St Martin de Porres School
Sheidow Park
In all things
love
PROSPECTUS
Welcome to St Martin de Porres
Community is at the heart of our school, and every student at the centre of all we do.
Located in Adelaide’s vibrant and growing South-West region, St Martin de Porres School proudly serves the communities of Sheidow Park, Trott Park, and Hallett Cove.
Established in 1986, we are a large Reception to Year 6 primary school with approximately 570 students.
Here you’ll find excellent facilities, exceptional and caring staff, and endless opportunities for children to learn, grow, play, and explore the joy of childhood in a safe, nurturing environment.
With a strong academic record and focus on active and co-curricular activities - it’s a special place. One where faith and learning go hand in hand.
We are committed to upholding and nurturing the spirit of St Martin de Porres and St Mary Mackillop, ensuring their example of compassion, humility, and service remain alive within our school.
Enrolling at St Martin de Porres School enters your child into a catholic educational pathway, with our students continuing on to Sacred Heart College, Cardijn College and Cabra Dominican College.
Our staff, students and families take pride in belonging to our school and we look forward to showing you what makes our school special.
Craig Fosdike OAM Principal
Discover & Explore
With sweeping sea views, light-filled classrooms, state-of-the-art facilities, expansive green spaces, and a range of enriching programs and experiences, St Martin de Porres School is a nurturing and inspiring place with endless opportunities for children to grow, learn and thrive.
Together with bright, modern and spacious classrooms and breakout spaces, the Media Arts Room and Podcasting Studio, Library, Visual Art Studio and dedicated Performing Arts Room provide exciting opportunities for students to express their creativity.
Beyond the Classroom
Our large hall, undercover outdoor areas and on-site parish church are perfect for school events, assemblies and performances. Combined with an expansive oval, grounds and multiple playgrounds, there is ample space for outdoor learning opportunities and play.
Endless Opportunities
Our school has much to offer students in their learning journey, where they benefit from a range of fee-inclusive experiences and programs, including: a variety of class excursions and incursions, camps (Year 4 - 6), swimming and aquatics programs and student leadership opportunities. iPads are provided for students in Year 3 - 6 to aid their learning.
Students can also discover their passions through a range of co-curricular activities including chess club, coding club, choir, dance aerobics, Children’s University, Veritas youth group and a lengthy list of sports.
Canteen
Our onsite, school-run canteen provides nutritious food for our students five days a week, with convenient ordering via the Qkr! app.
OSHC
To help families manage their schedules, our school-operated Outside of School Hours Care service provides before, after-school and vacation care 50 weeks of the year, providing a caring, fun and affordable program for families to access when they need. Families can claim part-payment for OSHC services through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
Our School Day
Our school day is from 8.55am – 3.20pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday and from 8.55am - 3.00pm on Tuesday.
Gates open with supervision from 8.15am.
Our Catholic Identity
The St Martin de Porres philosophy is expressed through the school’s motto In Omnibus Caritas –In All Things Love.
Every facet of school life provides an opportunity for students to experience an openness to God’s Spirit at work in our lives. Inspired by the Dominican Charism, each child is encouraged to grow spiritually and to become the best version of themselves.
Our strong partnership with the Hallett Cove Catholic Parish is strengthened by our shared campus with the Church. Through our sacramental program, students are given the opportunity to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. The school can also support families seeking Baptism.
Celebration
We regularly hold Masses and Liturgies. All students attend these celebrations of our Catholic traditions, with each class having multiple opportunities to lead and be involved. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend and share in these occasions.
Service
In the words of St Mary Mackillop: “Never see a need without doing something about it.” This is lived every day at St Martin’s, with our students empowered to change the world through programs including Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion, The Hutt Street Centre’s Walk a Mile and St Vincent de Paul Winter and Christmas appeals.
A Love of Learning
Our staff are passionate, knowledgeable, and nurturing professionals who deeply understand how children learn and are committed to helping every student reach their full potential.
We embrace a diverse range of learning strategies to cater for different learning styles and needs, fostering an inclusive environment where every child feels valued.
At our school, learning is grounded in explicit teaching methods, supported by current educational research and best practice. We implement a rigorous literacy and numeracy program where students thrive within structured, scaffolded lessons and predictable routines. Early and consistent intervention programs are in place to support all learners.
Our engaging learning programs reflect the world around our students, helping them to see themselves in the curriculum and connect with their broader community.
Above all, we are dedicated to promoting a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
Active Kids
St Martin de Porres School has a proud history of active involvement in co-curricular sports activities. By being active, our students develop more than just skills - they learn teamwork, strengthen social bonds, grow in confidence, and learn the value of perseverance and fair play.
Students participate in various sports carnivals, competitions and clinics throughout the school year including; swimming, cross-country, tennis, touch-football, softball, lacrosse, rugby, athletics, netball, football and cricket.
Students attend swimming and aquatics programs to encourage water safety and familiarity.
Active Uniform
We believe that when kids are active, they’re at their happiest.
That’s why we have a year-round activewear uniform consisting of comfortable shoes and a few key items, giving students the flexibility to choose what works best for them each daybased on the weather and their own preference.
It’s all about helping them feel free to move, play, explore and discover!
Our Physical Education and Health curriculum promotes physical activity and supports students to develop healthy and positive lifestyles, with the school also offering a variety of co-curricular sporting activities including:
2 – 6)
1)
4 - 6)
(Year 2 - 6)
(Year 2 - 6)
- 6)
AFL Football (Year
AFL Auskick (Rec -
Dance Aerobics (Year 3 - 6)
Cricket (Year
Master Blaster Cricket (Year 2 - 3)
Basketball
Netball
Soccer (Rec
Junior Primary Sports Academy (Rec - 2)
Specialist Subjects that Spark
Alongside core subjects, students at St Martin de Porres School participate in a range of specialist lessons nurturing creativity and curiosity, ensuring they are well-rounded and exposed to a broad range of learning experiences.
Media Arts & Digital Technology
This cutting-edge program allows students in Year 3 - 6 to be creative and express themselves through a range of digital technology tools including; producing audio books, movie trailers, Lego stop motion, digital artworks, cartooning, comic creation and photography. The class culminates with Year 6 students mastering podcasting and running the school radio station SMDPS Radio where they produce a live radio segment three mornings a week. The class also includes units on cyber safety and responsible online behaviour.
Science
Our Early Years Specialist Science Program supports students to develop scientific knowledge, understandings and skills where they learn about basic concepts and engage their sense of wonder through hands-on activities and immersive activities.
The Arts
The walls of our school are adorned with bright, bold, colourful works.
And the best part? Each piece is a story told by our own incredible young artists, created during weekly Visual Arts lessons in our dedicated Art Studio.
Music, Dance and Performing Arts are also taught to all year levels with a fantastic display of children’s work across these areas showcased at the school’s annual Arts Extravaganza and end of year Carols on The Green event.
A specialised Dance Aerobics Program is also offered to selected students in Years 3 - 6.
Italian
Students are immersed in the Italian language and culture, learning through fun, interactive activities such as singing, dancing, quiz games and role plays, while learning to speak, read and write the Italian language. A highlight of our school calendar is the annual Italian Day celebrations!
Wellbeing at Heart
Staff at St Martin de Porres School are dedicated to providing a space where every student feels supported, with a range of programs, initiatives and principles that underpin student wellbeing.
We promote the emotional and social development of every student by providing explicit experiences in learning to navigate relationships, build resilience, and make positive choices for themselves and those around them.
A Student Wellbeing Leader also works with each class on a Positive Behaviour Intervention & Support model.
A Community to Belong to
Our school is proud to have a vibrant and supportive community, built on the strong involvement of our parents and caregivers.
Families are invited into school life through a range of volunteering opportunities, both in the classroom and beyond.
We have an exciting calendar of events throughout the year which provide wonderful opportunities to connect with other families and school staff, while supporting fun and memorable school activities:
• Sports Day
• Quiz Night
• Book Week
• Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Breakfast
• Grandparent’s Day
• Student Disco
• Italian Day
• Dad’s Camp Out
• Arts Extravaganza
• Carols on The Green Christmas Concert
When families and staff work together, school becomes more than a place of learning — it becomes a true community.
Starting Strong
To help children settle in with confidence, our ‘Schoolies’ long-transition program sees children attend school one day a week in the term before they start Reception.
With a full-time teacher for the duration of the program, children can begin to feel safe and secure, make friends, and experience key parts of the school day - from arrival and dismissal, to recess, lunch play, and visits to the canteen and library, as well as Italian, Physical Education, The Arts, Assemblies and Mass.
Mid-Year Reception Entry
Children who turn five between May 1 and October 31 can spend an additional six months in Reception (18 months total) before progressing to Year 1. This additional semester of our specialised Mid-Year Reception program builds strong foundation in early literacy, numeracy, and social skills, setting children up for success in their full year of Reception.
Playgroup
Our Playgroup offers a fantastic opportunity to make new friends, get familiar with the school environment and begin your journey at St Martin de Porres School.
Held on Tuesday mornings during term time, Playgroup is open to younger siblings, future students and families in the community –everyone’s welcome!
