Principal's Message

A warm thank you to our community

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Opening School BBQ last week. We missed those who couldn’t make it, but it was wonderful to see so many faces come together to welcome in the new school year. The evening was filled with families introducing themselves for the first time, reconnecting after the break and children happily playing in the yard. 

Our school community is at the heart of who we are as a Catholic school and this night showed the strength of that connection. From our teachers cooking on the barbecue and setting up games, to parents helping with the pack‑up, it was an example of partnership in action. A special shout‑out to Colin for providing the very fancy barbecue trailer (we all felt like chefs) and to Michelle, Jo and Elspeth for their work selling our second‑hand uniforms.

When families and schools work closely together, students benefit in every way, academically, socially and emotionally. Strong relationships, open communication and shared expectations create the conditions where children feel supported, confident and ready to learn. Nights like the barbecue remind us how powerful these connections are.

Partnerships that strengthen learning and faith

We are committed to building strong, respectful partnerships with families in both learning and faith. Staff and families work side by side to create enriched communities where every child is supported to grow, learn and thrive. 

This commitment is reflected in our everyday practice. We work to:

• Communicate clearly about the unique and important role families play as their child’s first educators.

• Enable proactive, two‑way communication between families and staff through a range of formal channels.

• Provide regular opportunities to celebrate student learning, growth and progress together.

• Offer strategies and resources that help families support learning at home.

Creating a welcoming and engaged school community

We want every family to feel welcomed, valued and connected at St Martin de Porres. Throughout the year, we provide many opportunities for families to engage with our Catholic school community, including:

• Cultural, social and liturgical events that bring us together.

• A commitment to understanding and addressing barriers that may prevent families from engaging.

• Regular opportunities for families to share feedback to help us strengthen our community.

Another meaningful way to be involved is through our Parents in Partnership (PIP) group. PIP meets once each term online and helps run a range of events throughout the year. It is an open, friendly group and we warmly welcome any parent or carer who would like to support our school community in this way. We met last night online and I would like to thank the parents involved for their ideas and continued support. 

End of the day

At the end of each day, our teachers bring their students to the line. If you need to speak with your child’s teacher about anything, big or small, they are available at this time and we encourage you to take the opportunity. You are also welcome to message teachers on Seesaw if that suits your schedule better.

We know that strong relationships between families and teachers are the foundation of meaningful engagement in learning. When parents feel welcomed, listened to and valued as partners, children feel that same sense of belonging and support. These everyday interactions, quick conversations, shared celebrations, problem solving together, are what help learning flourish.

At SMDP, we are proud to be an open, welcoming and inclusive community where all families feel they belong. The interactions we saw on Thursday evening, between families, between students and teachers, are a clear sign of the strong engagement that exists between our families and staff. This partnership is one of our greatest strengths and it is something we will continue to nurture throughout the year.

Warm regards, 

Elise Coghlan

Principal

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. 

 2026 - School Closure Days

Listed below are our school closure days for 2026. 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.