Principal's Message

At our Father’s Day prayer celebration last Friday ended with the song “Not all Heroes Wear Capes”. I would like to think that my boys think I’m a bit of a superhero.

My dad only died three years ago, so there are things that I remember about him that are as clear as if it were yesterday. Being a country boy, he took great pleasure in farming. He raised sheep and pigs. He also milked his cows twice a day. He grew crops and produced hay for the stock to feed on over winter. I grew up in the days where providing for your family was not only about the family economy, it was also about what fathers do, in being the provider.  

Dads greatest joy at the end of a long day on the farm was to head out into his veggie garden, to dig and scratch around in the dirt. It’s where he felt peaceful and at peace. My dad wasn’t a big one for words but if you followed him around the garden and didn’t jump on the plants, he would impart his little gems of wisdom.  

He would listen carefully to my childhood woes and tales and rather than give an answer he would simply throw in a question here or there and make you come to your own conclusion. “There you go, problem solved,” he would say....or…“Don’t worry, it will all sort itself out.” He made what seemed to be so hard and complicated, turn into something so simple and straightforward.

I hope everyone enjoyed Father’s Day and hope you could celebrate it with someone special in your life. For our children I wish them the many fond memories of their dads as I have of mine. I hope that they come to appreciate the care and kindness, the words of wisdom and the patience with which dads go about this most blessed role. In the eyes of our children, let every Dad be a superhero without the cape. 

Just to inform the school community that I will be on Long Service Leave from Friday 13th to Friday 20th September. During this time Denise Kelly will be Acting Principal and Elise Coghlan Acting Deputy Principal. I will see everyone again at the beginning of Term 4.

Enjoy the coming weekend.

Dan Ryan

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.

2019 School Closure Days

Listed below are our school closure days for 2019. Please note these are student free days. Staff use these days to further develop their learning.

• Monday 4th November - Report Preparation and Writing
• Friday 22nd November - Planning for 2020