Office News / School Information
Office Hours
Monday - Friday 8.30am -4.30pm
SIMON / Parent Access Module
We are pleased to let you know that external access to SIMON and Parent Access Module (PAM) has now been securely restored.
Over the past 48 hours, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CESL) has worked closely with our technology partners to make this possible.
We understand the recent outage may have caused inconvenience and we sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding while this issue was resolved. The security of student and family information is something we take very seriously.
Please be assured:
- No SIMON or PAM data was accessed, altered, or removed.
- Security controls have been strengthened in line with expert advice.
Important: The Simon Everywhere mobile app will remain offline for now, but PAM can be accessed via the web browser listed below.
https://pam.smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au/Login
2026 Bus Travel Changes
LOCAL TRAVEL
As per the Department of Transport website (www.transport.vic.gov.au) the below was published on 17/10/2025.
From 1 January 2026, public transport will be free for all Victorians aged 17 and under.
The initiative will make it easier for young people to stay connected, whether travelling to school, sport, work or social activities, while helping families save on everyday costs.
A new Youth myki card will be available for $5. Once purchased, with a Youth myki young Victorians can ride trains, trams and buses in Victoria for free.
Details on how to get a Youth myki card will be provided in December ahead of 1 January 2026.
COUNTRY TRAVEL (School Bus Program - SBP)
There are no changes to the current School Bus Program (SBP) application and approval process. All applications will continue to be managed by the GSSC Student Transport Team, following existing procedures.
Key points to note:
- From 1 January 2026, all students aged 17 and under, including those who would usually be fare-paying, will be eligible for free travel on SBP services.
- SBP travellers will continue to be prioritised as per SBP policy.
- A student bus list will be sent to each school to confirm student details. Please notify the GSSC Student Transport Team of any changes promptly.
- The issuance of bus passes remains at the discretion of individual bus operators.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact Linda Piastri on 58912024 or email bus@gssc.vic.edu.au
REMINDER - Late arrival / Early collection
Students who arrive at school after 8.50am must present to the office for students to be signed in.
Students who leave school before 3.20pm will need to be signed out through the office.
Parents are asked to attend the office and sign students in or out via the Office ipad.
If your child is going to be late or leaving early, please notify the office or your teacher direct rather than submitting via PAM.
Student Absences
Please notify the school by either a phone call to the office or notification via the PAM App if your student is going to be absent.
If you don't notify the school with a reason of absence, you will receive an SMS. If we do not hear from you or an absence note sent through on PAM, you will receive a call from the administration team to verify your students absence.
As per the Victorian Education Department attendance requirements -
'The school must record student attendance twice per day in primary schools and in every class in secondary schools and record, in writing, the reason given for each absence. This is necessary to:
- meet legislative requirements
- discharge schools' duty of care for all students
- assist calculation of the school's funding
- enable the school governing body (school council in government schools) to report on student attendance annually.'
Further Information can be accessed via the following link -
**UPDATED** - School fees
We kindly ask families who are not using a payment schedule, to check your fees balance and make arrangements to finalise any outstanding balance prior to the end of the 2025 School Year.
Fee Statements continue to be emailed out at the start of each month. We ask you to check your statement, so you are aware of your overall account balance.
Outstanding balances from previous years remain overdue and payable.
Please contact the school Principal, Ms Elaine Vertriest if you need to discuss fees and/or payment options.
The successful running of school programs for your child’s education relies on fees being paid. Thank you for your cooperation.
IMPORTANT - Emergency Contact Details
Please ensure all your family contact details are up to date. These include Home phone, Mobile, residential & postal address & email address.
We also require your nominated emergency contact details to be current & up to date.
If you wish to check your current details, please contact the office.
Working With Children Check
Parents or family members who wish to help out in the classrooms, on excursions or helping with P&F events are required to have an up to date Working With Children's Card.
These can be applied for online and there is no cost if you are a volunteer. A copy of this needs to be passed onto the school office.
Please visit the link below for application details.
https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home
UPDATED - Summer School Uniform
No Hat No Play! Please ensure your student has a named school hat for all outdoor activities.
Summer uniform can now be worn during term 1 & 4. Changes to this is at the principals discretion.
Girls to wear grey bottoms (skort or shorts), school polo (short or long sleeve), and school navy blue windcheater if needed OR Girls summer dress & school jumper if needed with white socks visible and above ankle height.
Boys are to wear grey bottoms, school polo (short or long sleeve), school jumper, grey socks and black shoes. All socks are to be visible and above ankle height.
Please note that tights are not to be worn with the skort or summer dress.
We ask for all items to be clearly named so they can be returned to the student if lost.
PE Uniform
black bottoms - no logos or branding, school polo, school windcheater, white socks and sneakers.
Please Note - shorts are to be a respectable length (ie - longer than T-shirt/jumper.
and bike shorts or leggings are NOT School Uniform!
The following locations stock St Mary's Uniform.
The school uniform shop 183 Corio St, 03 5821 3232
Noone Uniforms - Shop 2B, 210-216 Corio St, 03 5177 8747
Quality Teams - Benalla Road Shepparton
Please familiarise yourself with the updated Uniform Policy below and ensure your student is aware of these changes.
Second Hand / Spare Uniforms
We have a selection of second hand uniform items in the school office. Please contact the office if you would like to view.
School Information
Contact details
St Mary’s School
121-143 McLennan Street
PO Box 259
Mooroopna 3629
Telephone :(03)5825 2858
Emails
General - office@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
Newsletter - office@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
Principal: Elaine Vertriest
principal@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
Deputy Principal: Catherine Dyke
cdyke@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
Office Administrator : Amber Feehan
afeehan@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
Administration Assistant: Naomi Egglestone
negglestone@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
St Mary’s Parish -
Presbytery - 5825 2034 (Office & After Hours)
Parish Priest:
Father Addin Doe
Parish Administrator -
Fr Joe Taylor
Parish Secretary: Laura Lawn
0437788099
Parish Email: mooroopna@sandhurst.catholic.org.au
2 Toolamba Road, Mooroopna
P.O. Box 365 – Mooroopna –3629
Bus Company: Jacobsons - 5820 3700
Bus Co ordinator: 5825 2344
Out of Hours Care -
'Their Care' - 1300 072 410
OR - (03) 5825 2060
Newsletter- Processed fortnightly from week 2 of each Term. Deadline for inclusions - Tuesday 11am
(office@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au)
Subway Orders - Return order and payment Thursday for Friday delivery.
Orders can also be placed online via CDFpay
Medication
Families are reminded to please ensure they provide up to date medical plans and the necessary, in date, medications to the office.
A signed authority form is required for staff to administer medications.
Parents are reminded that all medication, including non prescribed, to be administered at school or on camp or excursions, requires a pharmaceutical label detailing student name and dosage, along with a signed authority form is also required, a copy of this is located below.