Principal's Message

On Wednesday, our school community came together to mark Remembrance Day, with our Year 3/4K students leading us in a thoughtful and respectful liturgy. Through prayer, reflection and a minute of silence, we remembered the men and women who served our country during times of war and conflict and reflected on the sacrifices they made for others.

While Remembrance Day encourages us to remember those who have served, it also reminds us of values that remain just as important today: gratitude, courage, service and resilience. These are qualities we hope to nurture in our students, not just on special occasions, like Remembrance Day, but every day through their learning and interactions with others.

Remembering and Gratitude

Taking time to remember helps us develop gratitude. It gives us an opportunity to pause and appreciate the opportunities, freedoms and support we often take for granted. In a school setting, gratitude can be as simple as thanking a classmate who has helped us, appreciating the efforts of our teachers, or recognising the support of our families. When children learn to notice and value the people around them, they develop a greater sense of belonging and respect for others.

Courage

Remembrance Day also reminds us of the courage shown by those who served others. While our students may not face the same challenges, courage is something they can demonstrate every day. It takes courage to attempt a difficult task, share an idea in front of others, ask for help when it is needed, or keep trying when learning feels challenging. Courage helps children develop confidence and supports them to take the next step in their growth as learners.

Service

Service is a value that sits at the heart of our school motto, Love and Service to All. Service is not always about big gestures, often it is found in the small things we do each day. Holding a door open, helping a classmate, including someone in a game, showing kindness to a peer or contributing positively to the classroom are all examples of service in action. When students learn to look beyond themselves and consider the needs of others, they help build a stronger and more caring community.

Resilience

We also reflected on resilience, one of our Learning Powers. Resilience is an important skill for all learners because challenges and setbacks are a normal part of life. Students demonstrate resilience when they learn from mistakes, accept feedback, keep practising a skill or try again after finding something difficult. Developing resilience helps children understand that success rarely happens straight away and that persistence is often what leads to growth and achievement.

These values of gratitude, courage, service and resilience remain as relevant today as they have ever been. As a school community, we want our students to understand that while Remembrance Day honours the past, it also encourages us to consider the people we are becoming. By showing gratitude, acting with courage, serving others and persevering through challenges, our students contribute to creating the caring, respectful and hopeful community we all want to be part of.

Uniform Reminder 

As we move beyond the halfway point of the term, this is a timely reminder that all students should now be wearing their full summer uniform each day.

With warmer weather now upon us and temperatures forecast to be in the mid-20s, it is important that students come to school with their school hat every day. Hats are required for outdoor learning and play, helping to keep students safe while enjoying time outside.

Teachers will be monitoring uniform expectations in classrooms and around the school. We ask families to support us by ensuring children arrive each day in the correct summer uniform and that only St Martin de Porres school jumpers and jackets are worn. Non-school hoodies, jackets and jumpers should not be worn to school.

Wearing the correct uniform is an important way for students to demonstrate pride in their school and contribute to a strong sense of belonging within our community. Consistent uniform expectations also help us maintain the high standards we hold for all students at St Martin de Porres.

Finally, please ensure that all uniform items are clearly labelled with your child's name and take a moment to check the lost property area if any items have gone missing.

Thank you for your support and partnership in helping our students represent our school with pride.

We are excited to share some wonderful news with our school community. Congratulations to Kathryn and her husband Mitch, who are expecting their first child in early May next year.

This is very exciting news for them as they prepare for this special new chapter in their lives. Kathryn will commence her maternity leave at the end of Term 1, 2027.

We are sure you will join us in wishing Kathryn and Mitch all the very best as they prepare to welcome their new arrival.

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.