Noticeboard 

SOME IMPORTANT RETURN TO SCHOOL REMINDERS:

Be informed!

Schools are busy places and there is lots happening.

Avoid missing out on events, keep informed of changes and up to date information by making sure you are accessing all our communications.

Seesaw

Seesaw is the communication app used to communicate information, share your child's learning and to demonstrate evidence of your children's learning progression.  

OPEROO

Make sure your OPEROO details are up to date including your contact details, your child's medical needs and emergency contact details. Here is where you will receive notifications if your child has been injured at school, excursion permission forms, important information from Dan and our fortnightly school newsletters. 

Newsletter

We provide a fortnightly newsletter via OPEROO. This is an informative and celebratory newsletter that you are encouraged to read to keep up to date with events, calendar dates, learning and teaching practices, student achievement and all happenings around the school. 

Website 

Our website has lots of information including our policies, enrolment details, curriculum and uniform details. It is also where you notify the school that your child will be absent.

Absences

From 2023, student absences are advised by a parent or carer via a tab ABSENTEE FORMon the landing page on our school website. Absences of more than one week require Principal approval via email, in line with government requirements.

Beginning of the Year Permission/Agreements

At the start of each year there are several permissions and agreements required from families. These are sent via OPEROO.

Look out for notifications to read and sign (digital signatures) the following forms on Operoo:

• Child Safe Community Code of Conduct
• Parent/Carer/Volunteer Code of Conduct
• Student Photo/Video permission form
• ICT Acceptable Use Policy
• Ukulele Instrument Home use Agreement (Year 5/6 students only)
• Year 5/6 Camp Permission form (Year 5/6 student only)
• Swimming Trials Permission form (Selected students from Years 3-6 only)

Sun Smart procedures

Hats

School hats must be worn at all times for outdoor learning and play from September 1st to the 30th of April and any time outside these dates when the UV index is 3 or above. 

Please ensure your child has a labelled school hat. If they do not have a hat, they will be instructed to play in the shade under the church verandah during break times. 

Sunscreen

Students should apply sunscreen before school and bring their own sunscreen in their bag. Teachers will provide time for them to re-apply prior to outdoor breaks.

School Uniform

Let’s make 2023 the year that all students wear their correct uniform every day, with pride. 

All students are expected to wear full summer school uniforms including the correct leather school shoes. RUNNERS ARE FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION LESSONS AND SPORT DAYS ONLY. 

Our school uniform promotes our wonderful students to the wider community. It shows respect for themselves and others and ensures equality for every child. Students must wear our correct uniform and wear it with pride and confidence. 

From Monday the 6th of February, students who are not wearing the correct uniform will be given a uniform reminder card to take home. They will then require your support to ensure they are dressed in the correct SMDP uniform. If you are facing any problems or hardship, please make an appointment to see me. 

Specialist Programs 

Begin Week 2 beginning Monday February 6th

Students participate in Physical Education, Music, Art, Digital Technology, Japanese (Years 3-6 in Semester 1 and Years Prep - 2 in Semester 2) and sustainability lessons with specialist teachers.

We operation a fortnightly program for these lessons but for consistency students wear sports uniform every week as follows:

Students wear their sports uniform on the days listed beginning week 2 Monday 6th February.

Student Birthday Celebrations

Birthdays are a special moment in a child's life and are celebrated at school. We make this day all about your child's birthday and focus on making them feel very special. Your child will be offered a birthday badge to wear for the day and we will sing happy birthday. The birthday child will receive a birthday certificate to bring home. 

To promote equality and inclusion for everyone, the school does not allow students to bring in gifts or food for others on their birthday. Due to several students having severe food allergies, sharing food is not allowed. Sharing of gifts disadvantages children who are unable to bring something special and puts unnecessary pressure on some of our families to purchase these gifts.

If your child brings in something to share, their classroom teacher will kindly ask them to put it in their bag to take home and share with their family.

Assembly on Mondays

Whole school assemblies which are held each Monday morning at 8:50am until 9:15am in the church will begin for 2023 on Monday 6th February. 

Students enter the church directly from the morning line up, leaving their bags on their line to collect at the conclusion of the assembly. Assemblies involve:

• acknowledgement of country
• a beginning prayer
• a learning focus for the week
• important events
• Learning Power Awards
• National Anthem

Parents and carers are most welcome to join us for assembly.

If your child is being awarded one of our Learning Power awards during the assembly, you will be notified through Seesaw so you have the opportunity to be present. 

Important Traffic Management 

All parents/carers are reminded of the traffic management systems in place at SMDP. 

We believe we have created a safe and working system to drop and pick up our students travelling by car and we need all drivers to follow these rules for the safety of all our students.

I have included a map below to remind drivers that the school should be approached in the direction of the arrows. When coming up Bladin street into Hillman, make a  right hand turn into Bellin then left hand turn into the school. When leaving the school turn left into Bellin street and right into Campbell street.

When entering the school and you are dropping your child off at our ‘Drop Off Zone’, no parents should be exiting their car. This is a ‘Drop Off’ Zone only. Cars that park in this area prevent the flow of traffic. If your child is not yet independent in getting into or out of your vehicle unassisted, please park in the carpark or street.

If you decide to park in our car park to walk your child into school, please be aware that the left hand of the car park is staff parking only. I would also suggest parking in either Pearce Street or Campbell Streets to walk your child/children safely into school.

NOTE: 

• No right hand turns in or out of the school.
• Both sides of the Bellin street outside the main school gates are no parking zones between 3pm and 4pm on school days.
• School Car Park - Only park in the marked spaces provided. If the car park is full you must park in Pearce or Campbell streets. 
• Pedestrians cannot enter or exit the school grounds via the vehicle entrance and exit gates. Pedestrian access is only via the single pedestrian gate on Campbell street or the gates beside the  church from Bellin Street.

We will never compromise student safety for adult convenience.

Welcome School BBQ - Thursday 9th March  - Keep the date free!

All families are invited to gather on the school oval for our Welcome School BBQ on Thursday 9th March from 5:30 - 7:00 pm (weather permitting). This is an opportunity to meet one another and experience a sense of our community as we begin a new year at St Martin de Porres Primary School. Bring your own picnic. Sausages and veggie burgers will be available to purchase. 

More information will be provided when the date gets closer!

Volunteering @ St Martins

Throughout the year there are many opportunities for parents and carers to be involved at school. We require volunteers to assist on excursions, in the classroom and for special events. All volunteers will be invited to participate in an induction session at school prior to volunteering.

In line with Child safety requirements, all volunteers must have a current Working With Children Card and have agreed to and signed our annual Child Safe Community Code of Conduct.

Working With Children Card 

In line with Ministerial Order 1359, St Martin de Porres mandates that all parent volunteers hold a current Working With Children check/card if you are volunteering at the school. To obtain this you must apply online at How to apply | Working with Children. Make sure you list St Martin's as a place you will volunteer.

Once you receive your card, please present it to the front office where Rexi will make a copy to retain on file.

Child Safe community code of conduct

This was provided via OPEROO on January 30th 2023.

Beginning Year School Mass

All are welcome to join our whole school community in St Martin de Porres church at 9:15am on Tuesday 14th February to celebrate our new school year.

Our 2023 student leaders will receive their badges during the celebration.

Before and After school Care

Students cannot be dropped off at school until 8:30am each morning. Each night they are supervised until 3:40pm. If your child needs supervision and care before 8:30am in the morning or after 3:40pm at night, Quantin Binnah provides an excellent program each day in our  school hall.

Registration is completed online. Click on this link to register your child.

Zooper Dooper/Icypoles

An initiative of the student leaders is to sell icypoles/Zooper Doopers at recess each Friday.