Learning and Teaching

At St Mary’s Parish School, Hay, teachers strive to create learning experiences that are meaningful, purposeful and that connect to the real world of students’ lives.  This learning enables students to become lifelong learners who contribute to society and the wider world as active and discerning citizens. Such learning is central to our work as Catholic educators because it promotes the continual growth and wellbeing of the whole person — spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically. Our learning program is underpinned by the following principles:

Wellbeing for Learning

We believe that Wellbeing and Learning go hand in hand, each reinforcing the other. When students are feeling good they will function better as learners and so the focus each day is on getting children into a place where they are ‘present, centred and ready to learn.’

Attentive to the individual learner

With our small student numbers, we are able to individualise the learning to fit the needs of the individual child.  Everyone has high expectations at St Mary’s for their own learning and we all strive to become exceptional, resilient learners. We believe that great learning will lead to higher levels of well-being.   

Rigorous and Challenging

Appropriate and timely data analysis and feedback guide teaching decisions. Learning and thinking is thoughtfully and intentionally designed so that experiences are worthy of our learners’ time. Through a focus on individual student learning growth, we ensure that the individual needs of students are met.

Forged in Relationships

Quality relationships that are characterised by respect for the dignity of all, are the foundation of our learning community at St Mary’s. We empower children to develop the academic and social skills needed to be collaborative members of our community. We provide a safe and supportive learning environment, where the individual needs of students are met.