Principal's Message

We believe that strong family-school partnerships are the foundation for student success. When schools and families work together, children thrive, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.

These partnerships are more than just attending parent-teacher interviews or helping with homework, they are about building genuine connections between home and school based on trust, respect, and shared goals. 

Here’s why they matter and how each core principle helps create a thriving learning environment:

Parents and families are the first and continuing educators of their children.

From a child's first words to the values they carry into the classroom, learning begins at home. Families set the tone for curiosity, persistence, and attitude toward learning. By recognising and building on this foundation, schools can better support each child’s unique journey.

Children learn in many places and in many ways, not just at school.

Education doesn’t stop at the school gate. Children learn through experiences at home, in the community and through conversations and play. When families and schools recognise that learning happens everywhere, we can work together to make it rich, relevant, and ongoing.

Recognising and honouring the strengths and diversity of families enriches learning and builds a vibrant school community.

Every family brings something special to our community, culture, language, traditions, skills, and stories. When we embrace this diversity, we enrich the whole school community. Celebrating different backgrounds helps children feel seen, respected, and proud of who they are.

Strong community connections broaden the support network and enhance the resources available to our school.

Strong partnerships often extend beyond the school and home. When we involve local organisations, services, and community members, we create a web of support that enhances student learning and wellbeing. Everyone has a role to play in supporting our children.

Strong partnerships are built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.

Meaningful collaboration starts with open communication. Families and schools thrive when both sides listen, share honestly, and work together with the child’s best interests in mind. Trust and respect are built over time through consistent, positive interactions.

We saw this partnership in action just last week at our Year 1 and 2 Extreme Weather Exhibition. It was wonderful to see so many families turn out to celebrate the learning happening in our students’ classrooms. Parents and carers were excited and proud to see their children’s dioramas and writing about different extreme weather events. Many were impressed by the students' ability to clearly explain their knowledge and understanding of their chosen topic. Events like these remind us of the power of shared learning between home and school.

At the end of 2024, following our school review, the school leadership team worked closely with consultants from MACS to develop a new School Improvement Plan (SIP) to guide us from 2025 to 2028. This plan outlines the key priorities and strategies that will shape our teaching, learning, and community engagement over the next three years.

Below is an infographic that highlights the direction we’re heading in. Our shared vision for improvement and the areas we will focus on to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Each year, we also develop an Annual Action Plan (AAP) that takes a closer look at specific goals, especially in the areas of Literacy and Mathematics. These goals are based on data and evidence, helping us target the areas where we can make the greatest impact on student learning.

Our AAP and SIP are not just documents, they actively guide our work. We use them to shape our staff meetings, drive our professional learning opportunities, and ensure that everything we do is aligned with the goal of improving outcomes for all students.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we move forward together on this journey of growth and improvement.

Elise Coghlan

Acting 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. 

ATTENTION PLEASE - Traffic Management at SMDP

As we continue to grow as a school, students safety continues to be paramount. 

Our school is different from many other schools as so many of our students arrive and leave each day by car. Very few students walk or ride home. 

We have clear procedures in place to ensure the safety of all our students and families. It is crucial that everyone follows these guidelines to maintain a safe and respectful environment for our school community. 

If you are unable to find a parking space in the designated areas, please park on Campbell Street or use the church car park, and walk through the church gate to enter the school. These options are in place to ease congestion and help keep everyone safe.

A reminder of the parking expectations

We believe we have created a safe and effective system for dropping off and picking up students travelling by car. To ensure this system works as intended, we need all drivers to follow the rules below for the safety of every child.

Please refer to the map below for guidance on the correct flow of traffic. The school should be approached in the direction of the arrows:

Travel up Bladin Street into Hillman Street, then make a right-hand turn into Bellin Street, followed by a left-hand turn into the school.

When exiting the school, turn left into Bellin Street, and then right into Campbell Street.

When entering the school’s ‘Drop-Off Zone’, no parent should exit their vehicle. This area is strictly for drop-off only. Parking in this zone disrupts traffic flow and poses safety risks.

If you choose to park and walk your child into school, please remember that the left-hand side of the car park is for staff parking only.

Additional parking is available in Pearce Street or Campbell Street for those walking their child safely to the school gate.

Important Reminders:

• No right-hand turns are permitted in or out of the school.

• In the school car park, only park in the clearly marked spaces. If the car park is full, please park in Pearce Street or Campbell Street.

We thank you for your ongoing cooperation and commitment to student safety. Let’s continue working together to make drop-off and pick-up times calm, respectful, and safe for all.

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.