St. Martin de Porres Primary School

Principal's Message

As we celebrated Mother’s Day on Sunday, I hope you found time to reflect on those influential women in your lives. Research tells us that females rely on and benefit from having same-gender role models more than their male counterparts.

 

Girls are exposed to many role models, both positive and negative, each and every day. They use these role models as references for whom they will become and whose behaviour they will emulate. Every day I see our students seeking cues about how to behave and girls need to see confident, passionate and accomplished women in order to envision themselves with those qualities.

 

I am so proud of our women on staff at SMDP. They are the role models to our young girls everyday. They understand this privileged position and are determined to make a difference and strive to guide and shape these young girls. They endeavour to create an environment where our students are allowed to think big, find their passions and dare to be ambitious every day.

 

When I reflect, it is the bold, fierce, strong and passionate women in my life who have made the biggest difference. The embracing and relentless love of my mum and big sister, my life long female besties, the women I have worked for and now work with and finally my beautiful Kate. These women have made me a better man.

 

Mother’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the influence and love of these women.

 

The Mother’s Day celebrations last Thursday 6th May and Friday 7th May at St. Martin’s are a very special time for our school community to recognise and acknowledge the woman in our lives. On Thursday our students enjoyed purchasing the many exciting gifts that were made available from our PIP committee who organised the Mothers’ Day stall. I hope everyone enjoyed their gifts on Sunday morning. 

 

On Friday, our day started with a delicious Mother’s Day breakfast that was organised by the teachers and enjoyed by over 160 mums and special guests (and students too). After breakfast our mums, grandmas and special people were invited into the church where the Prep/One grades lead us in a prayer celebration.  

A big thank you to our mums, grandmas, aunts and special friends that joined our celebrations last week. 

You are the role models who influence our students everyday. We are truly thankful.

OUR STUDENTS ARE AT RISK!

I have had a number of complaints from parents this term about other parents not following our school parking rules and about aggressive driving behaviour. Staff have also witnessed ‘near misses’ where serious accidents involving students could have happened due to reckless and unthinking drivers. 

  • This is not the SMDP way.
  • This is not the role model we want to show our children.
  • This is not keeping our students safe.

Our staff are employed as educators, not parking inspectors. 

 

It is every parent's responsibility to follow our car park rules and model to our students appropriate driving behaviour and manners.   

 

My mains concerns are:

  • Parents parking in non allocated spaces or double parking in the school car park.
  • Parents walking in and out of the middle double driveway gates. This is for vehicle access not for pedestrians.
  • Parents parking in the staff car park.
  • Parents entering and exiting the wrong way into and from Bellin Street.

I know, it is only a few parents who are making these poor decisions, while the majority of the school community are doing their best. If you are not following these guidelines you are putting our students at risk. 

 

I am currently in communication with Hobsons Bay City Council about my concerns to consider various options. 

 

Warm regards,

 

Dan Ryan

Principal

 

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

2021 School Closure Days

Listed below are our school closure days for 2021. These are student free days. Staff use these days to further develop their learning and keep informed with current practice and procedures. 

  • Friday 11th June - Literacy Professional Learning - Focus: Reading
  • Friday 25th June: Learning Conversations
  • Thursday 16th & Friday 17th September - Catholic Identity
  • Monday 1st November - Report  Writing
  • Friday 3rd December - Planning 2022

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