Kindergarten enrolments are taken during the first term of the school year - the year before your child is due to commence school.  Enrolments for all other classes are accepted all year round. 

Enrolment interviews for the following year's Kindergarten classes are usually held in May (Term 2). You will receive a letter or phone call during April informing you of a time for you and your child to come in and meet with the principal. Written offers of placement will follow at the end of Term 2.

Stella Maris Catholic Primary School is a dynamic learning community where the focus is placed on assisting students to achieve to their maximum potential.

We are proud of our school, as it is the students, parents and staff that make it so special. In the beautiful harbourside location of Shellharbour Village, we strive to live out our vision, 'Reverence the Story of all People' each and every day.

At Stella Maris, there is an emphasis on recognising and nurturing the strengths of each individual and supporting parents in the goal of educating the students in faith, learning and maintaining respectful relationships.

Our dedicated staff are highly motivated to work collaboratively to plan and implement programs, which address the individual needs of all learners, in a caring, supportive environment.

Please see our What We Offer page or Contact Us for more information.  

You are most welcome! Please contact our office to make an appointment to meet with the principal and tour the school grounds and facilities.

Our office opening hours are Monday to Friday, between 8am and 4pm (Wednesdays open from 8:30am).
 

Our school bell times are as follows:

Morning: 
Supervision begins at 8:00am each morning.

Afternoon: 
The afternoon bell goes at 2:50pm and parents are expected to collect their children as soon as possible after this time. Please note, no supervision is provided by staff after 3pm.

Please see our Term Dates and Bell Times page for more information.

There are many co-curricular activities on offer at Stella Maris!

The school has many school representative opportunities in sport, including: swimming, athletics, cross country, soccer, rugby league, basketball, netball and cricket. Children also have the opportunity to try out for diocesan representative teams and beyond in several different sports.

Stella Maris also provides the chance to compete and excel in different areas of interest, including: public speaking, creative arts, enrichment days, and social justice initiatives through Mini Vinnies.

Find out more about the co-curricular activities available for students at our Co-Curricular Opportunities page.

At Stella Maris, we believe that all members of the community have the right to a learning and working environment free from intimidation, humiliation and harm. We all share a responsibility to create a culture of caring which will not tolerate bullying. We believe that bullying must be taken seriously and is not acceptable in any form. In witnessing Christian values we reject ideas, beliefs and behaviours, which marginalise or victimise people. 

Please refer to the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong's Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy and our school's Behaviour Management Policy.

You can also find further anti-bullying, wellbeing and online safety resources at our Resources page here.

Students are able to catch one of the Premier Illawarra school buses operating around Shellharbour, Shell Cove, Flinders, Warilla, Albion Park and Albion Park Rail. See our school bus routes and timetables here (under 'Stella Maris School').

Note: The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) gives eligible school students free or subsidised travel between home and school on NSW public transport, including buses and trains. For more information and to apply for a school travel pass for your child, click here.

Yes, we offer Stella Maris students quality organised before and after school care, five days a week, via outside of school hours (OOSH) care provider, Peak Sports and Learning.

With qualified and training school teachers on staff, Peak offers a program with a sports and learning focus that enriches children's learning.

Peak's services in the Shellharbour area are based at Shellharbour Public School, transporting students to and from Stella Maris on their mini-bus. 

Read more information about Peak's outside of school hours care here.

The school uniform can be purchased from Lowes in Stockland Shellharbour or online at Lowes here. 

Second-hand uniforms are available from our school uniform shop, which is run on a voluntary basis. It is usually open from 8:15am – 9:00am on Fridays.

For more information on the Stella Maris school uniform, visit our Uniform page.

Please see our Fees Information page for more information.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay fees, please discuss the situation with our principal. Your situation will be treated with care and confidentiality, and an appropriate arrangement may be made for you. No student will be refused enrolment because of a family’s genuine inability to pay fees.

We'd love to have you! Stella Maris strives to be a connected and welcoming community and we value the engagement of parents and families in the school life in any way they can.

This could be as simple as being interested and informed about school events and activities, supporting and/or participating in community events, school assemblies and school liturgies.

If you are able, we also welcome and value your involvement in school activities. Parents (and grandparents!) can participate and contribute by:

• Volunteering for the canteen
• Assisting in the classroom with reading programs or mathematics groups
• Volunteering at school working bees or maintenance
• Assistance at sport carnivals and gala days
  
  

Please note: Given our commitment to safeguarding children, volunteers will first need to organise a Working With Children Check (WWCC) – information and forms can be found on the CEDoW website. 

All parents and families are also invited to become involved with our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association, who work collaboratively with the school and parish about matters that affect your child at school, as well as general issues about school life including social events, fundraising and community building.

For more information, please visit our Parent Engagement page.

If you have a concern or would like to raise any issue regarding your child’s learning and wellbeing, our staff welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your child.

We ask that you contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. The best way to do this is by:

• phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
• contacting the teacher via email at info@smsdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4296 4606.

If you need to speak to your child’s teacher, we ask that you do this by:

• phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
• contacting the teacher via email at info@smsdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4296 4606.

We ask for your patience in response to your request as schools are busy places and the main priority of staff is the education, safety and wellbeing of the students in their care during school hours. Requests by parents for information and meetings will be responded to as quickly as possible.

The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework outlines for parents and the school, the principles and expectations of the partnership that is formed when a child is enrolled in a Catholic systemic school in the Diocese of Wollongong such as Stella Maris. It will be introduced and implemented in schools throughout the school year.

Download a copy of the Parent-School Partnership Framework and read more about this important partnership at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/partnershipframework

Parents and carers can access the Stella Maris Compass Parent Portal here and log in using their login details.

For more information on Compass, view our Parent Information document.

For further information or enquiries, please contact the school office.