St Lawrence Primary School Derrimut eNewsletter

School Advisory Council

School Advisory Council Meeting 17 June 2025 Report - Chris Dingli
The School Advisory Council group met on Tuesday 17 June 2025 to discuss and provide
guidance on the current needs of the school. During our meeting we reviewed the rolling out of the new Student Dismissal guidelines and how this has aided the teachers, staff and school community by providing learning for the students to remain safe and responsible whilst leaving the school grounds. Parents have been asked to have safety conversations with their children and we will continue to remind families about safe travel through the school newsletters.
The recent Athletics Carnival which will continue to be held in Term 2 moving forward and Interschool Sports programs were a point of discussion on the success and challenges the school faces around scheduling these important events for the students as the planning of Interschool Sports does tend to sometimes clash with other school programs such as teacher professional development days, camps etc. which makes it challenging to support our students to attend these opportunities to develop their skills.
Further discussions were had regarding the St Lawrence Community Pilgrimage to St Patrick’s Cathedral on 10 August 2025 where a Google Form will be sent to those families within our school community that are interested to attend for further information and planning of the Pilgrimage.
This year St Lawrence Primary School is due to have their External Review/Audit which occurs every 4 years. The review is a great oppotunity to stop and celebrate what is working well and set future direction. The School Advisory Council started the process of reviewing from a parents point of view on how the School communicates, supports and involves the broader school community. This will continue to be an agenda item that will be revisited in our next School Advisory Council meeting scheduled for 29 July 2025.

St. Lawerence School Council Round-Up. Meeting Highlights – 27 May 2025 - Warren Brooks
Keeping our community informed, connected, and one step ahead!

Kicking Off with Heart

Warren led us in a reflective opening prayer, setting a calm and purposeful tone for the evening. With hearts centered and minds focused, we launched into another productive School Council session!

Hellos and Housekeeping

Trish welcomed everyone warmly, thanking members for their continued support. From enrolments to productions and pilgrimages, there’s a lot happening—and everyone’s input is making a difference.

Curtain Call? Not Yet…

The hunt for a venue for our upcoming school production continues. Trish scoped out the Thomas Carr College auditorium (hello, 432 seats!), but the original dates of 10–11 September are a no-go. There’s a glimmer of hope for the last week of Term 3, but we’re still waiting on the final word. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

Principal’s Report: Enrolments, Tours & Toursome News

Trish has been busy! Out of all the enrolment applications, she’s completed 85%of the interviews. So far, 50% families have locked in their spot.

She also gave a shout-out to council members who helped out on recent school tours and invited everyone to give feedback.

Bonus tip from Fr. John: Let’s promote enrolments at the end of Sunday Masses (10am, 12pm & 6pm)—great way to reach the community!

On the Way: Pilgrimage and Prayer

Plans are in motion for a special School Community Pilgrimage. Fr. John has offered to host individual confessions at the school on Thursday, 7th August from 5:30–6:15pm. He’ll also check Fr. Mon’s schedule to possibly join.

Child Safety Gets an Upgrade

Trish flagged some important changes to how we dismiss students at the end of the day—all about keeping our kids safe.

New Rule: Students who walk home need written permission, not just a verbal OK.
Those with permission will head off first. The rest will wait in the courtyard with teachers until 3:30pm.
Refresher safety sessions will be rolled out regularly for students.

Warren suggested special bag tags for walkers (smart!) and proposed a compulsory parent info night to keep everyone in the loop.

Other News: Buses and Tours

4C School Bus Update: Warren and Trish met with Caroline Chisholm Catholic College to discuss transport. Discussions are underway to explore expanding routes. Another meeting with 4C’s is on the books.

Wrapping Up in Prayer

Fr. John closed the meeting with a thoughtful prayer, bringing the evening to a peaceful close—and leaving everyone ready to take action.