Principal's Message

When I first stepped into leadership as Religious Education Leader at my previous school in Brunswick, Pope Francis quickly became my compass for all things faith and mission. I bought two of his books, Letters to Pope Francis and Prayers for Each Day in the Year of Mercy, and often drew on his prayers for staff meetings or my own quiet reflection. His words grounded me, challenged me, and reminded me of the true heart of Catholic education to serve with love and compassion.

When I heard of his passing, I spoke with my Great Uncle, a retired priest and someone whose wisdom I deeply value. I asked him for his thoughts on Pope Francis as a leader of the Church. He paused, smiled, and said, “Finding someone to match his humility, care, sense of equality, justice, and fairness will be hard.” He also shared a line that has stayed with me: “Pope Francis often referred to reality as the forces at work in the lives of people. People, always before theory and abstract notions."

That simple phrase people before theory says everything. It speaks to a Church that prioritises presence over perfection. It reminds us that the Gospel is not an abstract text to be admired from afar, but a living, breathing call to accompany others with empathy and courage.

It reminds us that, like Pope Francis, we are called to build a community steeped  in humility, open-heartedness, and deep respect for one another. It calls us to nurture strong, caring connections between students, families, and staff where relationships are central and compassion comes before judgement. It invites us to listen more deeply, to walk gently alongside one another, and to lead with love, always love before all else.

As we grieve the loss of Pope Francis, we also honour his life by living out the values he championed. May we continue to build a school community where every student and every family feels seen, heard, and valued. Walking together with the same tenderness, courage, and hope that Pope Francis so beautifully shared with the world.

ANZAC Day

On Monday, we celebrated our ANZAC liturgy at a deeply reverent service where we honoured the courage and sacrifice of those who fought in the war. During our reflection, we shared the names of the thirty-one young men aged between sixteen and thirty-six from the Laverton area who bravely went off to fight in the war between the Years 1915-1918.

Their story, like the story of Pope Francis, reminds us of the deep strength found in ordinary people who choose to live with courage, hope, and a commitment to the greater good.

Athletics Day

A huge shout out to Nick and the entire Athletics team for organising such a fabulous Athletics Carnival! Your hard work and dedication made the day an incredible success, filled with energy, sportsmanship, and fun. Congratulations to BLUE House for taking out the win. What a fantastic achievement! 

A big thank you as well to all our wonderful parent volunteers, your support and enthusiasm helped the day run smoothly and made it such an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Goodbye Shaun

This week, we say goodbye (for now) to Shaun as he heads off on an exciting overseas adventure. Shaun’s can-do attitude, warmth, sense of humour, and his willingness to always lend a hand and be called on for any job will be deeply missed around SMDP. 

We are so grateful for everything he has contributed in his time here and can’t wait to welcome him back with open arms when he returns. Safe travels, Shaun! 

Elise Coghlan

Acting Principal | Learning and Teaching Leader

St Martin de Porres Primary School is committed to creating an environment where the safety, well-being, and participation of all children within our care is paramount. 

 2025 - School Closure Days

Listed below are our school closure days for 2025. These are student-free days. Staff use these days to develop their learning further and keep informed with current practices and procedures. 

NOTE: These dates may be subject to change that may be outside of our control.