Learning and Teaching News
Student Leadership @ SMDP
At St Martin de Porres, we are proud to offer a strong and structured Student Leadership Program for our Year 6 students. This formal process provides students with a meaningful opportunity to actively participate in the decision-making processes within our school community.
Our program fosters student agency and personal leadership development while helping to shape the community leaders of tomorrow. Through their leadership roles, students are encouraged to think critically about ways they can positively impact both our school and the wider world. They are challenged to develop a strong sense of vision and purpose, take on responsibilities, and apply decision-making skills to successfully lead and complete projects.
Throughout their leadership journey, students develop a wide range of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills such as communication, negotiation, teamwork, and self-reflection. They are given opportunities to practise being active, reflective listeners who collaborate effectively with others to achieve shared goals.
Our SMDP Leaders
In today's newsletter we are going to begin an introduction process so you can get to know our school leaders a little bit more. We are going to start with the school captains Utkarsh and Ciara.
Our School Captains represent the beliefs and values of SMDP, lead by example for junior students and fellow leaders, and play a key role in representing the school at community events and welcoming visitors. School Captains also assist with technology initiatives and the sharing of important information, promoting the effective use of digital tools across the school.
We put a series of questions to our school captains Utkarsh and Ciara.
Hi my name is Utkarsh and I am the school captain for 2025.
Something that people don’t know about me is that I used to be left handed.
Things that I’d like to take if my house was on fire are my family, my school captain badge and a soccer ball.
The furthest place from Laverton I have been would probably be India as I go to India normally every summer holiday and India is quite far from Laverton and Australia in general.
My typical Saturday involves sleeping, playing soccer, meeting friends, some screen time and lots of fun.
People I would love to invite to dinner would be my friends and family.
I am amazed by how wonderful and amazing St Martin De Porres is and how much it has taught me.
I would love to be able to become a very successful person.
People say I would go to extreme lengths to win.
St Martin De Porres is an amazing wonderful school that values education, respect and equality.
A leader is someone who you can look up to and want to be. Leaders should also be very committed, kind and be able to adapt to situations.
Hi my name is Ciara and I am the school captain for 2025.
Something most people don’t know about me is that I am really passionate about rugby league.
3 things I'd take if my house was on fire are, my family, my phone and my dog.
Furthest place from Laverton I've been is Indonesia and New Zealand.
My typical Saturday involves Rugby and spending time with my family and friends.
I would love to invite my family and friends to dinner.
I am amazed by how committed I am to be a good role model to everyone.
I would love to be able to give back to the people in need.
People say I would go to extreme lengths to win.
St Martin De Porres is a kind, respectful and acknowledging school.
A leader is a kind, respectful, flexible, committed and trustworthy person.
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and SMDP is excited to be taking part!
The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 and aims to help young readers develop a lifelong love of reading.
It is not a competition; it is a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 5 September 2025.
Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
This year, the Challenge is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme ‘20 years of words and wonder’ and a year of special activities. For details, follow theVictorian Premiers' Reading Challenge Facebook
Since it began in 2005, more than 4.5 million young readers have taken part and together read more than 63 million books!
To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visitwww.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge
On Monday 5th of May your child will be sent home details on how to login to the challenge to record your books read.
You can also contact me at ecoghlan@smdplaverton.catholic.edu.au with any questions.
Elise Coghlan
Acting Principal | Learning and Teaching Leader