St Mary's School Donnybrook
2026 Term 4 Week 4
Discover the St Mary's Difference – Enrolments Now Open
For more than 100 years, St Mary's Catholic Primary School Donnybrook has been at the heart of our local community, providing a nurturing and faith-filled education grounded in the rich traditions of the Sisters of Mercy. Since 1916, we have proudly partnered with families to inspire young people to grow in faith, learning and character.
At St Mary's, every child is known, valued and celebrated for their unique gifts. We provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. From Pre-Kindy to Year 6, our dedicated staff deliver high-quality evidence-informed teaching programs, complemented by specialist learning opportunities in The Arts, STEM, Sport and Italian.
Our strong sense of community is one of our greatest strengths. Built on relationships, trust and genuine care, St Mary's is a place where families feel connected and students feel they belong. Through our wellbeing initiatives, including the RULER approach, we help children develop the emotional intelligence, resilience and confidence needed to thrive both now and into the future.
Guided by our values of courage, compassion, respect, service, justice, excellence, forgiveness and determination, we strive to develop young people who lead with integrity and purpose, using their head, heart and hands to make a positive difference in the world.
Enrolments are now open across all year levels, including Pre-Kindy and Kindergarten. We warmly invite you to share this opportunity with family, friends and neighbours who may be seeking a high-quality Catholic education in a caring and supportive community.
To learn more, visit our website at https://www.stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au/ or contact the school on (08) 9732 4700 to arrange a personal tour.
Annual Community Report (ACR)
As previously communicated, and as a reminder to our community, the requirements relating to Annual Community Meetings (ACMs) have recently changed. As a result, the school will no longer hold a formal ACM. Instead, we will share an Annual Community Report (ACR) with all families on Friday 4th December.
Thank you to those members of our community who nominated for positions on the Parents and Friends (P&F) Association and School Advisory Council (SAC). The nomination period has now closed. As the number of nominations received does not exceed the available positions, a ballot will not be required. We are grateful for the willingness of community members to serve and support our school, and the successful nominees will be announced in the upcoming ACR.
The report will also include information regarding school fees for 2027. Like many schools, we continue to experience increasing operational costs, and as a result there will be a modest increase in tuition and selected fees for next year. We remain committed to balancing affordability for families with our responsibility to provide a high-quality Catholic education and learning environment for all students.
In addition, the ACR will include reports from the school and P&F, along with key financial information and other important updates from across the school community.
We thank all families for their ongoing support, partnership and commitment to St Mary's School, and we look forward to sharing this important information with you in December.
2027 Staffing Information
Unfortunately, and due to unforeseen circumstances, it is unlikely that staffing placements will be communicated with parents before the end of the year. Whilst I understand this may cause frustration and concern for some, I appreciate your understanding and ongoing support.
2027 Timetable and Calendar Information
Following the approval of a three-week mid-year break across Catholic Education schools in 2027, adjustments will be required to our school timetable and annual calendar. These changes will ensure that St Mary's School continues to meet the instructional hour requirements set for non-government schools while maintaining a balanced and effective learning program for students.
We are currently finalising these arrangements and will provide families with further information ahead of the commencement of the 2027 school year. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to implement these changes in a way that best supports student learning and wellbeing.
Parish Mass and Picnic
The parish will be hosting a Mass and Family Picnic at 10:30am this Sunday 8th November at Ironstone Gully Falls (1813 Goodwood Road, Capel River). All are welcome to attend and join in on this occasion. Please BYO chairs, blanket, food, drinks etc.
Making Jesus Real (MJR)
During Week 5, we will again recognise Random Acts of Kindness Week. This celebration encourages students to put MJR values into action through simple acts that positively influence their families, school and wider community. The week also provides an opportunity to focus on staff wellbeing, fostering meaningful connections, reflection and positive experiences among our staff. The students will again be invited to wear free dress in recognition of their kind efforts on Friday 13th November.
Year 6 Camp
During Week 5, our Year 6 students will attend camp at Woodman Point. The camp provides a memorable experience, with a variety of activities designed to build resilience, teamwork, independence and personal development. We sincerely thank Brad Swarbrick for generously volunteering his time and support, helping to make the camp a successful and enjoyable experience for all students. We wish our Year 6 students all the best on camp.
Year 7 Orientation Day 2027
We are excited for our Year 6 students as they prepare to begin their secondary school journey at Bunbury Catholic College in 2027. The Year 7 Orientation Day will be held on Friday 20 November 2026, providing students with an opportunity to become familiar with their new school and meet future classmates and teachers. We thank Bunbury Catholic College and our families for their support in ensuring a smooth and positive transition for all students.
Parish Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The parish will be hosting an AGM after the 10:30am Mass on 22nd November. The parish relies on support from parishioners to ensure smooth operations and outreach opportunities. If you would like to get involved, your support would be much appreciated. All are invited and welcome to attend.
Christmas Concert
This year’s Christmas Concert will take place on Wednesday, 2nd December at 5:30pm on the school oval. This year, our Year 6 students will lead us in a modern take of the Nativity story, while our other classes will lead us in your favourite hit songs from the movies. We look forward to celebrating our students, our faith and the festive season together.
P&F End-of-Year Fun Day
The P&F End-of-Year Fun Day is scheduled for Friday, 4th December. Led by Christina Gammon, and supported by our P&F members, we will see the return of the colour fun run. More information will be shared with families in the coming weeks.
Graduation and Awards Evening
Our Graduation and Awards Evening will be held on Tuesday, 8th December at 5:30pm in the Church. This event will honour students who have demonstrated academic excellence, personal growth and Christian values throughout the year. We will also recognise our 2027 student leaders and farewell our graduating class.
Year 6 Graduation Assembly
Thursday 10th December, at 9am, will be our final assembly with a special focus on our graduating Year 6 students. Please mark this day in your calendars.
Thanksgiving Mass
The End-of-Year Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 11th December at 9am in the Church. Families and friends are warmly invited to join us in giving thanks for the year that has been.
Parish Christmas Hamper Appeal
We will again be supporting the parish in reaching out to the community through their Christmas Hamper Appeal. More information will follow soon. If you know of anyone who might need a little extra support this Christmas please contact the office.
Leaving Students
If you intend on leaving Donnybrook or St Mary’s at the end of the year for any reason, please let us know a.s.a.p. as this helps us with planning for 2027.
Health Care Card (HCC)
Parents across Catholic Education who hold a HCC receive discounted tuition for their children. The HCC discount is in line with the Low Fees Initiative that supports our school in making Catholic Education affordable to our community. Whilst HCC holders will not receive further discount at our school, the government will support our system financially if we provide HCC details. If you hold a current HCC, can you please provide Katja with the details so that she can look towards receiving extra support for our school.
Lunch Orders
Thank you to Hannah Spencer for collecting lunch orders on Fridays. We are still in need of a volunteer to collect lunch orders on Thursdays. If you are able to assist with this please contact the school office.
Term 4 Calendar
There is much happening this term as we prepare for Christmas, Graduation, another P&F Colour Fun Run and much more. Please note these important dates in the Term 4 calendar which can be found HERE.
School Website
Our school website can be found HERE and contains much information regarding school operations and procedures.
Parent Information
An updated parent information booklet, including teacher email addresses and school operations, can be found on our school website under the school information tab or by clicking HERE.
Student Enrolments
St Mary’s is open for enrolments and has places available across all year levels for 2026. Should you be interested in a tour with the principal, please contact 97324700. More information, including an introductory video, can be found on our school website at http://www.stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au/.
Thank you
Andrew Gammon
St Mary's School Donnybrook
Email: admin@stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au
Website: www.stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au
Location: 30 Bentley St, Donnybrook, WA, 6239
Phone: 08 97324700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Catholic-Primary-School-Donnybrook-1835840293345149/