Our Vision
Vision
"Excellence in Catholic Primary Education"
Our Purpose
Purpose
It is our aim that Mel Maria Catholic Primary School be part of an accepting community; an authentic Catholic school, where the ideals of Catherine McAuley - justice, respect, compassion and service to others - prevail and where all learning is a joy to be experienced in an educational community questing for excellence.
History
Mel Maria was established in 1973 by the rationalisation of:
St Joseph Pignatelli Catholic Primary School, Attadale, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, Myaree, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Willagee and the Primary School of Santa Maria. All of these schools existed separately in their own right, however because of their size and their limited resources they struggled from an educational perspective to meet curriculum requirements. Following a series of meetings in 1972 involving the community of each of the schools it was decided to amalgamate all the schools and Mel Maria came into being.
Mel Maria today is a tribute to the wisdom and the foresight of the then Principal of Corpus Christi, Myaree - Sr. Joan Smith. Though she never worked as such at Mel Maria she will always be remembered for her work in sowing the seeds from which Mel Maria has grown and blossoms today. The founding Principal of Mel Maria was Sr. Florence O’Sullivan.
The name Mel Maria was chosen because all three campuses are in the City of Melville. “Mel” comes from the first three letters of Melville and also has Irish derivation meaning “place”. “Maria” comes from the link with Santa Maria. The McAuley campus was originally the Primary School of Santa Maria. So Mel Maria means basically “the place of Mary”. The patroness of Mel Maria is Our Lady of Mercy and her feast is celebrated on September 24th.
2025 Mel Maria Transition
The transition to Mel Maria Catholic Primary School’s new dual-campus model in 2025 marks a transformative moment in the school’s journey. This exciting development will see the establishment of an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Campus for Pre-Kindergarten to Year Two and a Primary Campus for Year Three to Year Six. This innovative restructure is the culmination of extensive planning, collaboration, and a shared vision to enhance our educational offering. It is designed to better meet the needs of our students, create vibrant learning environments, and establish a clear identity for each stage of learning. The anticipation and energy surrounding this change are palpable as we prepare to unlock new opportunities for growth and excellence.
The transition embodies our commitment to delivering a high-quality, Catholic education that nurtures every child’s academic, spiritual, and personal development. The new model allows us to optimise resources, create age-appropriate facilities, and tailor teaching strategies to specific developmental stages. Teachers and staff have been integral in shaping this vision, contributing their insights and expertise to ensure that the new campuses provide an exceptional learning experience.