School History

​​About the School...

STELLA_LOGO_LO_RES.pngStella Maris is a Catholic, co-educational primary school catering for students from Prep to Year 6.  The school is  set in rainforest surrounds with expansive playing fields in the centre of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.  Stella Maris is an archdiocesan primary school administered by the Brisbane Catholic Education Office. 

We provide holistic education and seek to develop students to their full spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, emotional and cultural potential.  Stella Maris offers a wide range of opportunities for students at many levels of development.  Students are appreciated as individuals, each with enormous potential; however, each student is also a social being living in community.  Being a Catholic School, students  are immersed in the Catholic Faith and Culture and are led to develop a personal relationship with God, to live the Gospel message and take it forth into the wider community.

A Brief History

  • Stella Maris School opened in 1980 with about 90 students.
  • The Parish Priest at the time was Fr Harry Bliss and the first Principal, Sister Margaret Conway, a member of the Presentation Order.
  • In 1983, the third, and largest, building stage was opened.
  • Mr Jack Carroll became Principal in 1987.
  • In 1990, the Library Resource Centre opened.
  • In 1992, Mr Trevor Doyle was appointed Principal.
  • In 1994, additional classrooms were provided.
  • In  2001, the Preschool opened and Mr Russell Sinclair was appointed Principal.
  • In 2002, the Stella Maris Children’s Chapel was opened.
  • In 2004, the landscaping of ovals, playgrounds and amphitheatre took place.
  • In 2005, construction began on two new classrooms, music and tutor rooms, computer room and resource centre.
  • 2006/07 saw the construction of an additional building in readiness for the introduction of the Prep year in Queensland.
  • In 2008, Ms Glenda Morgan was appointed Principal of Stella Maris.
  • In 2008, both toilet blocks were extensively renovated and the school was externally and internally painted.  Staffroom and other Administration Block improvements were completed.
  • In 2009, the undercover area was upgraded, an outdoor learning space developed between ‘A’ and ‘B’ Blocks and covers to walkways in Prep area completed as a result of the Commonwealth Government’s NSP Grant of $200 000.
  • In December 2010, the school hall was completed as a result of the Commonwealth Government P21 Grant of  $3 million.  Included in this funding was the upgrade of circular drive, parking and pick-up areas. 
  • In 2011, a new Year One classroom and covered area was added.
  • In 2012,  the extension of the Resource Centre with a new wing was completed.
  • 2013 saw the completion of the Library Annex which incorporated a Media room and two Meeting rooms.
  • 2014 Re- master-plan processes began and the Resource Centre was re-badged as the Innovative Learning Centre (iLC) and a new deck and entry added.
  • 2015 Stella Maris moved from being a Parish to an Archdiocesan school. 
  • 2017 saw the completion of  Masterplan: Stages One (new Admin block, two prep classrooms, toilets and landscaping) and Stage Two  (4 classroom block and refurbishment of the old Admin block to five classrooms and Support rooms).
  • 2018 – Outside School Hours and Vacation Care begins o​​n site.  E Block to be refurbished.​
  • ​​2019 - Mr Peter Pashen commenced as Principal of Stella Maris.
  • 2019 - Stage 3 completed - (G Block.4 classrooms).
  • 2021 - LED lighting project completed.

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