Principal's Message

To our fathers and father figures!

As we look forward to welcoming families to our Father’s Day Breakfast tomorrow, we want to take a moment to celebrate all the fathers, grandfathers, step‑fathers and father figures in our community. Father’s Day is a chance to recognise the many ways you support, guide and care for the children in your lives through your love, your presence and the example you set each day.

Some of our most cherished childhood memories come from the moments spent with our dads. For me, it was the road trips to sporting events and tournaments and the encouragement and coaching he offered on the way home, win or loss. He now does the same for my children, offering them the same words of wisdom and support. These experiences remind us how fathers and father figures shape us and strengthen our sense of belonging.

We thank you for making sure our children feel loved, connected and safe. You take them on holidays, make birthdays extra special, and share experiences that become treasured memories. You help pass on stories, traditions and moments that shape who they are and who they are becoming.

We also want to acknowledge the many ways you support our school community: bringing your child each day, offering encouragement, being positive role models, helping fix things, or simply greeting us with a warm smile and a cheerful “good morning” or “good afternoon.” You help make our school a friendlier, more welcoming place.

Fathers bring a special kind of joy to their children’s lives. The fun, encouragement and adventures you share help shape your children in such meaningful and positive ways.

Tomorrow’s breakfast is our way of saying thank you, for the big things, the small things, and everything in between. We hope you enjoy the morning, and we wish all our fathers and father figures a very Happy Father’s Day.

2027: Transition to a Tiered Family Tuition Fee Model

Beginning in 2027, all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools ("MACS") schools, including ours, will transition to a tiered family fee model. This system‑wide change is designed to ensure fees remain fair, sustainable and aligned with common practice in Catholic education.

Why fees are changing

To continue offering the rich learning opportunities, extracurricular experiences and supportive environment our students deserve, we need to maintain a strong financial foundation that can respond to rising costs across many areas of school operations, as well as shifts in the broader education funding landscape.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has undertaken a detailed review of fee structures across Catholic school systems, gathered information from schools, and consulted economic experts. This review assessed the current model, where families pay the same flat tuition fee regardless of how many children they have enrolled against other possible options. After the review it was determined that all MACS schools are moving to a tiered family fee structure.

What is a tiered family fee model?

A tiered family fee model adjusts the total fee a family pays according to how many children they have enrolled at the school.

Transitioning to tiered family fees has the following benefits:

• Fairness — Fees are distributed more equitably across families, with each child’s enrolment contributing to the resources and opportunities they receive.

• Sustainability — It supports the school to meet rising costs and invest in high‑quality programs, staffing and facilities for all students.

What this means for families at our school

Our school will adopt the tiered family fee model from the 2027 school year. This approach has been designed to be clear, fair, and manageable for families, while ensuring we can continue offering strong learning programs, well‑resourced classrooms, and the level of care and support your children experience every day. Under the tiered family fee model, there will be a tuition fee for one student, and this amount will increase slightly, if you have two children enrolled, and again if you have three, and so on.

We also recognise that every family’s circumstances are different. If you have questions or would like to talk through your situation, please reach out. We are here to help and will work with you to ensure your child’s experience at our school remains positive and uninterrupted.

Early in Term 4, I will share the 2027 fee information with you and thank you for your patience while we are working through this process. 

Celebrating LSO Appreciation Week

This week, we celebrated LSO Appreciation Week,  a chance to recognise and thank the incredible Learning Support Officers (LSOs) who play such an important role in our school.

Our LSOs are people with big hearts who bring passion and wisdom into everything they do. They work as a team, each playing a vital part in creating a positive start for every child, every day. As role models, they inspire students to try their best and guide them on their learning journeys.

Our LSO's know learning is more than just preparing for a test, it’s about building lifelong learners with curiosity, drive, and interest. Whether it’s in the classroom, in small groups, or through one-to-one support, our LSOs make a difference by caring, educating, and encouraging students to achieve their best.

There is no job too big or too small for our LSOs. Their hard work and dedication help our school thrive, and we are truly grateful for all that they do.

This week was a wonderful reminder to pause and say a big, heartfelt: THANK YOU to our LSOs – the angels of our school!

MACSISS Survey

On Monday, you will receive an email from macssis@orima.com to complete our yearly MACSISS survey. This survey only takes 20 minutes and the information it provides us is invaluable. We would really appreciate it if you could take the time to give us your feedback to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in our school. 

Once you have completed the survey please send me an email and you will go in the draw to win our first prize - $400 deducted from your school fees or our 2nd prize a $100 Coles Myer voucher or third prize  a $50.00 Coles Myer voucher.

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.