Our Story

Care Always, Respect Everyone

St Mary's is proud to be part of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's system of 80 Catholic primary and secondary schools operating across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains providing more than 43,500 students with a high-quality, low fee Catholic education.

At St Mary's Catholic Primary, we provide dynamic and contemporary education, resourced with the learning tools of the 21st century. We foster a strong foundation for learning, enriched by faith and a deep sense of social responsibility.

Care Always, Respect Everyone

Students playing together in the playground at St Mary's Primary School Rydalmere

Our school is committed to the following values:

Our Faith

Christ will be at the centre of all our teaching
The school will support children and further develop their faith journey
Spirituality will be embedded throughout the whole curriculum
Prayer and liturgy are fostered on a daily basis

Our Environment

Students are treated with respect
Whole school approach to problem solving and conflict resolution
Our class programmes are outcomes-based according to individuals’ identified needs
Whole school approach to classroom management

Our Community

We acknowledge our multicultural background
We share experiences and learn from each other
We constantly share and celebrate education in our community e.g. assemblies, liturgies, CARE awards etc
Working in close collaboration with wider parish community

Our Learning

Staff are provided with access to appropriate professional development opportunities
Children participate in the decision-making process
Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning
Assessment involves teachers and children
Student achievements are celebrated
Technology is an integral part of teaching and learning programs
We recognise and respond to the individual needs, talents and interests of all children.

Our school crest

St Mary's Rydalmere School Crest is a symbol of our Mercy and Marist traditions. It reflects our rich Catholic educational heritage.

Blue Shield: Represents the spiritual depth and pastoral care inherited from the Mercy Sisters and Marist Brothers who both have a special devotion to Mary. Mary has traditionally been associated with the colour blue.
Yellow Cross: Symbolises our Catholic foundation, representing faith, hope, and the transformative power of education.
‘CARE’ Motto: Embodies the Mercy Sisters' core value of compassionate service and the Marist Brothers' commitment to nurturing each student's potential. CARE also stands for ‘Care Always, Respect Everyone’.

The crest is a visual testament to an educational philosophy that goes beyond academics, focusing on developing compassionate, socially responsible individuals grounded in the Catholic faith.

Our school crest

St Mary's Catholic Primary Rydalmere School Crest

Our history

Since 1889, St Mary’s Primary School has provided quality Catholic education for the Rydalmere community.

The story of St Mary’s Primary School begins in 18 September 1889 when Cardinal Moran blessed our parish church and school. Our school was opened by the Sisters of Mercy, a community of religious sisters who worked tirelessly for the Rydalmere community for eighty years.

When the sisters withdrew from the school in 1976, the school was led by a lay principal until the arrival of the Marist Brothers in 1981. The Marist Brothers led St Mary’s until 1991, leaving behind a strong Marian culture which is still very evident today.

In 1987, St Mary’s became a fully co-educational school, retaining male students for Years 5 and 6. Over the years, our school has continued to expand and upgrade our facilities, keeping us at the forefront of education provision.

Today, St Mary’s Rydalmere is a vibrant and contemporary campus enrolling 381 students. We continue to honour the legacy of those who came before us as we look to the future positively as a place to learn and grow together.