buses to ensure appropriate supervision. This staff member will mark a bus roll daily.

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders are supplied from the Marian College canteen each Thursday. Orders must be placed on the Flexischools App. Lunch orders are delivered to St Mary's for our students to enjoy.   

Uniform

It is a requirement at St Mary’s that all children wear the appropriate uniform to school daily. If there is a reason that your child is unable to wear the correct school uniform, we request that you write a note to your child’s class teacher.

School hats are compulsory in Terms One and Four and children are expected to wear them when they go outdoors.

All incoming students receive their first school hat free, otherwise hats are available for purchase from the school office for $10 (cash only).

All other items of uniform are available from Fosters Mensland in Ararat. Generic blue polo shirts and shorts/pants can be purchased at department stores.

All school clothing and possessions must be clearly marked with your child’s name where possible.

Parents will be informed of which day their child is required to wear their sports uniform. On the day of our annual Athletics Carnival, students can wear the colour of their House Team. New families will be notified of House Teams prior to Sports Day. Immediate family members will be in the same House Team.

Medical Information

To ensure a safe environment for our students, staff and visitors, it is important that parents and caregivers notify the school if their children has been diagnosed with an ongoing medical condition. It is a condition of enrolment that parents provide the school with accurate and up to date medical information, signed by a medical practitioner in relation to any such conditions.

A number of our students have asthma and conditions such as Anaphylaxis. At the beginning of each school year, this information will be checked by our Medical Officer. Parents and caregivers will be contacted to ensure our student information is correct and up to date and will be expected to provide the appropriate medical treatments such as puffers and epipens.

Similarly, parents must inform the school of any significant allergies that their child might have. This ensures our procedures and processes are accurate and that this information, and the required treatment, is openly communicated to staff. Annual updates will be requested by our Medical Officer and must be provided to school with an appropriate medical practitioner’s signature.

St Mary’s does not have a nut-free policy however, we strongly request parents avoid sending nut products in their children’s lunchboxes being mindful that we have children in our community who are allergic to nuts.

School Records

We are required to maintain accurate and up to date records of parents or caregivers contact details: names, addresses, telephone numbers and emergency contact details (including those of another relative or friend should you be unavailable). It is critical that this information is accurate and correct and that parents or caregivers inform the school of any changes in circumstances.

Should parents have other information pertinent to the welfare of your child, including any legal documentation, copies of this should also be provided to the school. Under Commonwealth Government legislation, all information collected during the course of a child’s period at school is managed in accordance with the relevant privacy legislation and guidelines. All files are confidential and only accessible by the relevant members of staff.

Before and After School Care

St Mary's offers before and after school care through the YMCA. Students are walked to and from the location by a YMCA employee at the beginning and conclusion of each school day. Please contact 0400 886 524 or ararat.oshc@yballarat.org.au for further enquiries.