Our School

STELLA MARIS BEAUMARIS

A Place for All – Where Every Child Can Learn, Grow & Belong

Stella Maris Catholic Primary School is a warm and inclusive community where learning, faith and wellbeing come together to help every child grow. We believe students thrive when families, staff and our Parish work in partnership, and our modern learning spaces encourage creativity, collaboration and curiosity. Guided by our motto Courage Always, we nurture each child spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally, empowering them to think deeply, act with integrity and make a positive impact.

Our Vision for Learning is grounded in the belief that every child can learn and succeed. We strive to create engaging, challenging and supportive learning environments that inspire curiosity, promote critical thinking and develop confident, independent learners. Through explicit teaching, rich learning experiences and a commitment to high expectations, we encourage students to take ownership of their learning and develop a lifelong love of discovery.

Our English curriculum is comprehensive and differentiated, supported by a daily two-hour literacy block. In Prep to Year 2, students learn through a structured literacy approach using Heggerty and Little Learners Love Literacy to build strong foundations in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and handwriting. In Years 3 to 6, OCHRE resources and explicit teaching develop skills in spelling, morphology, grammar, handwriting, vocabulary and comprehension, supported by rich mentor texts and the SMART Spelling program. Writing instruction focuses on grammar, punctuation and text structure, while daily Speaking and Listening opportunities strengthen communication and oral language skills.

Mathematics is a key component of learning at Stella Maris. Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, our Mathematics program equips students with essential numeracy skills for everyday life and future learning. Through explicit instruction, high-quality resources and the OCHRE Mathematics program, we provide a structured and differentiated approach that builds confidence, problem-solving skills and mathematical thinking in every student.

Our Wellbeing and Curriculum programs encourage children to be optimistic, focused and resilient learners who can bounce back from challenges. We promote Positive Behaviours for Learning to support students in developing social-emotional skills, respectful relationships and responsible decision-making.

Our Vision for Engagement recognises that strong, respectful partnerships between school, families and the wider community are central to student success. Parents are encouraged to be active participants in their child's learning, and we value open communication, shared decision-making and opportunities for families to connect with school life. The Parents and Friends Association plays a vital role in strengthening community spirit and coordinating events that bring families together and support school initiatives.

Specialist programs are offered in Italian, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Performing Arts and STEM, enriching students’ experiences and providing diverse opportunities to explore their talents and interests. The school also partners with Team Kids to provide safe and convenient before and after school care, with staff walking students to and from the nearby service.

Our Vision

Potential, Learning, Energy, Faith, Courage

At the heart of Stella Maris is the desire to develop the infinite potential of every person.

Learning is a journey of endless possibilities where we are energised to seek and explore questions about the world around us.

Nourished by a strong sense of belonging is the foundation upon which our community can flourish.

Through Jesus Christ, learning enlivens our Catholic Faith, so that we can live, learn and grow with ‘Courage Always’.

History

Established in 1956

Stella Maris Catholic Primary School has been proudly educating children in the Beaumaris community since 1956, providing generations of students with a strong foundation in faith, learning and belonging.

In 2008, the parishes of St Joseph’s, Black Rock, and Stella Maris, Beaumaris, united to form the Catholic Parish of Nazareth, Ricketts Point. The Stella Maris Church, situated alongside the school, continues to be a vibrant hub for faith and community gatherings, fostering a deep and enduring connection between parish and school life.

The ‘Bunjil’ building, opened in 2010, houses our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms. Designed to reflect flexibility and creativity in early years learning, it provides a welcoming, light-filled environment where our youngest learners can explore, play and thrive.

In 2025, Stella Maris undertook significant renovations, including the development of a new administration area, first aid room and refurbished senior toilets, enhancing comfort, accessibility and functionality for both staff and students. These upgrades reflect our ongoing commitment to providing a safe, modern and inspiring learning environment that supports our vision — A Place for All – Where Every Child Can Learn, Grow & Belong.

Our Learning & Play Spaces

At Stella Maris, our learning and play environments are designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and connection. We are proud to offer seven well-resourced classrooms, each equipped to support a wide range of learning experiences and collaborative teaching approaches.

Our junior students (Foundation to Year 2) are housed in the light-filled Bunjil Building, where double learning spaces allow classes to work, learn and explore together in flexible, dynamic settings. This open and connected environment fosters teamwork, communication and a love of learning from the earliest years.

The senior students (Years 3 to 6) learn within our main building, where each year level has its own dedicated classroom space. The top floor is home to our Year 5 and Year 6 classes, providing an engaging and stimulating environment that supports independence, leadership and collaboration as students prepare for secondary schooling.

Our school is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes and mature trees, creating a sense of calm and connection to nature. Students enjoy a wide range of play opportunities across our four adventure playgrounds, large upper-level play area featuring a basketball court and four-square courts, and a grassed oval below with football goals and soccer spaces for active play and team sports.

For quieter moments, students can relax or work in our Indigenous garden, a peaceful and reflective space that celebrates nature and offers a calming environment for learning, creativity and wellbeing.

At Stella Maris, we believe every child should have the space to learn, grow and belong, whether in the classroom, on the playground or within the natural beauty that surrounds our school.

Democratic Principles

The programs of and the teaching in Stella Maris School support and promote principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

Elected Government;
The rule of law;
Equal rights for all before the law;
Freedom of religion;
Freedom of speech and association;
The values of openness and tolerance.