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 Families,

Last week, we celebrated the Feast of St Lawrence, the patron saint of our school. While the feast day itself fell on Monday, our school community gathered last Friday for a wonderful day of celebration and fellowship.

Our day began with a whole-school Mass, where we reflected on the life and example of St Lawrence and the values of faith, service and generosity that continue to inspire our community today. Students then enjoyed a range of buddy activities across the school before sharing lunch together.

A special thank you to our P&F Association, who generously provided delicious pizzas for every student. We are incredibly grateful for their support in helping make the day such a memorable occasion.

The celebrations concluded with our much-loved mini fete, with proceeds supporting Kora Early Learning Centre in Bayswater. This charity holds a special place in the hearts of our St Lawrence community, particularly because Sr Chitra, who many families will remember from her time at St Lawrence, remains closely connected with the centre.

Kora was established by the Servite Sisters in response to the growing needs of migrant, refugee and First Nations families in Western Australia. This centre supports these families by providing early childhood education and care, so that families can work and establish themselves here in Perth. Our school community are proud to support such a worthwhile cause and will share the total amount raised and some photos of our visit to the centre, with our community in the coming weeks.

Parish Feast Day Celebrations

Our parish community also celebrated the Feast of St Lawrence on Sunday with a beautiful International Mass celebrated by Fr Adam. It was wonderful to see our multicultural community come together in faith, with readings, prayers, and music shared in a variety of languages, including Croatian, Italian, English, Filipino, and Indian.

Following Mass, parishioners participated in a Eucharistic Procession before gathering in the hall for a shared lunch. It was a joyful celebration of the rich diversity that makes our parish community so special, and a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bonds that unite us.

Staffing Update

We wish to inform the community that Mrs Gabrielle Brennan is currently taking Long Service Leave for the remainder of this year. To support the school during her absence, we are pleased to welcome Mr Reuben Brennan, who will join us from Week 6 as Acting Assistant Principal.

Mr Brennan brings a wealth of experience to the role, having recently served as Acting Assistant Principal at St Maria Goretti's Catholic School and Acting Assistant Head of Junior School at Trinity College. He is a highly respected educator and leader who is committed to fostering positive relationships and supporting student wellbeing and learning. We know he will be a wonderful asset to our school community and look forward to introducing him to families in the coming weeks.

Baby News!

We are delighted to share some wonderful news with our St Lawrence community. Our Music Teacher, Mrs Grace Tolich, and her husband Jake are expecting their first child in December. This is such a special and exciting time for Grace and Jake as they prepare to welcome their little one into the world. Grace brings so much joy, enthusiasm and creativity to her work with our students, and we know many families will join us in celebrating this happy milestone with her.

On behalf of the entire St Lawrence community, we extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Grace and Jake as they begin this beautiful new chapter in their lives. We look forward to sharing in their excitement over the coming months and wish them every blessing as they prepare for the arrival of their precious baby. 💗

Feast of the Assumption Mass

This Friday, our school community will gather for a whole-school Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption commemorates the Church's belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life. It is one of the most significant feast days in the Catholic calendar and provides us with an opportunity to reflect on Mary's faith, trust in God and example of discipleship. Families are warmly invited to join us for Mass on Friday at 9.00am.

Preparing for First Holy Communion

Please keep our Year 4 students in your prayers as they continue their preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Thank you to the parents who attended the Parent Workshop last week. Your support and involvement play a vital role in your child's faith journey. Our Year 4 students participated in their retreat day today, an important opportunity for prayer, reflection and preparation as they move towards receiving this sacrament.

I would also like to thank Ms Tranquille and Mrs Major for the care, commitment and generosity they have shown in preparing our students for this significant milestone. We look forward to celebrating with our students and families when they receive the sacrament on 29 August.

As We Move Through Term 3

It is hard to believe that we are already well into Term 3. As always, this term is jam-packed with learning, faith experiences, sporting opportunities and special events that showcase the many gifts of our students.

I would like to sincerely thank our parents and families for the positive partnership you continue to build with the school. When families and schools work together with a shared purpose, our children are the greatest beneficiaries. The achievements we celebrate each day, whether academic, social, spiritual or personal, are only possible because of the support and collaboration between home and school.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our St Lawrence community. Together, we continue to nurture young people who are confident learners, compassionate citizens and people of faith. There is much to celebrate, and I look forward to all that we will achieve together during the remainder of this term.

Warm regards,

Mrs Sarah Williams

Principal

Introducing the Parent and Carer Code of Conduct

We are committed to building a school community where every child can flourish. The new Parent and Carer Code of Conduct articulates our shared expectations for respectful engagement, safety and support. By working together in partnership, families and staff help create a welcoming environment where all students are valued and empowered to succeed.

2026.07.20 CEWA and CSPWA Code of Conduct Letter to Parents.pdf

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

Term 3

• Thursday 13 August - Year 4 Eucharist Retreat All day
• Friday 14 August - Assumption - Whole School Mass 9am
• Monday 17 August - Friday 21 August - Science Week
• Tuesday 18 August - Yr 3 Scitech Excursion
• Wednesday 19 August - Friday 21 August - Yr 6 Camp
• Monday 24 August - Pupil Free Day
• Tuesday 25 August - Friday 28 August - Wellness Week
• Tuesday 25 August - Friday 28 August - Book Week
• Tuesday 25 August - Choir Performing Arts Festival 1pm - 2pm
• Wednesday 26 August - Yr 1 & Yr 2 Boogie Bounce Incursion
• Wednesday 26 August - Yr 3 - Yr 6 Cross Country (selected students) Yokine Reserve 12.30pm - 3pm
• Saturday 29 August - First Holy Communion 4pm - 5.30pm

Year 6 Camp

On Wednesday, 19 August, our Year 6 students will head off on a two-night camp at Forest Edge. This promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with adventure, teamwork, learning and fun. Camp provides students with valuable opportunities to build independence, strengthen friendships and develop resilience in a supportive environment.

We wish all our Year 6 students a wonderful time and know they will return with many special memories to share. We sincerely thank our staff for generously giving their time and commitment to make this memorable experience possible for our students.

Performing Arts

On Tuesday, 25 August, our school choir will proudly perform at the Performing Arts Festival at the Vasto Club. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their talent, confidence and dedication. We wish our choir members the very best and know they will represent St Lawrence with enthusiasm and pride.

Interschool Cross Country

A group of students from Years 3 to 6 will represent our school at the Interschool Cross Country on Wednesday, 26 August. We congratulate these students on their efforts and commitment in preparing for this event. We wish them the very best of luck and are confident they will represent St Lawrence with determination, sportsmanship and school pride.

Wellness Week

Week 6 is Wellness Week, providing a valuable reminder of the importance of balance, wellbeing and quality family time. In our busy lives, taking time to connect with family can have a positive impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Some simple ways to enjoy family wellness time include:

• Sharing a family meal without screens.
• Going for a walk or bike ride together.
• Playing a board game or completing a puzzle.
• Reading together.
• Spending time outdoors at a local park or beach.
• Practising gratitude by sharing highlights of the day.

We encourage all families to take advantage of this special week to slow down, connect and enjoy meaningful time together.

Monday 24th August

Friday 20th November

Ms Kathleen Tranquille & Mrs Gabrielle Brennan

Assistant Principals

Kings Park Excursion

The Year Two class experienced Koora Koora Kaarta Koomba , the traditional Noongar life in Kings Park. We discovered how Perth (Boorloo) has changed over time and learnt about the local custodians, the Whadjuk Noongar people.

Through hands-on activities, we learnt about native plants and animals, Noongar culture, the importance of caring for Country and the traditional ways plants and animals were used.

Mrs Gloria Edwards

Year Two Teacher

AQWA Camp

On Thursday 30 July and Friday 31 July, our Year 5 students enjoyed an exciting overnight camp at AQWA. They learned about Australian sea animals and the importance of conservation, watched Moana 2, and slept in the underwater tunnel beneath hundreds of amazing ocean animals.

Students also participated in an excursion run by the Department of Fisheries Western Australia, where they explored Hillarys Beach and investigated the different organisms and natural items that had washed ashore. They also learned about sustainable fishing practices and the importance of protecting our marine environment. The camp concluded with a delicious pizza lunch and a fun-filled visit to the Ninja Park at Whitford Nodes.

A big thank you goes to Mrs Pizzino, Mrs Major, and Mrs Williams for making this wonderful experience possible, and to all our parents for preparing their children for camp. Our Year 5 students represented St Lawrence Primary School beautifully and embraced every opportunity throughout the adventure.

Miss Kayla Fogliani & Mrs Deborah Hogg

Year Five Teachers

Cross Country Success

Congratulations to all students in Years 2-6 for their fantastic efforts at last week's Cross Country event. It was wonderful to see so many students demonstrating determination, resilience and a positive attitude as they tackled the course.

Whether running for a place, achieving a personal best, or simply giving their best effort and finishing the race, every participant should be proud of their achievement. We were especially impressed by the encouragement students showed one another throughout the event, reflecting the strong sense of community and sportsmanship at St Lawrence.

A big thank you to our staff, volunteers and families for their support, and congratulations once again to all our runners on a successful and enjoyable day! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏅

Mrs Claire Major

Physical Education

We have an external provider to deliver a lunch service for Thursday & Friday each week.

LunchboxHub will be supplying a variety of healthy lunch options which parents can now access to order school lunches.

Lunch orders need to be placed by 8:30am on Thursday and 7:30am on Friday.

To Order Lunches:

Please visit the following link that will provide you with all the information and an ordering guide:

All you need to know about ordering from Lunchbox Hub and visit: https://school-lunch.lunchboxhub.com.au/ to create your new account.

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

Thank You – P&F Quiz Night

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported our P&F Quiz Night. It was a fantastic evening filled with laughter, friendly competition and an incredible sense of community. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make the night such a success.

A special thank you to our year 5 class - Lisa-Marie who couldn’t be there on the night but worked behind the scenes for weeks and donated many of our prizes, Andy, Lucia, Paul, Tammy, Renee, Amanda and Joanne for generously donating prizes, selling raffle tickets, serving drinks and helping wherever it was needed throughout the evening. A very special mention goes to Paola, who kindly volunteered as our Approved Manager. Without her, we simply wouldn't have been able to operate the bar.

Thank you also to our wonderful school staff, Mrs Pizzino and Mrs Williams, for their invaluable help with setting up and supporting the event.

We are incredibly grateful to our generous vendors, Bamboozled and The Re Store, for their support, as well as Charlotte P from Simply Charlottes for her generous donation and Sarah A from our Kindy class for donating the Napoleon packs.

Most importantly, thank you to our amazing St Lawrence community and all of our guests who came along, participated so enthusiastically and supported our fundraising efforts.

Thanks to your generosity, we are thrilled to announce that we raised approximately $2,000! These funds will go towards purchasing new outdoor blinds for the Kindy and Pre Primary classrooms, helping to create better use of the veranda space during all seasons.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed in any way—we couldn't have done it without you!

St Lawrence Feast Day

The P&F supplied lunch to the children during our feast day celebrations, and we hope it was enjoyed by all! A special thanks to Mrs Pizzino and the Year 6 class for your help leading up to the event.

Wine Fundraiser

On behalf of the P&F, Charlotte P has created a fabulous opportunity to purchase wine from WA Cellars. This is an ongoing fundraiser that you can enjoy throughout the year!

Purchases can be made via the link below:

St Lawrence Primary School Fundraiser - WA Cellars

P&F TEAM

The WA Student Assistance Payment helps parents and carers with cost-of-living pressures associated with sending their children to school.

All Western Australian school students with an active enrolment at a public school, non-government school or registered for home education are eligible for the WA Student Assistance Payment.

You can claim $250 for each secondary student and $150 for students attending primary school or Kindergarten.

The fastest and most convenient way to claim is through the ServiceWA app. More information on how to claim through the ServiceWA app is available at WA.gov.au/WASAP2026

All claims must be received by Friday 25 September 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible students must be enrolled in Kindergarten to Year 12 at a Western Australian public school, non-government school or registered for home education and have a valid WA student number (WASN).

HOW TO CLAIM

Submit your claim through ServiceWA.

WASN (SCSA Government ID Number)

This can be found in SEQTA under the Reports tab.

WA Student Assistance Payment

education.wa.edu.au

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.