Term 2 Week 10 Newsletter

Principal's Message

Celebrations

What a wonderful term it has been. Looking back there is so much to celebrate. 

The term kicked off with our Zing Athletics Program and before we knew it, we were celebrating our Mothers Day Liturgy and Breakfast. Our Yr 3 students enjoyed their excursion with Aunty Delta. Our skilled runners ran all over the State with Dio + Polding Cross Country. Our first ever PIP Movie Night was a tremendous success with everyone in attendance not only enjoying the movie but the pocket curries, donuts and the community connection the night provided. The Athletics Carnival was a wonderful day and was our first K-6 event in a number of years. Yr 5 students had an absolute ball on school camp and our new gardens are flourishing. 

In addition to all of these wonderful extra curricular activities, our classrooms have been buzzing with engaged learners. We have seen excellent growth across the school from our students working with the implementation of both InitiaLit and SpellEx Programs. Writing has been a focus across K-6 and students are learning to use the co-constructed classroom displays to support them in bumping up their writing.  Science and Technology has been a hit with students learning about different forms of power and all classes conducting experiments and participating in STEM Challenges.  

Attendance

As a school we are required by the NSW Education Act to flag any attendance concerns with familes. Due to this, if your child's attendance rate has dropped below 86% you will recieve an email from the school notifying you of this. 

Every day matters for your child’s learning. Parents play an important role in ensuring students get to school and stay in school every day. Above a 95% school attendance rate is ideal because days missed can add up to years lost. That's why making sure your child comes to school every single day (unless sick) is important. Partial absences accumulate to whole days missed. Did you know that ariving 10 minutes late or leaving 10 minutes early each day equates to over a week of missed learning over a year? 

If your child is avoiding school, contact your child’s teacher so together you can explore what is happening for your child. It's crucial to proactively address the issue.  Teachers play a key role in observing and understanding students' behaviours and they can collaborate with you to identify and address any challenges your child may be facing.

You can check your child's attendance on the Compass App by clicking on 'open in browser' and then on the attendance tab, scroll down and in the bottom right you will see attendance in percentages based on full day and partial attendance.

If your child is absent, please reply to the text message that is sent out via Compass. This explains their absence and helps us to understand why they are not at school. If you know that your family is going to be away, please let the school know prior (if possible) or by replying to the text message.

Thank you for working in partnership with us on this.

Building Update

If you have been into the school recently you will see that it is all systems go towards our new classrooms. They are on track (weather pending) to be installed during the July school holidays. Footings are currently being worked on and will be laid towards the end of this week. The new Modular Classrooms will allow the Year Six students to move from the hall space and also give us a permanent Library space. 

Tell Them From Me

Thank you to those who were able to complete the Tell Them From Me Survey. We had 46 respondents out of 430 parents, approx a 10% response. We do take your feedback very seriously as we are always trying to improve. A few things already in the works based on the feedback received from staff, students and parents include:

• Re introduction of our Newsletter
  
• Using our Instagram more regularly to celebrate student learning and achievement
• Creative Arts focus for Term 3 (Choir, Dance + Visual Arts)
• Looking into ways we can provide more sporting equipment on the playground for students to access at lunch and recess
• After school care program is progressing

Positive Behaviours for Learning

Teaching expected behaviours is the core work of all teachers in the school. Over the past 6 months we have worked to define our expected behaviours for all students at St Finbarr’s. Both students and staff have worked through a process to define the expected behaviours in all areas, in the learning spaces, in the outdoor spaces, when we gather as a community and when we move between spaces. These expected behaviours are outlined in our St Finbarr’s School Positive Behaviour Matrix (see below). Using the behaviour matrix, productive behaviours are taught by teachers in context, so that students can make connections about how behaviours for learning changes in different settings.

Whole school teaching of expected behaviours is key to achieving a common language of what is expected of all students in the school. The school behaviour matrix is the teaching tool or visual for all members of the school community to have clarity of expectations and a common purpose towards building and maintaining a positive school culture. School leaders and teachers at St Finbarr’s model, teach and reinforce expected behaviours for all students. Your support at home discussing these expected behaviours with your child  is also valued as we work in partnership to create a positive, productive learning environment for all students.

School Uniform

Uniforms for centuries have represented belonging, values, traditions and expected codes of conduct. A uniform is a symbol beyond the material, stitch work and colours from which it is assembled. When a child wears their sports club uniform and they run onto that court or field on the weekend, they are filled with pride for their team and club. Our goal is for all of our students to wear the St Finbarr's uniform with pride knowing that they not only belong to a community but by wearing that uniform they stand for something beyond self interest and beyond complacency. Let us make it a uniform that stands for values, character and that extra something that comes not from just going to school but proudly belonging to a specific school, to their school - St Finbarr's - a school whose name and uniform they will remember all their lives.  

The wearing of the correct school uniform at St Finbarr’s is compulsory. We have seen a huge improvement across the school and we thank you for your continued effort. If, for whatever reason, your child is out of uniform, please email your child's class teacher or the office to notify them and this will be noted as an explained out of uniform.

The process for students who are out of uniform (unexplained) is as follows:

• Leadership team member logs a chronicle on Compass. This will send an email to parents notifying you of the incorrect uniform. Within this email, there is a link to respond acknowledging your reciept and providing a reason.
• If three or more chronicles are logged without a response from parents, the Principal will follow up with a phone call.

Staffing Changes

We wish Miss Abbey Tancred all the best as she heads off overseas in July. Abbey has been a wonderful staff member at St Finbarr’s and will be sorely missed by staff, families and students. Abbey will be completing her study this year and is travelling to Europe. Mrs Harriet Hayhoe will be stepping comfortably into Abbey’s role after working with students in her intervention role this year.

We farewell Mr Sam Powell as he finishes in his wellbeing role. Sam has been a positive influence within the school community and has worked alongside Miss Amy this year with the implementation of the Zones of Regulation. We wish Sam all the best on his next adventure. 

Mrs Eva Matheson will be finishing up in her office role at the end of this term. Eva is continuing her role as Librarian for which we are very grateful, as she is doing an amazing job at bringing this space to life. 

Yours in Partnership, 
Lauren Magnus
Acting Principal

Learning & Teaching

ICAS 

A reminder that we are conducting ICAS Assessments at St Finbarr's this year. 

ICAS is an optional online academic competition that gives students in Yrs 2-6 the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing (Yrs 3-6), Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.

Please see the flyer below with more information and also how to register your child for these assessments. Please note, all ICAS assessments are optional. You are able to enter your child in one, a few or all of the assessments based on their interests and strengths. 

The assessments take place between the 5th and 30th August. Once we have ascertained how many students will be sitting each assessment, we will finalise a timetable and the students will sit the tests at school. 

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. 

Volunteer Training

We are excited to welcome volunteers back into our school and classrooms from the commencement of Term 3 in a more formal capacity. If you would like to be a parent helper or volunteer in class, on excursions, at sports carnivals, within the canteen or for school events/excursions, then you will be required to attend volunteer training.  

The volunteer training will cover practical strategies for supporting students and staff in the classroom, along with WHS and Child Protection Legislation. Only once you have completed this training, can you join the parent volunteer list. 

We have some additional sessions running in Term 3:

Monday 22nd July and Thursday 25th July both at 4pm

Please email Buffy with the session you would like to attend. 

Please note if you have already been volunteering, you are still required to attend this training as we are capturing all volunteers moving forward. As part of this training, you are required to sign a Code of Conduct. Please note the face to face training is a one off occurrence but the Code of Conduct will need to be signed at the commencement of each year. 

Parent volunteers will look different across the school depending on the stage and needs of the class and teachers. Some classes will have daily parent support in the morning, others might be across a term or semester, depending on what is required. 

We thank you for your ongoing support and are really looking forward to working with you. 

Let's Make Art

St Finbarr's is excited to announce a Term 3 Art Program with our very own Artist in Residence -Dr. Michele Zarro. Michele, a highly regarded visual artist has studied and taught in Australia and overseas. When not behind the easel, Michele is teaching students in her studio - Byron Bay Contemporary Artspace.

Working together, the school & Michele have created an exciting art program. Students will learn about different artists, art styles & create their own masterpiece.

Under the guidance of Michele, there will also be two Group Art pieces produced by a selection of students across K-6. Michele will also support the staff in a process to create a collaborative piece of art.

Students will be visiting the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, early in Term 3 (please provide consent on Compass). These excursions will introduce Creative Arts for Term 3 and provide opportunities for students to be immersed in Art, develop an understanding of various Artists and learn to appreciate how artworks have been made using an assortment of mediums. 

Term 3 will conclude with a Creative Arts Showcase where students will share their creative art skills and masterpieces. This event will be one not to miss with food trucks, performances, a silent auction and the ‘Let’s Make Art’ Art Exhibition (more information to come on the finer details of this event in Term 3). 

A tremendous amount of work has been done behind the scenes to bring this program and showcase to life. We are calling on parent volunteers to help with both the workshops and the event (both will only be possible with your support). We are beyond grateful and excited for what is to come.

Science & Technology @ St Finbarr's

We are SO lucky at St Finbarr's to have Mrs McEvilly Butler and Mr Keane as our specialist Science & Technology teachers. Keep an eye on our school Instagram account as we will be sharing the amazing projects the students worked on this term. 

Yours Sincerely, 
Lauren Magnus
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching 

Mission

Confirmation

Sacraments  are very important milestones for our children as they develop a deeper understanding
of the importance of Jesus Christ in their lives. This year we had 20 students who prepared for and received the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was as always, a very beautiful occasion made very special by Bishop Reverend Gregory Homeming OCD, Father David Gilbey, the loving families, sponsors and the amazing teaching staff at St Finbarr's

I would also like to make special mention to Pat Higgins and Kathryn Head for taking the time to make the beautiful certificates each of the candidates received on the night.

Religious Education at St Finbarr's

Kindergarten

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal-2024

Winter is here! As we turn on our heaters and electric blankets, we ask you to take a moment to consider those who are struggling with essentials at this time of year.

St Finbarr's will be having a Winter Woolie's Day on Tuesday the 30th of July. Students can wear their 'Winter Woolie's' to school for the day. We also ask for a gold coin donation to donate to this very worthy cause.

Our local St Vincent De Paul Centre is this year asking for donations of: clean blankets and warm winter clothing for adults. If you are able to donate, we will be collecting these items in each classroom on our Winter Woolie's Day.

Thank you in advance for your generosity for this very worthy cause.

First Holy Communion

The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated on Saturday the 14th of September at St Finbarr's Church. If your child is in Year 4 and above, has already received the Sacrament of Confirmation and you would like them to prepare for Holy Communion, there will be a parent meeting on Wednesday night the 7th of August at St Finbarr's Church Byron Bay. It is necessary for at least one parent to attend this meeting to register their child for this program.

Yours in Partnership,
Mrs Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal Mission & Inclusion

Sports Update

Term 2 was certainly jam packed with sport for our St Finbarr’s students! We are thrilled to share the latest updates from our primary school sports scene, where our students have been enthusiastically participating in a variety of athletic activities aimed at fostering fitness, skill development, and teamwork.

Cross Country Excitement
Earlier in the term we had 14 students race at the Diocesan Cross Country Championships, where they navigated through winding trails and challenging terrain (including lots of mud). From the determined strides of our youngest runners to the impressive stamina of our older students, every participant showed incredible determination and sportsmanship. From Grafton, 6 students progressed on to the Polding Championships which was held in Sydney in June. We are so proud of Mila, Libby, Jack, Hayden, Levi and Wyatt for representing our school so beautifully. 

READY. SET. GO!
Each week, our students have been honing their skills in various track and field events as part of the athletics program with ZING. From lightning-fast sprints to gravity-defying jumps, our budding athletes have been showcasing their talents and pushing their limits in events like discus, shot put and exhilarating relay races. The Athletics Carnival was a super fun day with the atmosphere ringing with house cheers through the school grounds. It was impressive to see great sportsmanship, resilience and happy faces throughout the day. The winning house; PENOLA was announced on Monday morning, along with the Age Champions:

We will have over 40 students heading to the Zone Athletics Carnival in Week 2 of next term and I can’t wait to cheer them all on! 

Rugby Union

Mr Burmingham joined a group of young Rugby players from the Tweed Zone in Grafton last month as they tried out for the Polding Rugby Team. Taj, Jacob, Alex and Roley displayed some incredible talent, bravery and determination. Congratulations to Alex and Roley who progressed to the next level and just competed in Forbes on Monday. From all accounts, we heard how well Alex and Roley played, adapting to different positions when needed. Well done boys! 

Thank You for Your Support
Your encouragement and presence at all the sporting events make a significant difference in nurturing our students' passion for sports and their overall development. Thank you for encouraging your child to always try their best and just ‘have a go’! We know how busy our families are each week getting kids to soccer training, gymnastics, dance, basketball, swimming and so much more, so thank you!

Looking Ahead
As we continue through the school year, we eagerly anticipate more exciting sports adventures, including further athletics competitions, the Todd Woodbridge Cup (tennis) and the Stage 3 Gala Day. ZING will also be back with DANCE next term! 

Thank you,
Abbi Powell
Sports Coordinator 

From the School Counsellor

For those of you who have not met me, my name is Amy MacGregor (Miss Amy), and I have the lovely pleasure of being the School Counsellor at St Finbarr’s Primary School. 

You’ll find me at school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. My role involves supporting the students with any social, emotional, or behavioural difficulty that may be impacting their engagement in their learning, their general functioning and experience at school, or their peer relationships. Some of these issues may include: 

• Emotion regulation difficulties 
• Low self-esteem 
• Heightened anxiety 
• Sadness and low mood 
• Challenges within the home or adjustment difficulties 
• Difficulty managing their behaviours, attention, and impulses 
• Friendship problems and social skills difficulties 

If you feel that your child would benefit from School Counsellor support, please contact your child’s classroom teacher who will be your first point of contact to talk about your concerns, and who will guide you through the process of seeking additional School Counsellor support.

I hope you have a safe and happy school holidays! 

Amy MacGregor (Miss Amy) 
School Counsellor