Principal's Message

You know Christmas is not far away when you walk down your local shopping strip and see the Christmas decorations are already up. The end of the year is close, but at SMDP we still have plenty of time for focused learning. Our teachers are busy writing reports that will inform families of student achievement this semester. Students are busy consolidating their learning goals that will prepare them for their educational journey ahead. Our students have had another different year, so we are determined to provide high quality learning to the very last day. Many of our end of year celebrations will look and feel different but we are determined to ensure that they are still special for our students.

As SMDP is a growing school our class structures change from year to year. Some years we have straight classes (Year Five classes or Year Two classes) while other years we have composite classes (Year P/1 or 3/4). This is part of your child's educational journey at SMDP. Staffing is allocated to schools based on the total number of students, not students at each year/grade level. As enrolments vary from year to year, it is sometimes impossible to form straight grades because the numbers simply do not allow for it.

At SMDP we have straight (one level) and composite classes (two levels). Research shows there is no discernible difference between ‘composite’ and 'straight' year group classes in terms of academic performance because every class is like a composite class, filled with students with different learning needs, rates of learning, interests and strengths. Even in straight grades students are working at all different levels. It is the quality of teaching, combined with student interest and engagement that has a greater impact on learning than class organisational structures.

As educators, we strongly believe that our focus on continuous improvement and progress has a far greater impact on student learning than grouping students according to their chronological age. The Victorian Curriculum F–10 is structured as a continuum across levels of learning achievement not years of schooling. This enables the development of targeted learning programs for all students, where the curriculum and data is used to plan learning, based on the level of each student rather than their assumed level of learning, based on age.

After much discussion and exploring different models, the best structure for 2022 students has now been finalised:

Over the past two weeks at staff meetings, staff have been working together to allocate students into their new levels. They are committed to ensuring that each class is balanced and that every student is teamed with both some familiar friends and with some students who may be wonderful, potential co-learners and friends. I ask parents to trust in the process as our teachers are best placed to determine the needs of all children. 

Students will meet their new teachers for next year at our Step Up Transition Day on Thursday 9th December from 9:15-10:45am for GR P-5, 2021.

What’s new for 2022

It is also that time of year we say goodbye to old staff and welcome new staff. 

Lisa, our Yr 6 teacher is leaving us after 4 years. Lisa has purchased a property in Dingley and has taken on a position at St James in Brighton, which will be much closer to her new home. We thank Lisa for all her work at SMDP. She has been an expert senior teacher over the years and has always encouraged our students to be the best leaders and role models of our school. As a staff member, we will miss her wicked sense of humour and her Netflix suggestions. 

After one year at SMDP, Sophie, our PE/Sport teacher, has accepted a position at Geelong College junior school. This school is  also closer to Sophie’s home. We thank Sophie for her high level expertise, passion and commitment in her sports coordinating role. 

We also say goodbye to Denise Tutie, our LSO. She has been at SMDP for over 5 years and watched the many changes we have gone through. She will be sadly missed by the students and staff and we wish her luck at her new full time position at Corpus Christi Werribee. 

After working 45 years in education, Marg Cronin will be retiring at the end of the year. The last few years, Marg has worked tirelessly in her role as Religious Education Leader as well as many years as a classroom teacher. Marg’s extensive career has included teaching overseas in Malaysia and Thailand as well as teaching in NSW and Queensland. With all this experience, we have felt very lucky to have her expertise at SMDP for the past 20 years. We sincerely thank Marg for her time at SMDP and the generation of students she 

has cared for and taught. We want to say congratulations on a remarkable career and we sincerely wish Marg all the best in the future. 

Next year, we welcome Shaun Lenagan as a classroom teacher to SMDP.  He will join our Yr 3/4 team. 

David Haynes will join our staff and together with  Phil, will be our new PE teacher.  David is also teaching PE as a specialist role at St Lawrence in Derrimut. 

Next year our leadership positions will also look a bit different too.  As Denise Kelly will be working 4 days a week next year, I have asked Elise Coghlan to co-share the Deputy Principal position. Lucas has also taken on the REL role as well as a specialist teacher delivering STEM to all our classes. Andrea W and Kathy will remain in their Learning Diversity and Student Wellbeing roles. 

Thanks for your continued support. It is a joy to work with you and your children. 

Dan  Ryan  

Deputy 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.

Fees & Levies 2022

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 3rd December - Planning 2022

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