As a co-educational and comprehensive community, Mater Maria Catholic College aims to engage each student in her/his journey to feel empowered to make wise and mature life choices. The school’s atmosphere is Catholic, purposeful, caring and dynamic and promotes a natural spirit of inclusion and social justice which aims to develop broad-minded young men and women who are ready to contribute actively to society and a life of continual learning. A comprehensive range of courses within the curriculum enables students to choose according to their needs and aspirations, now and for the future. Many opportunities are offered to extend students’ interests, talents and achievement in extracurricular activities. Mater Maria aims to provide a safe and protective environment in which each child is valued, listened to and known as a person. The school nurtures the transitions from primary to secondary, from young child to adolescent, from school to workplace, from anxious moments to self-confidence so that each and every child grows with confidence and dignity into a competent, resilient young adult able to meet the challenges of the contemporary world.
Facilities: All classrooms are digitally networked with IT, ceiling mounted projectors and audio systems. Students are further empowered in their learning through the use of four computer laboratories and the Fitzmaurice Learning Centre, a 250sqm open plan learning centre of 143 networked computers. Notebook trolleys are available across the site. Specialised learning spaces exist for electronics, drama, fitness, hospitality, languages, music, science, timber, textiles and visual arts.
Electives Years 9 and 10: Commerce, Drama, Food Technology, Industrial Technology — Electronics or Wood, Information & Software Technology, Italian, Japanese, Music, Physical Activities & Sports Studies, Textiles Technology, Visual Arts, Visual Design.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Drama, Earth & Environmental Science, Economics, Extension English 1, Extension English 2, Food Technology, Geography, Hospitality, Industrial Technology — Electronics, Industrial Technology — Timber, Information Processes & Technology, Italian, Japanese, Legal Studies, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics (General), Modern History, Extension History, Music 1, PDHPE, Physics, Society and Culture, Software Design and Development, Studies of Religion 1 & 2, Textiles and Design, Visual Arts, selected TAFE.
Sport: Athletics, biathlon, basketball, body boarding, cross-country, cricket, netball, rugby union, rugby league, sailing, soccer, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, surf lifesaving, surfing, tennis, touch football, water polo.
Extracurricular activities: Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, debating, dramatic acting classes, drama productions, environment club, languages club, mock trial, choral groups and music ensembles, overseas tours, public speaking, roadie crew, social justice groups and student representative council.
Welfare and personal development: A tradition of attentive nurturing embodies all areas of college life wherein every student is known as a person and is challenged to reach her or his full development. Developed programs exist in the areas of special needs and gifted and talented so to encourage and nurture each student.
Special features: The college has achieved public acclaim and is renowned for its many bands and chorale groups, touring drama performances and Eisteddfod wins, sporting successes, its commitment to environmental protection along the Warriewood Escarpment, public speaking, debating, art exhibitions, its spiritual retreats, charitable works and outdoor education camps. This benefits students in their academic pursuits and can be seen in sound School Certificate and HSC results.