Catholic Identity
Creator God, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, as we walk together on your path of love, hope and faith.
Thank you for the gifts of our school,
our environment, our families and friends.
May our school be a place of learning, care, welcome and celebration.
Mary our Mother, pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross, pray for us.
Amen
Christian Values– Living Our Faith Through Our Actions
At St Mary's Primary School, Rushworth, our school expectations continue to be the hallmark of who we are, how we treat one another and how we contribute to our school community. These expectations are much more than a set of rules. They are grounded in respect, compassion, responsibility and guidance, deeply connected to our Christian values and Catholic faith.
As a Catholic school, we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, allowing His teachings to guide our words, choices and actions each day. Our school expectations reflect this calling, providing our students with meaningful opportunities to live their faith through the way they learn, play, care and connect with others.
Saint Mary MacKillop, a remarkable role model in our Catholic tradition, lived her life in service to others, inspired by the teachings of Jesus. Her powerful message, "Never see a need without doing something about it," continues to inspire us today.
At St Mary's, we strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and Mary MacKillop, demonstrating these values not simply through what we say, but through what we do.
Care for Others – Compassion in Action
When we show care for others, we recognise when someone needs help, kindness, friendship or understanding, and we choose to act. Just as Mary MacKillop encouraged us to respond to the needs of others, we teach our students that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference.
Care for Our Environment – Stewardship and Responsibility
When we show care for our environment, we recognise our shared responsibility to care for God's creation. Inspired by Pope Francis and his message of caring for our common home, we encourage students to understand that the choices we make have an impact on others and the world around us. Through stewardship, gratitude and respect, we demonstrate our commitment to protecting the beautiful world we share.
Care for Learning – Valuing Every Child's Potential
When we show care for learning, we recognise the importance and dignity of every child. Jesus welcomed children with love and reminded others of their significance when He said, "Let the little children come to me" (Matthew 19:14).
At St Mary's, we honour this message by creating an environment where every child is valued, encouraged and supported to grow. We teach our students to listen, persevere, embrace challenges and understand that learning is a gift and an opportunity to flourish.
Care for Self – Recognising Our Own Worth
When we show care for ourselves, we acknowledge that we, too, are deserving of kindness, dignity, respect and compassion. Jesus taught us to "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31), reminding us that caring for others and caring for ourselves go hand in hand.
We encourage our students to recognise their emotions, seek support when needed, make positive choices and understand that their wellbeing matters. When children learn to value themselves, they are better equipped to show genuine care and compassion towards others.
Our Expectations – Our Faith in Action
As we continue to explicitly teach, model and reinforce our school expectations, we are reminded that wellbeing and Catholic identity are not separate parts of school life. They are deeply connected.
Every kind word, every respectful interaction, every moment of perseverance and every act of compassion is an opportunity to put our faith into action.
Our expectations are not simply about how we behave at school. They are about the people we are becoming and the values we carry with us into our families, friendships and wider community.
At St Mary's, we are proud to nurture young people who understand that their actions matter, their words have power and their capacity to make a positive difference in the lives of others is something truly special.
When we care for ourselves, care for others, care for learning and care for our environment, we are living the teachings of Jesus and the spirit of Saint Mary MacKillop each and every day.
God Bless
Angela Fiske-Kealy