Term 3 Week 10 2025 Newsletter

Principal's Message

Awards and Rewards
As educators at St Finbarr’s we often discuss and reflect on the impact of using rewards as a motivation strategy in the classroom. When these discussions crop up I am always drawn to my own experience as a teacher as well as exploring  current research and educational dialogue. Teachers at St Finbarr’s focus on building strong positive relationships and aim to build self- motivated students who are always striving to produce their very best work. Individual classes at St Finbarr’s may have their own systems to support the desired classroom behaviours which are fun and well understood by all. There is a focus on seeking out and acknowledging the positive desired behaviours in the class. The school has an agreed practice of presenting a small number of awards each fortnight at our Friday assembly. This is just one way our students are acknowledged for their efforts. I am always impressed by the detail of the wording of the class awards and the obvious evidence that the teacher knows the particular student and their strengths. No longer are awards handed out for just ‘Good Work’ or being a ‘Good Worker in Class’. Teachers go to great lengths to highlight the particular strengths and achievements of the recipient. Below are some examples from a recent school assembly highlighting the power of individual acknowledgement and recognition of achieving high standards.

One source I often revisit and recommend to teachers and families is the book “Punished by Rewards" by Alfie Kohn. This is a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of using rewards as a motivation strategy in various aspects of life, particularly in the context of education. Kohn challenges the traditional belief that rewards, such as grades or praise, are effective in promoting learning and behavior. Instead, he argues that rewards can have detrimental effects on intrinsic motivation, creativity, and long-term learning outcomes.

One of the central concepts in the book is the idea that rewards, whether tangible or intangible, undermine the natural inclination to learn and explore for the sheer joy of it. Kohn suggests that when students are motivated by external rewards, they are less likely to engage in deep, meaningful learning and are more focused on achieving the reward itself. I remember this in my own classroom days when students would just look at the Grade, eg A, B, .. a score eg 12/20 or stamps and stickers rather than reading the descriptive or potentially helpful feedback. This can lead to a transactional approach to education, where students are motivated solely by the desire to earn rewards (such as scores or stickers) rather than a genuine interest in the subject matter.

Kohn also delves into the psychological and behavioral aspects of rewards, highlighting how they can create a dependency on external validation. He argues that the use of rewards sets up a dynamic where individuals become conditioned to seek approval and recognition from authority figures rather than developing a sense of autonomy and self-motivation. This, he contends, can hinder the development of critical thinking skills and a love for learning.

The book challenges the prevalent practice of using grades as a form of reward in education. Kohn argues that grades not only fail to accurately measure a student's understanding but also contribute to a competitive and comparison-driven culture. This can lead to a focus on grades rather than a genuine desire to learn, fostering an environment where students are more concerned with outperforming their peers than with mastering the material.

In addition to critiquing the use of rewards in education, Kohn suggests alternative approaches to motivation and discipline. He advocates for a shift towards intrinsic motivation, where individuals engage in activities for the inherent satisfaction they provide rather than for external rewards. Kohn encourages educators to create a classroom environment that nurtures curiosity, collaboration, and a love for learning without relying on external motivators.

While Kohn acknowledges that rewards may have a temporary impact in certain situations, he argues that their long-term consequences outweigh any short-term benefits. He calls for a reevaluation of our approach to motivation, emphasizing the importance of fostering a genuine love for learning and allowing individuals to develop intrinsic motivation.

Kohn advocates for alternative approaches to education that focus on fostering a love of learning, collaboration, and intrinsic motivation. He suggests that educators should encourage autonomy and a sense of purpose in students. The book also addresses the role of parents in reinforcing or challenging the use of rewards. Kohn discusses the importance of open communication between parents and teachers to create a supportive learning environment. For your own clarity, I encourage you to speak with your teacher if you are unsure of their particular approach and I’m also available to continue the discussion as we seek to find the most effective practice for our school and family community. When I visit classrooms here at school I witness students displaying a genuine love of learning. Yes, sometimes school can drag and it can’t always be fun and games, bells and whistles. Last week we had rocket launches on the oval, the STEM challenge in the hall, dancing on stage, golf instruction and so much more. Our days are busy but so productive! Later this year we will be seeking feedback from the school community in regards to thoughts on “Homework”. Now there’s a divisive topic!  It is important that we are all clear, and in agreement (or can live with the decision) when it comes to thinking about the  purpose of homework, its relevance, what it actually looks like across the grades and what current research is telling us. More to come and thank you for any contributions to the educational discussion as we continue to strive to provide the very best in engaging contemporary education for all students.

Keeping Our Children Safe
Kirra Pendergast delivered a powerful and informative information session for St Finbarr’s parents recently. Over 40 families were represented on the night and I’m sure everyone took away important information highlighting keeping our children safe on social media. We will be sharing useful hints and advice in each newsletter commencing today. Thank you to class parent, Blanca Lista (Solo Yr 5W)  who is our parent representative working with the school in completing the online Safe on Social Media modules. By completing this learning course we are entitled to share so many of Kirra’s excellent resources with the whole school community. Please find attached today some excellent articles which we hope you find useful.

Fathers Day
Our traditional Fathers Day breakfast and liturgy took place on the school grounds in full spring sunshine. This gathering highlighted the wonderful parent community we have here at school. St Finbarr’s staff cooked and prepared the breakfast while Zac the Coffee Man completed the special menu for the morning. Student photos with their Dads or a significant family member were taken throughout the morning with many classes making special gifts to send home. Overall, a fantastic celebration and a reminder of our focus on ensuring every visitor to St Finbarr’s feels welcome and special. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the morning.

St Finbarr’s Soccer Champions!
Hot off the press! Yesterday at Grafton our Senior Boy’s Soccer team won the final of the Paul Wilson Cup Diocesan Soccer Tournament, making them the champion team from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads! The boys defeated St Peter’s Port Macquarie 4-2 in the semi-final then ran out winners 2-0 against St James Yamba in an exciting and nail biting final. A big thank you to Coach Blake Kernaghan who has trained the boys so well and been an excellent mentor. 

Soccer Champs

New School Leader Jackets
We have purchased 8 navy school suit jackets for our Yr 6 student leaders to wear at official school functions. Our leaders modelled these impressive outfits at last Friday’s Assembly.

Below is the holiday program for Active Kids which will be running each school day of the holidays. To register please contact Active Kids directly.

Yours in Partnership,

Tim Bleakley - Principal

Catholic Faith & Identity

Celebrating a Joyful Term 3 at St Finbarr’s

As Term 3 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the many joyful celebrations and faith-filled moments that have made this term so special at St Finbarr’s.

We began the term with our Mary MacKillop Feast Day Liturgy, honouring Australia’s first saint and her incredible legacy of faith, service, and education. This was followed by our reverent celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, where we came together as a school community to honour Mary and her role in our faith.

Our Kindergarten and Year 1 students each prepared a beautiful Mass that warmed the hearts of all who attended. It was inspiring to see our youngest students participate with such reverence and enthusiasm.

A highlight for many families was witnessing several of our students take an important step in their faith journey as they prepared for and received their First Holy Communion. We congratulate each of them and pray that they continue to grow in their relationship with God. 

Father’s Day brought a morning filled with joy and gratitude as we celebrated the wonderful fathers and father-figures in our lives. The breakfast and liturgy were a special way to say thank you for all the love and support they give.

The Jubilee boat made its way to St Finbarr’s Church, where our students joyfully gathered to celebrate a beautiful liturgy, marking a special moment of faith and community.

This term also saw our students reaching out beyond the school gates with several heartwarming visits to St Andrew’s Nursing Home. These visits were filled with smiles, music, and connection, reminding us of the power of community and the importance of sharing our time and presence with others.

And finally, we finished Term 3 with a true celebration for our St Finbarr’s Feast Day. Today was a vibrant day of prayer, fun, and school spirit as we came together to celebrate and reflect on the strength of our shared faith and wonderful school community.

Looking Ahead to Term 4

Term 4 promises to be just as exciting! We’re especially looking forward to:

• Grandparents Day – A cherished tradition where we celebrate the wisdom and love of our grandparents.
  
• The always popular Teachers vs Students Match fundraiser for Catholic Mission – Who will take the title this year? As well as a special liturgy and teaching our students the importance of global solidarity.
  
• The St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal, where we come together in the spirit of giving to support families in need.
  
• And of course, our Year 6 Graduation Mass. 

As we head into the break, we thank our students, families, and the amazing tSt Finbarr's Team for making Term 3 such a wonderful success. May the holidays be restful and joyful, and we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for a meaningful Term 4.

A Holiday Prayer for Our Families

Loving God,
We thank You for the gift of family and the precious moments we share.
Bless our homes with safety, joy and peace during these holidays.
Help us to cherish every laugh, every hug, and every moment together.
Keep us close in heart, near or far and guide us always in Your love.
Amen.

Yours in Partnership,

Sonya Piccoli

Assistant Principal Mission- Inclusion & Diversity

From our Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning

Maths Olympiad Success!
We are incredibly proud of our students who participated in the Maths Olympiad over the past four months. Their dedication, perseverance, and enthusiasm for problem-solving have been truly inspiring. From tackling challenging questions to refining their logical thinking, each student has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence. Whether they achieved top scores or simply gave their best effort, every participant should be congratulated for embracing the spirit of mathematical learning. Well done to all our Olympiad students—you've done our school proud!

Leave
Please note that I will be on leave until the 11th of November. During this time, as I will be overseas with my family, I may not be able to respond to messages promptly. If you have any urgent matters, please contact the school office for assistance. Additionally any matters regarding learning and teaching, please contact Rachel Mitchell.
I look forward to reconnecting with you all when I return.

Yours in Partnership,

Lauren Magnus - Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning

From our Leader of Pedagogy

Congratulations to our K-2 students for their outstanding dedication to home reading this term. 

These students have shown commendable consistency in borrowing and returning their decodable readers, contributing significantly to their literacy development. We have observed marked improvements in their reading abilities, and we extend our sincere thanks to parents and families for their continued support and partnership in fostering a love of reading in our children.

STEMsational Airdrop Challenge

STEMsational Airdrop Challenge Grand Final
Last Wednesday, St Finbarr’s held the inaugural STEMsational Airdrop Challenge Grand Final, and what an exciting event it was!

Over the past few weeks, students from Kindergarten to Year 6 have been working at home to design and test their very own devices to solve a real-world problem: how to safely airdrop a cup of water from 5 metres without losing its contents. This challenge encouraged creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, and the results were outstanding.

On the day, our finalists presented their designs, explained their thinking, and put their creations to the ultimate test. Each design was judged on effectiveness, creativity, and clarity of instructions.

A huge congratulations to all our finalists who showed incredible ingenuity and persistence. Special congratulations to our winners:
Kindergarten Winner: Banjo M
Year 1 Winner: Sailor B and Archie B
Year 2 Winner: Ari L
Year 3 Winner: Arjun J, Landy H + Blue B
Year 4 Winner: Lea R
Year 6 Winner: Eva B
Most Creative Design: Indi H (Year 2 Wategos)
Best Airdrop (Highest Water Retention): Ari L (Year 2 Tallows)
Overall STEMsational Airdrop Challenge Champion: Banjo M (Kinder Tallows)

Thank you to all families who supported students at home, to the teachers who helped bring this event to life, and to our wonderful school community for cheering on our young engineers. We gratefully thank Kennards Hire Byron Bay for heavily discounting the hire of our airdrop tower scaffold during the year level finals and grand final. This challenge truly highlighted the innovation and talent we have here at St Finbarr’s!

Airdrop Challenge

Sports News

Stage 3 Gala Day
Last Friday our Year 5 and 6 students took part in the Tweed Zone Sport Gala Day, joining students from seven other Catholic schools in a variety of competitive and non-competitive sports.

A huge congratulations to our Boys Soccer Team, who reached the Grand Final and claimed victory in a thrilling penalty shootout. This qualified them for the Diocesan Soccer Championship, where they continued their winning streak — defeating Port Macquarie 4–2 in the Semi Final and Yamba 2–0 in the Grand Final. This marks the first time St Finbarr’s has won the Championship since the cup began — an incredible achievement!

Our Girls Soccer Team showed great determination, performing strongly despite having no substitutes, and secured a well-earned win on the day.

The School Netball Team also enjoyed success, winning three of their six games and displaying outstanding encouragement towards both teammates and opponents. A big thank you to Claire and Grace Morgan for managing and refereeing the netball teams.

Polding Athletics
On Friday 12th September, Hayden Cleary represented St Finbarr’s at the Polding Athletics Carnival in Glendale, Newcastle. Competing in the 11 Years 1500m, Hayden placed an impressive third overall, earning a spot at the NSWPSSA State Athletics Championships in Sydney (22nd–23rd October). We wish Hayden the very best as he competes at this next level.

Summer Sport Trials
Nominations are now open for talented Year 4 and 5 athletes wishing to trial in Basketball, Touch Football, Tennis and Softball (Cricket nominations have now closed). Information and online nomination forms can be found on Compass. Nominations close Tuesday 14th October (Term 4, Week 1).

Todd Woodbridge Cup
Earlier this month, our tennis players represented St Finbarr’s at the Todd Woodbridge Cup — Years 3 & 4 on Tuesday 9th September, and Years 5 & 6 on Tuesday 16th September. Mrs Clark was proud of the students’ skill and determination. Congratulations to our Stage 2 team of Aurelia H, Teddy S, Andie G, Mietta U, Blue B, Wyatt W, Taj L and Otis T, who won their event and now progress to the Regional Playoffs at Byron Bay Tennis Club on 17th October. Good luck!

Far North Coast Netball Finals
Our Year 6 Girls Netball Team recently competed in the Far North Coast Netball Finals following their success at the Mullumbimby Gala Day. The girls demonstrated excellent teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day. A special thank you to Nat Quinlan for managing the team.

Joe Keane - Sports Coordinator

Sports Gallery

Parent Connect