Enrolment Information
We welcome enquiries about enrolment at St Mary's Primary School at any time of the school year. Below are answers to commonly asked questions about how and when to enrol your child and a brief explanation of our enrolment process.
We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with this very important decision in your child’s life.
Do you have School Tours and when are they?
Tour dates are advertised on boards outside the school, through flyers displayed at local kindergartens and early learning centers as well as on our website and school Instagram account. Families who have expressed an interest will be notified of dates and times via email. If you would like to have a school tour outside of these dates please feel free to call us and we will organise this for you.
What age should your child start school?
Your child must be five years old by 30th April of the year they start school. They should have completed a 4-year-old kindergarten program or equivalent in the previous year.
How to make an enrolment enquiry?
We welcome enquiries at any time. When you contact us we may ask a few standard questions (including your contact details) to help us with your child’s enrolment needs and with our future planning. An enquiry does not mean you have made any commitment to our school. We keep your enquiry, on file if you wish, so that we can contact you the year before your child is due to start school to advise you of our Open Days and enrolment activities. An Enrolment Application Form can be downloaded by clicking on the link.
Who can apply to St. Mary’s? Is the school ‘zoned’?
We accept applications for enrolment from everyone. If there are more applicants than places available in your child’s year, then we must follow the criteria required by the Catholic Diocese of Melbourne:
- Siblings of current families
- Catholics who live within, and close to, St Mary’s Parish
- Catholics who live outside the Parish boundaries (for pastoral reasons)
- Children of Orthodox families
- Other Christian children
- Non-Christian children, all within the school catchment area
If you belong to another Catholic Parish, we ask that you make your first enquiry there.
When should you apply for enrolment at St Mary's?
Enrolment applications are taken from two years before your child is due to start school. We recommend that you complete and return your application form as early as possible. By completing an Enrolment Application Form you are letting us know that you wish your child to attend St Mary’s School. At that stage, no enrolment deposit is required.
The school will require copies of the following:
- A Certificate of Baptism (if applicable)
- An Immunisation Certificate (issued by Medicare)
- A Birth Certificate to be sent with the Enrolment Application Form
Letters of Offer
All application forms received are reviewed according to the acceptance criteria (outlined above). Letters of Offer are then sent to parents who are invited to attend an interview with the School Principal. This is an opportunity for us to share information regarding your child's commencement in Prep. After the interview, you will be asked to pay a $300 non-refundable fee to secure your child's enrolment position.
New Students
We do welcome enrolments for new students in year levels other than Prep. It is encouraged that new students take part in a Transition Day at St Mary’s Primary School to meet their classmates and to become familiar with the school. Families are invited to contact the school to arrange a suitable day.
Further Queries
If you haven’t found the answer to your questions regarding enrolment at St Mary’s School, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Address / 214 Dandenong Rd, St Kilda East 3183
Telephone Number / (03) 9510 7420
School Principal / Cathy Ferrari
Email / Cathy.Ferrari@smstkildaeast.catholic.edu.au
Office Hours / 8:30am to 3:45pm
Telephone Number / (03) 9510 7420