Term 4, Week 4 Newsletter
Principal's News
Professional learning
Recently, six staff members from the leadership group gathered at Coffs Harbour to share their learning with other schools from the Lismore Diocese. Guest speaker was leading Canadian Educator, Dr Lyn Sharratt. Lyn’s work highlights the 14 parameters of school and system improvement. Below are the parameters which were thoroughly dissected during the two day course. St Finbarr’s staff will continue this important work during staff meetings and Staff Development days in 2023. Please contact your class teacher or a member of the school leadership team if you are interested in learning more about the direction the school is heading in regard to teaching and learning for our students.
Library News
Books are back! In this digital age I have been reminded this week of the power of reading and how much our students love books! The library is open each Wednesday at lunchtime and individual classes visit each fortnight this term where they are able to borrow books to take home. Below is some feedback from our Stage Three students:
"Books are a new world, when you open a book it's a holiday/adventure in your head"
"Books are portals to a magical world where you can do anything and anything can happen"
"Books are interesting, they help me learn and take me to a world of magic"
"Books are a portal to another world"
"In books you can explore your wildest dreams"
"Books are travelling to other world's, meeting new people and trying new experiences, while you are in your living room"
"Books are filled with stories and different perspectives"
"Books are a way to explore different universes from the comfort of your room, house, school, or anywhere"
"Books are something that opens you up to a world of wonder, where you can be whatever you want to be"
"Books are a gateway into a life where you can be what you want to be"
"Books are a blessing to our world"
"Books are a magical place where anything your mind thinks of happens"
Library Fun
Minifins
Our second cohort of Minifins commenced yesterday and settled in beautifully.
Congratulations
We are very pleased to announce that Mrs Lauren Magnus has been appointed as Assistant Principal -Teaching & Learning at St Finbarr’s for the next five years. Lauren has been acting in the position this year after moving from St Anthony’s Kingscliff. Her professional and personable approach has been a wonderful asset to the school in 2022 and we are very excited that Lauren will be continuing to be working with us as we strive to build a school of excellence with happy, engaged and successful learners. Lauren puts our students first in all decisions, displays compassion and courage and has helped lead important educational change this year. Congratulations Lauren.
Welcome Miss Hamer
We welcome Lily-Anne Hamer to our teaching team at St Finbarr’s. Lily will be one of our Kindergarten teachers in 2023 however gets an early start with us as she takes on the role of Stage Three Lawson teacher for the remainder of the year. Ms Sheryl Hurley will be taking leave for the remainder of the year and we look forward to her returning to her teaching role in 2023.
Halloween Disco Fun
What a brilliant night! Thank you students, parents and teachers for all the hard work and for joining in the spirit of the occasion. Special mention to Gabby Le Brun who coordinated the event so successfully. After years of dedication to St Finbarr’s Gabby passes the baton on to our new enthusiastic group of parents. We are really looking forward to building on this community spirit and we plan to meet later this term to design a two year plan for social and fundraising activities. Please let us know if you would like to be a part of this fun, dynamic team.
Yours in Partnership,
Tim Bleakley
Principal
Mission
Stage 2 Mass
Last Friday our Stage 2 students, their families, teachers and parishioners celebrated a beautiful Mass on the Feast Day of Saint Jude and Saint Simon. St Jude and St Simon were apostles who both devoted themselves to Jesus’ message and building God’s Kingdom. The Mass was so beautifully prepared by the teachers and the students who all actively participated throughout the Mass.
During the Homily, Father David spoke of St Jude and St Simon, how they began as friends of Jesus, becoming disciples, to then being His apostles. Father David explained to the students how they used their passion for Jesus to set out to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This Mass was also an extra special occasion for Jake B who with the guidance of Fr. David and two of our Year 6 students, altar served during the Mass for the first time. Father David acknowledged all the teachers and students for such a beautiful Mass where everyone actively participated.
All Souls Day & All Saints Day
This week we celebrate both All Souls and All Saints Day.
All Saints' Day is celebrated on November 1st. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church. This day should inspire us with tremendous hope. All lived on earth lives like our own. They were baptised, marked with the sign of faith and were faithful to living out Christ's teaching.
All Souls Day is celebrated on November 2nd. All Souls Day is a day set aside to remember all those who have died. It is a special day to fondly remember loved ones who are no longer with us.
Prayer for All Saints Day
Dear Lord,
Today we gather to celebrate the feast of All Saints.
We remember many good men and women who brought hope to others through their words and their deeds.
They helped others to believe in a God who loved them and cared for them and would never leave them no matter how bad things were.
Inspired by the way they lived their lives, we pray today that we too try to be hope-filled people who lift up and encourage others.
Amen
Exuro
On Tuesday 25th, Lucy R, Alice F, Harry S and Harry B represented St Finbarr’s at the Exuro faith retreat experience. The day encompasses various prayer methods, group processes and student-led discussions to equip students to be faith leaders in their parish school communities. These students were brilliant representatives of St Finbarr’s. - Emily Roden
At the Catholic retreat we learned how to help people in tricky situations. We split into small groups and learnt how to help the community with our hands, our feet and our eyes. How one small act of kindness can rebound back to you. It can really affect people by doing simple kind gestures. A definite highlight was when Miss Roden bought us ice cream on the way home.
🍦- Lucy R and Alice F
Yours in Partnership,
Mrs Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal- Mission & Additional Needs
Exuro
Vinnies Christmas Appeal for Mini Vinnies
Each and everyday at the Vinnies conference which covers all of Byron/Bangalow and surrounds we see ordinary people making extraordinary differences in their local communities. Our volunteers are inspired by the joy of our Community and our Churches teachings that doing things does matter. The desire to feed, heal and shelter - the power to changes lives within the spirit of everyone.
As we move into the next season of Christmas and the oncoming summer, unfortunately there are still so many families in our community experiencing disadvantage, poverty, loneliness and homelessness.
We are looking for vouchers from any local supermarket or store - Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, IGA, Kmart, Big W and our local business to be given to families at Christmas time to assist them with this special and family time.
There will be a collection point at the school and the vouchers can be left for pick up by a Byron Conference member to be distributed to those in need.
If you would prefer to make a donation please see instructions below:
At any Vinnies Shop
Or in the Christmas Appeal Collection Box
Blessings to you all from,
Byron Bay Conference
Sports News
State Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to Roley and Kaia on their participation in the State Athletics Carnival. We are all very proud of them both for reaching this level and their achievements in their Athletics this year.
A very big thank you to their parents for preparing and giving them the opportunity to achieve their best.
Todd Woodbridge Cup-State Finals( 14th Nov)
Well done to our two St Finbarr’s teams on their participation in the Regional Finals held in Week 1 of this term. On the day, one team finished 2nd and the other 6th.
Congratulations to Oliver B, Roley, Rai, George T, Holly H, Sahara, Alessandra and Kya, who will be travelling to Sydney to compete in the State Titles. We wish them all the very best.
Surfsafe
Our Water Safety and Awareness program for Stage 2 began last week, with Stage 3 beginning this Friday. Any students who do not attend this program will participate in our Intensive Swimming Program held later in the term.
Lisa Clark
Sports Coordinator
$20 Boss Program
During Terms 3 and 4, students in Stage 3 are participating in the $20 Boss Program.
We recognise that enterprise skills (such as critical thinking, teamwork and creativity) are crucial for preparing students for the future.
The program was originally designed by the Foundation for Young Australians and is now being delivered by Young Change Agents (YCA).
The program gives students $20 of funding to create, launch and operate their own business over the course of a school term. Students learn key elements of social entrepreneurship and are taught how to make money and create social good. $20 Boss is aligned with the NSW Curriculum across Religious Education, English and Mathematics.
Stage 3 had to learn to use skills such as teamwork, empathy, resilience and being comfortable with taking risks. We began by participating in STEM challenges that started off by doing exercises that tested these such skills. By being able to develop these capabilities, we progressed to developing empathy, working as a team and creating business ideas. The sustainable goals gave us a clear point of what we were working to solve in our groups.
We thank the parents, Ellie, Matt, Chris, Sarah and Kane for visiting the school and talking to our Stage. Thank you for giving us the inspiration and knowledge to pursue our businesses.’
The Market Stall will be held in Week 7 where students will showcase their businesses and sell their products.
Stage 3 Teachers
Halloween Disco
