St Lawrence Primary School

386 Albert Street, Balcatta 6021

Phone: 08 9344 4944

admin@stlawbal.wa.edu.au

https://www.stlawbal.wa.edu.au/

The vision of St Lawrence Catholic Primary School, Balcatta is to share the message of God’s love and friendship in a community of learners, developing the full potential of each child.

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, we are reminded of the invitation to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts. Lent calls us to prayer, fasting and acts of service; small daily moments that bring us closer to God and to one another. May this season be one of renewal for all our families as we walk together towards Easter.

Fathering Group

This week, we send our best wishes to all the dads and father figures as they head off on their annual camping trip. We hope the experience is filled with laughter, connection and the kind of memories that last well beyond the weekend.

A reminder that our Fathering Group is open to all dads and father figures in our community. Its purpose is simple but powerful:

· Dads spending time with other dads

· Dads and father figures spending meaningful time with their children

If you haven’t joined yet, please use the QR code here to become part of this wonderful group. We would love to see even more fathers involved.

NAPLAN

This week, our students in Years 3 and 5 will participate in the National Assessment Program- Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN provides schools with one source of assessment data that helps us understand how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy and how our teaching programs can continue to improve. It is one measure among many that we use at school to inform planning, set goals and guide whole-school improvement.

It is important to note that NAPLAN is simply a snapshot in time. It does not capture the full picture of a child’s learning, growth, creativity, kindness or potential! Our teachers draw on a wide range of classroom assessments, observations and student work throughout the year to understand each learner and support their development. They do not solely rely on NAPLAN data.

At St Lawrence, we place a strong emphasis on student wellbeing during the NAPLAN period. Our aim is for students to approach the assessments feeling calm, supported and confident, understanding that the most important thing is simply to try their best!

You can support your child by ensuring that:

• They have a good night’s sleep before each assessment
• They enjoy a healthy breakfast in the morning
• They arrive at school feeling calm, encouraged and reassured.

When students feel secure and supported, they are able to approach experiences like NAPLAN with confidence. What matters most is that each child feels positive, gives their best effort and knows they are valued for far more than a test result.

Mrs Sarah Williams

Principal

Please note: All dates and events are subject to change.

• Wednesday 11 March - Thursday 12 March - Yr 3 & Yr 5 NAPLAN
• Friday 13 March - Assembly: Merit Certificates & Lawrie Bear Award 8.45am
• Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 March - Fathering Project Camp
• Monday 16 March - Tuesday 17 March - Yr 3 & Yr 5 NAPLAN
• Monday 16 March - Yr 4 Excursion
• Thursday 19 March - Yr 5 & Yr 6 Cricket Carnival 9am-1.00pm
• Thursday 19 March - Yrs 1-3 Attend Mass 9am
• Friday 20 March - Harmony Day Celebrations
• Friday 20 March - Yr 4 Assembly - Harmony Day8.45am
  
• Saturday 21 March - Sacrament Enrolment Mass 6.00-6.30pm
• Sunday 22 March - Sacrament Enrolment Mass 5.00-5.30pm
• Monday 23rd March - Yr 6 Excursion
• Tuesday 24 March - Wednesday March 25 - Parent meetings 3.00-5.30pm
• Wednesday 25 March - Feast of the Annunciation - Whole School Mass 9.00am
• Friday 27 March - Ride to School Day

PARENT–TEACHER MEETINGS

At St Lawrence, we believe that education is a true partnership between home and school. We sincerely thank all our parents for their ongoing commitment to our processes and procedures.

In Week 8, parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s classroom teacher on Tuesday 24 March or Wednesday 25 March. A booking link will be sent to families to schedule meeting times. The 10‑minute interviews will run from 3:00pm to 5:30pm on both days.

Meeting Locations

• Pre‑Primary to Year 2 interviews will be held in the Learning Centre. Parents are asked to enter through the Junior Oval gate and wait in the Undercover Area.
• Year 3 to Year 6 interviews will take place in the Library. Parents may wait on the veranda outside the Library.

The booking link will be sent to parents by the end of the week.

HARMONY DAY

St Lawrence will celebrate Harmony Day on Friday 20 March. Harmony Day recognises and celebrates our diversity and the many cultures that make up our community.

Students may wear:

• Orange clothing, or
• A traditional costume from their country of origin, or
• Clothing in the colours of their national flag (e.g., green hat, white shirt, red shorts for Italy).

Please note: Soccer jerseys are not permitted.

ENROLMENT MASSES

Students in Sacrament year levels (Year 3, 5 & 6) are required to attend one of the Enrolment Masses:

• Saturday 21 March at 6:00pm, or
• Sunday 22 March at 5:00pm

Each child and parent will complete and sign an enrolment form, which should be handed to Fr Adam at the Mass attended. Children will receive a sticker at each Mass. Please remember to bring the sticker book to the enrolment Mass to receive the first sticker.

The enrolment form and sticker book will be sent home this week. Read through the information carefully with your child.

ASSEMBLIES

Our first school assembly will be held this week. Next week, the Year 4 Harmony Day Assembly will take place. All parents are warmly invited to attend.

Ms Kathleen Tranquille & Mrs Gabrielle Brennan

Assistant Principals

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Scholastic Book Club brochures have been sent home this week. Please note all orders are due back by 3.30 pm Tuesday 17 March. Orders can be made either via the online LOOP system or the order form can be returned, with the correct money, in an envelope marked Scholastic Book Club along with your child's name and year level.

As it is a short term we can not guarantee that orders will arrive before school breaks up for the term as the books are shipped from the Eastern States.

Ms Louise Frenzel

Library Officer

KINDY

Over the past two weeks, our Kindy classroom has been buzzing with excitement! The children have been busy making, creating and building wonderful friendships as they settle into life together in our class.

During literacy time, we’ve been exploring syllables—clapping them out and speaking loud and proud! The children have also enjoyed sharing stories and talking about their families, helping everyone get to know each other a little better.

For Talk for Writing, we introduced a new nursery rhyme, “Hey Diddle, Diddle.” The children have begun learning the rhyme and are starting to sequence the events, building their understanding of how stories and rhymes are put together.

In Numeracy, we’ve been counting the days we’ve been at school, learning what numbers look like and this week we have started to learn about 2D shapes.

Life in Kindy is full of curiosity, laughter and discovery as we explore the world around us and embrace all the exciting learning opportunities each new day brings.

REMINDER – Please encourage your child to bring in their own bags in the morning and to find their names at the nominated tables. Small skills like these help the children with their independence.

Mrs Tania Preston

Kindy Teacher

We have had lots of fun in playgroup recently exploring with sensory and water play. A reminder that all community members are welcome to attend so if you have friends with young children feel free to spread the word.

Mrs Gillian Austin

Play Group Facilitator

Our Rainbows Program started this week and it's not too late for your child to take part.

If you would like to register your child/children for the Rainbows program or would like further information, please email me at louise.frenzel@cewa.edu.au

Ms Louise Frenzel

Rainbows Coordinator

QuickCliq – account closure

Following the closure of our on-site canteen service, the school will no longer be utilising Quickcliq for ordering.

Should you wish to close your Quickcliq account and have any surplus wallet funds refunded to you, please follow:

- Login to the QuickCliq account:

- Go to PROFILE TAB

- Account Balance Refund and Close Account (bottom of page)

- Select close account and follow the prompts.

Outstanding funds should be refunded to your account within 5-7 business days.

For our new canteen service please click here: https://stlawbal.wa.edu.au/parents/school-canteen/

We would like to extend a big thank you to all who are participating in our Easter Fundraiser for 2026! The boxes have now been sent home. Please note the funds are due back by the end of Week 1, Term 2. For those who opted out of selling a box but have opted to contribute a $25 donation, please note this can be paid by cash or card to Lina and is also due by the end of Week 1, Term 2.

P&F TEAM

CHILDREN'S LITURGY

The Children’s Liturgy is offered at the 5pm Mass on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month, during school term.

At the beginning of Mass, all primary school children are invited to join our Children’s Liturgy team, in the Parish hall, for activities tailored to help them better understand ‘The Liturgy of the Word’. The children return to church when the offertory gifts are taken up. Please encourage your kids to join in.

Visit balcatta.perthcatholic.org.au to read our bulletins and find out more

information about happenings in our parish.