Principal’s Message

Welcome to St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School. I am Belinda Burton, and it is my privilege to serve as the Principal of this wonderful school.

St. Mary’s is steeped in history, dating back to 1848, and enriched by the traditions of the Ursuline Sisters, Patrician Brothers, and De La Salle Brothers. Generations of families have found their educational home here.

Nestled in the Cathedral precinct, adjacent to the CBD, our school features four main buildings set within spacious, park-like grounds that showcase the beauty of Armidale’s four distinct seasons.

At St. Mary’s, we offer an authentic Catholic education, nurturing each child with love and respect as they learn and grow. We value individuals, relationships, and community, fostering a happy environment that celebrates the joy of life. We partner with parents and families to help each child discover and develop their unique gifts and talents, and we work closely with the parish to support our students’ sacramental journey.

Our school community is known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, where students, parents, and staff ensure families quickly feel a sense of belonging.

Our dedicated teachers are lifelong learners, committed to providing the highest quality education. They ignite a passion for learning in their classrooms and encourage, support, and challenge each student on their individual learning path.

Beyond the classroom, St. Mary’s offers a wealth of cultural and sporting opportunities. Students participate in our annual art show, school choirs, cultural performances, MiniVinnies, and excursions. Many also pursue individual music tuition, join our orchestra, or compete in our successful chess club.

We offer representative sporting opportunities from age 8, including swimming, cross country, athletics, and team sports like rugby, league, netball, hockey, soccer and touch football in the senior primary.

St. Mary’s proudly participates in and supports numerous Armidale community events, including the ANZAC Day March, the New England Festival Parade, and the Armidale Eisteddfod.

We honor our rich history while embracing an exciting future. Recent building upgrades and technology enhancements, including Promethean Boards, Chromebooks, and iPads, engage and inspire our students. If you would like to learn more about St Mary’s I would be delighted to show you around our school and answer any questions you have.