Why choose our school?
McAuley Catholic Primary School Rose Bay provides engaging learning programs in a supportive and authentic environment. Our children are happy and the learning spaces are welcoming and deliver strong academic results and well-rounded resilient students.
A contemporary setting, co-curricular activities, highly engaged teachers and a strong and supportive parent community enable the development of positive relationships and attentiveness to students’ individual needs. This makes McAuley a fantastic place for your children to start their lifelong learning journey.
Principal’s Message
Welcome to McAuley Catholic Primary School, Rose Bay. Our school is blessed to sit within a vibrant harbourside community, enriched by the Mercy tradition and inspired by the life and vision of Catherine McAuley. Guided by these values, we strive to nurture faith, compassion, and a deep sense of belonging for every child and family who walks through our doors. We remain closely connected to the parish of St Mary Magdalene, working together to support the spiritual formation and sense of community in our students.
At McAuley, we believe that children flourish when they feel known, valued, and supported. Our priority is to ensure that every student grows as a confident, capable, and joyful learner. We design learning environments that are dynamic, collaborative, and grounded in real‑world thinking. Wellbeing and academic excellence sit side by side in our approach, ensuring that students leave us ready for the next stage of their education with resilience, curiosity, and a strong sense of self.
Our teaching is innovative, engaging, and responsive to the needs of today’s learners. Through a rich and diverse curriculum, we encourage inquiry, creativity, problem‑solving, and meaningful collaboration. Strong foundations in Literacy and Numeracy remain central, supported by practices that challenge, inspire, and celebrate each child’s growth.
I am proud to lead a community where every individual is respected and supported, and where the achievements and efforts of our students are recognised and celebrated. Together, we honour the traditions that have shaped our school while embracing new opportunities with optimism and imagination.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our community. I invite you to explore our website and discover the spirit of McAuley Catholic Primary School.
Mrs Karen Blacklock
Principal
History
The school began in 1967 as a result of the need to rationalise Catholic schooling in the eastern suburbs. Originally opened in 1935 by the Christian Brothers as a school for boys, McAuley Catholic Primary School, as it is today, was established in 1967 by the Sisters of Mercy. While it has been administered by lay principals since 1980, it maintains a close association with the Mercy sisters through the motto ‘Seek the Truth’ which was introduced by the Mercy Sisters and encourages the charism, culture and values of the Mercy Order: compassion, justice, service and excellence.
Mission
Inspired by the spirit of Catherine McAuley and the traditions of our Mercy heritage, we strive to uphold our school motto ‘Seek the Truth’. Within our community, we aspire to a Christ-centred way of life and act on Gospel values.
At McAuley we are committed:
- to share, celebrate and grow in our faith
- to strive for personal excellence in independent learning and critical thinking in a co-operative and contemporary learning environment
- to live in partnership with collaboration, hospitality, inclusive relationships, trust and respect.
Vision for Learning
At McAuley Catholic Primary School, we strive to create a culture of learning that:
- builds on strong foundations
- makes meaningful connections and
- embraces change effectively.
Pedagogical principles are based on:
- collaboration through working together to achieve shared goals and vision
- engagement through knowing the learner and celebrating diversity
- evolving through constantly transforming and adapting our learning and
- globally connected through reaching out beyond our community to create good citizens.
At McAuley Catholic Primary School Rose Bay we have a strong relationship with the parish of St Mary Magdalene and work in partnership to support our families. We celebrate parish-based sacramental programs for Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. We also celebrate school, class and family masses on a regular basis.
St Mary Magdalene Church
835 New South Head Road, Rose Bay
Parish Priest: Father Christopher Slattery
Parish Office: 13 Ian St, Rose Bay NSW 2029
Phone: (02) 9371 7112
Email: admin@magdalene.org.au
Website: www.magdalene.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marymagdalenerosebay
Masses
Saturday: 5.30pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday: 9.30am
Weekdays: Wednesday–Friday: 9.30am
