Term 2, Week 8 Newsletter 2023

Acting Principal's Message

Semester One Reports

The teachers have been busy the past few weeks collating work samples and assessments and writing the Semester One Reports. These will be available on Compass at 4pm Friday 16th June. 
If you would like to discuss your child's progress with their class teacher you are welcome to contact them via email to arrange an appointment time. 

This year there have been changes made to the structure of the K-2 Reports.  As you are aware, the NSW Government is reforming the curriculum to streamline and strengthen what is taught in every classroom in NSW, so every student is prepared and ready for their future. The curriculum reform has been informed by consultation with teachers, parents and education experts, and is underpinned by extensive research. Curriculum reform involves changing teaching, learning, assessment and reporting to parents.

In 2023, K-2 teachers across NSW are teaching, assessing and reporting on the new English and Mathematics syllabuses.
What are the changes for in the Semester One K-2 Student Report?
● There is no longer an overall grade allocated for each Key Learning Area in Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2. 
● There is a new template for English and Maths that reflects the new K-2 syllabus. (See template below)
● A statement that explains the aim of the English / Maths Key Learning Area.
● The content has been organised into Focus Areas that align with the way the syllabus has been developed.
●Each focus area in English and Maths is graded separately providing a more precise account of student achievement. 

Attendance

At St Finbarr's we have been looking closely at our attendance rates as they have declining. We thought it might be time to have a look at some interesting statistics about attendance and the reasons why attendance is so crucial. 

School attendance is crucial for academic success, building good habits, meeting legal requirements and promoting social and emotional development.  Attending school regularly helps students to develop good habits and routines, such as waking up early and being punctual, which can benefit them in their future academic and professional lives. 

Regular attendance ensures that students do not miss out on important lessons, discussions, and activities that are crucial for their intellectual and social development. School attendance is a legal requirement in Australia and attendance helps students to build social skills and relationships with peers and teachers, which can positively impact their emotional and mental wellbeing. 

However on the most obvious flip side, we also encourage you to keep students home who are sick, especially if they are showing signs of Covid or the Flu. There have been many reported cases of these viruses within our community. We  understand medical appointments are hard to make but we do ask that if you are making an appointment for your child to please try and do this outside of school hours.

Additionally we understand that many families are taking the opportunity to travel interstate or overseas after the past few years having not been able to - we value and understand the importance of quality famly time, but please ensure if you are taking extended leave during the school term to complete the appropiate documentation (see Buffy in the office). 

Compass Attendance Note Error
The Compass APP is currently experiencing an issue with submitting an attendance note for your child's absence. The attendance note option has dissapeared from the APP, Compass is currently working to fix the problem. If your child is absent please either, call or email (bbp@lism.catholic.edu.au), or alternatively you can respond to the SMS. 

Term 2 School Fees Are Now Overdue
Thank you to all those families who pay their school fees on time it is greatly appreciated. Term 2 fees are now overdue for payment, can I ask that you finalise your account as soon as possible. If you are experiencing financial hardship please contact Alison Mason in the office to discuss a payment plan option.

Lost Property
We are finding that there are a large amount of lost jumpers handed into the office. Any item that has a name on it is returned to the student. Due to the cold mornings and then warm days, students are taking off their jumpers when they are playing and often forgetting to picked them up. Please ensure your child's uniforms are clearly labelled with their name, so they can be returned. All items currently at the office with no name on it will be given to St Vincent De Paul store in Byron Bay by the end of this week. 

No Assembly This Week
Due to our Athletics Carnival there will be no Friday Assembly this week. Assembly will now be on Monday Morning the 19th, at 9am in the school hall. Awards will be presented to students at this time, all welcome to attend.

Thank you from the Ward Family
Miriam, Nicholas & Angus Ward have asked us to share their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful St Finbarr's Community, who have generously provided them with delicious meals while they welcome their new baby girl. 

Girl Be You Program

Our Stage 3 girls have been working with Chrissy Duigan once per week as part of the Girl Be You - Youth Empowerment Program. This is optional for our Stage 3 girls and offered during lunch time. Girl Be You is a program for young girls to be inspired to be their best selves, feel confident and empowered, while feeling connected to a special community. 
The girls have been really enjoying the weekly themes and rituals and we have been receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from the students and their parents about the program. 
A huge thank you to Chrissy for volunterring her time to bring this inspirational program to our school.  
Below is a photo from this weeks lesson: SET FEAR ON FIRE: We all have fears. Sometimes it’s not until we are adults that we face them. This theme had the girls thinking about what they fear and some strategies to set them on fire!

Gather Community Project

Our Canteen - Gather Community Project has a limited Sports Carnival Menu available for pre order here by midnight tonight (Wednesday 14th)
Items available include; Bacon and Egg Roll, Halloumi and Egg Roll, Sushi, Bento Box, Pizza, Sausage Rolls. 
Tea, Coffee, juices, smoothies and fruit cups - along with some limited menu items will be available to purchase over the counter. 

Term 3 Planner

Please see the Planner attached with important dates for Term 3. 

Yours in Partnership
Lauren Magnus
Acting Principal / Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching

MISSION

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

Last week a number of our students received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. This is such a beautiful Sacrament with Forgiveness, a very important aspect of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus forgives sins and calls us to new life. Forgiving is not always easy and it does not mean accepting bad behaviour. It simply means letting go of negative feelings and moving forward in a more positive way.

If we get ‘lost’ in our faith, make a poor choice, it is important to remember that God never stops loving us or looking for us. Like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, God is always waiting for us to return home. 

May we all be really great role models of mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation in our everyday family life.  

K-2 Mass

On Friday the 23rd of June our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students will be celebrating mass at St Finbarr’s Church 9:30 am. All Finnie’s families and friends are warmly welcome to attend.

First Holy Communion

The sacrament of Holy Communion brings to completion the Christian process of initiation. In this sacrament, we remember what Jesus did for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember particularly the Last Supper, that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. At that meal, Jesus gave us the Eucharist so that we could remember him in a special way. When we receive Communion, we believe that we receive the person of Jesus into our very beings. We become one with him, and we become one with each other. As a community, we become 'the body of Christ'.

Next Term, a number of our students will be preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Please see below for details of special masses which are a part of the preparation for these students. Masses on the Saturday dates will be held at St Finbarr's Byron Bay 6pm and for Masses on the Sunday dates,  St Kevin's in Bangalow at 9:30am. 

Yours in Partnership

Mrs Sonya Piccoli
AP Mission & Additional Needs teacher

Sports News

K-1 Athletics Day
All students in K-1 will be participating in their Athletics Day this Thursday. The day is an opportunity to build upon their athletic skills and have fun in a noncompetitive environment. The events will run during the morning session. Please ensure your child has their school hat for the day.

2-6 Athletics Carnival
All students in Year 2-6 will participate in our School Athletics Carnival. This will run for the whole day. A Zone Representative team will be selected from the day's results and announced in the following week.

Please ensure your child has a water bottle and their school hat for the day. If your child can not wear the school sunscreen please provide them with their own in their bag and notify the class teacher prior to the day.

Lisa Clark
Sports Coordinator

Student Awards

Parent Connect

YOUTH ACADEMY HOLIDAY PROGRAM
JULY 4th and 6th

Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club 9.00am - 3.00pm
$90.00/day 

Booking via  www.youthacademy.com.au