Welcome to our South Morang Campus

Our deaf and hard of hearing students enrol into St Mary’s College and attend our campus based in Marymede Catholic College South Morang, where they immerse and thrive in all aspects of school life. Our South Morang campus offers an integrated primary and secondary education for deaf and hard of hearing students from Prep to Year 12 at the one school location. South Morang campus students are members of the Marymede College community, wearing the Marymede uniform and included in all classes and extracurricular activities.

- Nicole Barrow (Head of Campus)

South Morang Campus at Marymede Catholic College

Environment

Our South Morang campus is a welcoming local school community, combining strong academic foundations with a warm, nurturing environment where every child is supported to feel confident, calm, and ready to learn. The College is a vibrant young school with outstanding facilities and vast opportunities. Students are supported by committed teachers who strive to create a safe, happy, supportive and faith values learning culture. High standards are fostered at the College, where all students are suitably challenged and supported to achieve their very best.

The College is located on beautiful sites with excellent facilities, featuring spacious grounds with dedicated areas for primary learning, a Trade Centre, sporting facilities, gymnasium, fully equipped science laboratories and a new Performing and Visual Arts Centres. Extensive technology to maximise access for deaf and hard of hearing students is utilised throughout the College with digital Soundfield speakers, transmitters and wall pilots in most spaces and live captioning available for secondary students to access on request. A wide variety of public and private transport options exist and families living more than 4.8km from the South Morang campus are able to access conveyance allowance.

Learning overview

Grounded in the Science of Learning and MACS Vision for Instruction, each child's Marymede classroom/subject teacher and St Mary's Teacher of the Deaf, deliver a knowledge-rich, evidence-based curriculum that supports all students in achieving literacy and numeracy and general academic proficiency. Co-curricular stimulating and diverse offerings help students to discover their strengths and passions, building self determination and confidence. Parents are valued partners in their child's learning journey and contribute to learning decisions which allow for an individual approach from full participation and immersion in Marymede classes to a more personalised program that divides the day between Marymede classes and targeted teaching from a Teacher of the Deaf.

Our highly successful literacy program sets the foundation for strong reading and writing ability throughout each child's primary years. This continues through to their secondary years, where more complex skills and knowledge are monitored and targeted as needed to ensure literacy success.

Additional to the Victorian Curriculum, students can choose to include in their weekly program of subjects, Extended Literacy, Extended Numeracy or Capabilities, which covers essential skills and knowledge such as communication, Deaf identity, Careers Education and social skills. These additional curriculum areas are designed using research on how deaf and hard of hearing students learn best and develop confidence.

Marymede College uses a House system that strengthens community and belonging. Additionally, St Mary's frequently runs lunchtime activities including Auslan classes and student campus leader led activities with guest speakers including past students and Deaf mentors sharing their experiences and providing advice on various topics.

Wellbeing programs and services within the combined community provide spaces and activities where students can feel safe, accepted and belong.

Courses and activities

As part of the broader St Mary’s College deaf and hard of hearing community, our students participate in:

• Primary School’s Deaf Sports Day
• Secondary School's Deaf Sports Day
• St Mary’s College assemblies
  
• St Dominic’s Day celebrations

As members of the Marymede community, our students can participate in:

• Learn to Swim Program
  
• Competitive sports including SACCSS Premier League, Development Squads and School Sports Victoria events
• Numerous choirs, bands, musicals, ensembles, productions
• Camps and retreats
• Public speaking & debating competition
• Social Justice events & activities
• International tours
• Numerous lunchtime clubs such as Debating, Art Club, Games Club, Chess Club, Robotics Club and eSport Club
• and so much more...

Transition

Transition programs for new students into Prep or year 7 commence the year prior to starting. Program Support Group (PSG/SSG) meetings are held with parents/guardians and others including Early Childhood teachers, Early Intervention professionals, primary teachers or other specialists such as Speech Pathologists to gain a holistic understanding of the learning and social needs of every student. Our Head of Campus arranges a visit to each student’s current kindergarten or primary school to see how they learn and engage with teachers and other children in order to create a smooth transition.

It’s a great place to be! But don’t just take our word for it – listen to what other St Mary’s College students have to say and book a tour now!