Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter 2025

Principal Message

It's been a wonderful start to the school year. Students have returned eager to learn and catch up with friends. Our new families are making connections as the children settle into school life. The school vision of Loving Like Jesus, Growing Together as Friends and Learning For Life is lived out every day at St Finbarr’s and we are proud of who we are and the care we provide for all students. I look forward to working with you throughout the year as we constantly reflect on our practice and seek new and innovative ways to provide a caring, relevant and engaging education for all. 

What a fantastic gathering last Friday after school. Thank you to our teachers for their planning with the Parent Information sessions and for all of you who were able to attend. I hope you found the sessions worthwhile and informative. A huge thank you to Anthea Picot and Louis Costa for their generous donations and support with the bar and to the PIP team for pulling it all together with donuts and ice creams for all. The children loved the freedom of fun on the playground in such a beautiful setting.

We welcome new staff who have joined us this year. Welcome Nick Asser (Yr 6) Tanisha Faulks (Yr 2) Sherryl Hurley who returns to us in Year 4 two days per week and Emma Waters who will work with Year 5 Tallows each Wednesday. We also welcome Takara Stewart and Natasha Howie who will be working as Learning Support staff. Also welcome to Sasha Kruse who will be replacing Amy MacGregor whilst Amy is on Maternity leave. This week we are interviewing applicants from a field of over 40 for the co-teaching role in Year 5 Wategos.

Congratulations
Exciting times at St Finbarr’s as we congratulate Amy MacGregor on the birth of daughter Scout and Harriet Hayhoe on the birth of son, Joey. Also, we share the special news that Danni Tully is expecting a baby in early July. Our love and best wishes to all from the St Finbarr’s community.

School Student Leaders
Our eight Year Six Student leaders met as a group for the first time last week. One of their goals this year is to build their own capacity as leaders and to be proactive and role models while seeking ways to serve the school community and strive to build a positive school environment. Welcome to Libby, Eva B, Darcy, Spencer, Alessandra, Indie-Rose, Willy and Florence and we look forward to hearing more from this group through Newsletter articles and as they lead school gatherings and Assemblies.

Swimming Success
Congratulations to our Zone Swimming team who travelled to Murwillumbah on Wednesday. Mrs Nulley and Miss Clarke reported that the students were exceptionally well behaved and performed superbly in their events. We wish the very best to those students selected to represent the Zone at the Diocesan Carnival on Tuesday 4th March.  

Year Six Leadership Excursion
All Year Six students traveled to Brisbane today for the National Young Leaders Conference. Guest speakers included Sam O’Connor (MP), Dayne Zorko (AFL), Kasey Rainbow (Artist & Author) and Todd Hazelwood (Supercar driver) who shared their life stories and advice to all students. Days such as this, while long and involving a big bus journey, are so worthwhile in assisting all students build skills and confidence in their final year of Primary School as they head towards life as a teenager and becoming a  High School student. Thanks Mr Asser, Mrs Lollback and Mrs Piccoli for the early start and late finish and keeping our students safe and motivated.

 A Message From A Student Leader

Why Choose St Finbarr’s?

I feel we are a school that believes in Loving like Jesus, Growing together as Friends and Learning for Life and all students are taught to follow in Jesus’ path by being kind, helpful and supportive of others. We have a great education system to help your child grow up to be a successful learner. St Finbarr's is involved in a wide variety of sports including soccer, netball, rugby and more. We host athletics carnivals, swimming carnivals  and cross country every year. Another thing St Finbarr's also takes pride in is our school uniform, we have sport shirts, our normal uniform and a commitment to sun safety.

We love our school and hope to see you soon.

By Darcy Yr 6

School Garden Update
The school veggie garden is in a holding pattern at the moment. Unfortunately some pesticide spraying in the school holidays has necessitated  implementing a rejuvenation plan. We will keep you updated to the next steps which may involve a ‘shout out’ to families for some assistance with a Working Bee. 2024 was a wonderful start to the garden with an excellent team of workers keeping the momentum going. Meanwhile Mr Keane and Mrs MacEvilly-Butler are excited to be using the Worm Farm in their Science lessons this term.

Staff 2025 

Parish Priest
Fr David Gilbey

Principal 
 Tim Bleakley

Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning
Lauren Magnus

Assistant Principal - Mission
 Sonya Piccoli

Support Teachers
Jo Keane
Mary McEvilly Butler

Additional Needs Teacher
Sonya Piccoli

Library Coordinator
Eva Matheson

Learning Support Staff
Erica Leal
Deb Gray
Tash Howie
Tanisha Faulks
Keira Brandscheid
Blake Kernaghan
Takara Stewart

Administration
 Buffy Gall
 Alison Mason
Beth Powditch

ICT Coordinator
 Marc Bagatan

Maintenance Officer
Matthew Cronan

School Counsellor
Sasha Kruse

Canteen Coordinator
Carrie Christensen

Aboriginal Education Worker
Ron Mason

Yours In Partnership,

Tim Bleakley
Principal

Catholic Faith & Identity

The Year of Hope Jubilee 2025

The Holy Father, Pope Francis,  has announced that 2025 will be a Jubilee Year, something which happens every 25 years. “Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year. A time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of Creation. The theme for Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope,” and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate crisis.

St Finbarr's students will be participating in a number of celebrations during the year to observe this Jubilee. 

For more information and updates visit the Vatican website https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Receiving the sacraments is a special time in our journey of faith, and it is the means by which baptised children can complete their journey into full membership of the Catholic Church. They are community events, which remind us of the role of the community in our faith life. 

Next week Compass communication will go out to families for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is for any child Baptised Catholic in Year 4 or above.

There will be a parent meeting on the night of Wednesday, March 12th at 6pm at St Finbarr's Church. 

Please note that at least one parent/carer must be in attendance to register your child to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you are unable to attend you will need to contact the Parish office directly on:

02 66856260 or email: stfins@bigpond.com

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be on the evenings of:

Tuesday 1.04.2025 Reconciliation 6pm-7pm

Wednesday 2.04.2025 Reconciliation 6pm-7pm

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a season of prayer, penance, and preparation for Easter.  It’s a time to reflect on God’s love and mercy, and to draw closer to Him. 

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. On this day, we receive ashes on our foreheads during Mass. These ashes are made from the palm branches blessed on Palm Sunday the year before, and they symbolize repentance and humility. 

How to Explain Ash Wednesday to Your Kids

For students who have not before received ashes on the forehead, it may seem like an unusual practice. But you can explain that the ashes remind us of how we are all part of God’s creation. They help us reflect on the importance of humility and repentance. You might say, “The ashes show us that we need to remember God’s love and try our best to follow His ways. The dust is a sign of what we are made of, but it also helps us grow in love and grace.”

You can also explain that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a special season, where we try to be more like Jesus through prayer, fasting, and helping others.

How to Celebrate Ash Wednesday at Home

Ash Wednesday is an opportunity for families to reflect on their faith together. While Lent can feel serious, it doesn’t have to be somber. It’s an invitation to grow closer to God, and you can make it a meaningful family experience!

• Prayer: As a family, you might begin by praying together, thanking God for His love and asking for His help as you begin this holy season. This could include a simple prayer before bed or taking a few moments in the morning to reflect as a family.

• Fasting: Traditionally, Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, fasting can be adapted for children. Perhaps they can give up something small like a treat, or screen time for a short period. The focus should be on growing in self-discipline and offering up sacrifices for others.

• Almsgiving: Lent is also about giving to those in need. You could make it a goal to do something special together each week to help others. Perhaps collect food for a local charity, or donate gently used clothes or toys. It’s a great way for children to understand the importance of loving our neighbours.

The Heart of Lent

While Ash Wednesday is about beginning a time of penance and reflection, it’s also a reminder of God’s incredible mercy. It’s about preparing our hearts to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. As you guide your children through this special season, remember that it’s not just about giving things up but about growing closer to God and understanding His great love for us.

By making Ash Wednesday and Lent meaningful for your family, you’re helping your children learn the importance of repentance, prayer, and loving others—values that will stay with them long after the season ends.

St Finbarr's students and staff will be celebrating Ash Wednesday on:

St Finbarr's church at 9:30 am on Wednesday the 5th of March.

All families are warmly welcomed to attend this very special celebration.

Parish News

Inclusion & Diversity

NCCD

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School 
Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already 
available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative 
requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in 
line with the NCCD guidelines (2019). 
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
  year of schooling
  category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
  level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, 
supplementary, substantial or extensive.
 This information assists schools to:
 formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools 

 consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools 

 develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational 
outcomes for students with disability.
 The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for 
the support of students with disability.
 The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. 
The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be 
able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by 
privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more 
about these matters, please refer to the 
Australian Government’s Privacy Policy 
(https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).
 Further information about the NCCD can be found on the 
NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).
 If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school. 

Yours In Partnership,

Mrs Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal Mission-Inclusion & Diversity

Learning & Teaching

Home Readers

What are decodable texts? 

Decodable readers are used across K-3 to support reading instruction. Decodable texts are specifically written for beginning readers as they are developing their blending and segmenting skills and their knowledge of the alphabetic code. The primary purpose of decodable texts is to provide students with the opportunity to practise what has been taught during explicit, systematic phonics instruction. 

Decodable texts support students as they practise blending the letter-sounds they have been taught through words, in continuous meaningful text. In the context of effective reading instruction in the early years, decodable readers play an important role in supporting students to learn the alphabetic code. 

You will notice that the readers are ‘easy’ and this is good. They are designed to be easy to allow students to be successful in reading at home, developing their ability to decode and read fluently. Boosting their confidence as readers. 

We understand decodable texts aren’t the most exciting texts to read, but they do serve a very useful purpose. Students are exposed to a wide range of rich literature at school to build vocabulary, learn real world concepts, identify language features and support their learning. We encourage students to engage in a wide range of reading experiences at home with books, magazines, newspapers, recipes etc. Research has found that young children whose parents read to them daily have been exposed to at least 290,000 more words than their peers who aren’t read to regularly. And depending on how much daily reading time kids get, that number can go up to over a million words. All that exposure likely makes it easier for kids to expand their vocabularies and understand the variety of texts they’ll need to read as they get older, both inside school and out.

NSW Curriculum - Capabilities + Priorities

Within the NSW Curriculum, capabilities are embedded that encompass the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that assist students to live and work successfully. 

The capabilities are:

• Literacy 
• Numeracy 
• Digital literacy 
• Critical and creative thinking 
• Ethical understanding 
• Intercultural understanding 
• Personal and social capability

The digital literacy capability encompasses the interrelated knowledge, skills and understanding students need in order to access and contribute to the world around them.

This capability develops a student’s understanding and awareness of the role of technology in society. Alongside encouraging students to develop their own digital identity in a socially responsible way, the capability enables students to be informed about the ethical aspects of the use of different technologies.

Students are supported to develop skills to connect, communicate and collaborate with others effectively and safely in a digital environment and to gather, analyse and evaluate digital information as a part of learning.

At St Finbarr’s we have recently purchased additional chromebooks to support students to learn and develop the adequate skills they require to achieve the content and the capabilities as listed in the curriculum. 

The technology used across the school is as follows:

Kindergarten & Year 1: 6 ipads in each classroom for use within small groups + class activities
Year 2-6: Chromebooks in all classrooms
Science & Technology: ipads used to document, record, create, and communicate learning and ideas. STEM equipment such as 3D printers, coding materials etc used when required. 

We thank those families who have signed and completed the Digital Tech agreements and appreciate your prompt support in doing so. If you are yet to complete this, please complete the form as soon as possible. 

Yours in Partnership, 

Lauren Magnus
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Sport Update

Congratulations to our wonderful swimmers who represented the school at Zone last week. From all accounts you swam your hearts out. Well done to those students who are now off to Dio. 

Diocesan Sports Trials

We have a number of students who have nominated to trial to be a part of the Dio Sports Teams. We will be having a school based netball trial tomorrow TUESDAY 25th Feb for those girls in Yrs 5 + 6 that nominated. We will also be having a school based Soccer trial later in the week. 

Good luck to all the students trialing. 

Parent Connect