Term 4 Week 4 2025 Newsletter
Principal's Message
Thank you
It has been a busy few weeks with a number of wonderful school events held already this term. Whilst our core business is to work in partnership with you all to educate your children, it is also so important to come together as a school community to celebrate and have some fun. Grandparent’s Day was beautiful with visitors travelling far and wide to be part of the occasion. Wednesday’s Halloween Disco was a night of fun and music. Thanks to Shorty Brown who creates the right environment and perfect mix to get everyone involved.
All these school get-togethers can’t happen successfully without families stepping up to assist. Whilst our PIP group is the driving force behind many of these gatherings we are always looking for more parents to put their hand up to help. Please consider contacting your Class Parent at the start of the year to express your interest in assisting. A huge thank you to our Halloween team with some individuals working from before school Wednesday setting up to one solitary Mum (and daughter) even staying late to clean the hall! We have a wonderful parent community and being a part of the organisation teams helps build positive relationships and a strong culture of welcome and participation at St Finnies.
If you’re wondering why our Canteen is a great place to begin helping check the photo below!
Photo shoot
We have a marketing team from the Catholic Schools Office coming in Week 6 (Tues 18/11 and Wed 19/11)who will be shooting photos around the school which may be used for marketing purposes in the future. We are seeking a small number of parents who would be willing to:
i) pose for a photo with their child and / or
ii) write a short message regarding the school which could be quoted on a marketing brochure.
If you would like to be involved in either of these activities please contact Buffy in the school office in the next week.
Spanish
A big thank you to Francisca who has been teaching Spanish classes with our Year One and Year Two students this year. Francisca has informed the school that, due to her new work commitments, she is unable to continue the lessons. She is, however, available to continue the after school classes on Mondays and Thursdays. We thank Francisca for her passion and dedication and bringing the Spanish language to life at St Finbarr's.
Parents in Partnership (PIP)
We held a successful meeting recently and I thank those parents who were available on a Wednesday morning to be a part of this team. One of the questions during the meeting centered on how we can get more families involved in planning and helping at school activities. In some schools it is compulsory to sign up to help in at least one event, however, we would prefer our group to have members who were happy to be part of a productive team working together for the greater good of the school.
If you haven’t been involved in one of our school events this year, please consider contacting your class parent and become involved. You are all welcome. I thank the Class parent coordinators for continually reaching out to families, new and old. Next year we will welcome over 30 new families to the school and we definitely want to send a clear message that we encourage and acknowledge parent participation in all aspects of school life.
New School Gate Entrance
After identifying the WHS concern we have replaced the steel gate near the Administration Block coming off Arakwal Court. This gate will be opened each morning from 8.30-9.00 and each afternoon from 3.00-3.30 pm. This will hopefully improve congestion through the front school office and allow easier access for students and families. Please adhere to the parking restrictions by not parking or stopping in the designated bus zones. Thank you.
Minifins
Our second Minifins session wound up last week and the whole school community is looking forward to welcoming our new Kinders in February next year.
2026 School Fees
Below is a letter from the Director of Catholic Schools CEO Adam Spencer in regards to 2026 school fees and a breakdown of our schools 2026 fees. If you need to discuss your 2026 fees, please feel free to make contact with me.
2026 School Term Dates
Below are the 2026 school term dates for your calendar.
Yours in Partnership,
Tim Bleakley
Principal
Catholic Faith & Identity
Celebrating Our Wonderful Grandparents!
Our Grandparents Day Celebration last Friday was a truly heartwarming success! It was wonderful to see so many of our fantastic grandparents and "grand-friends" join us to celebrate the tremendous role you play in enriching the lives of your grandchildren.
The morning began with a beautiful Liturgy based on the Gospel of Mark's message, "Let the children come." A particularly special moment was sharing a continuous loop of over 150 treasured photographs sent in by our families. The Liturgy concluded powerfully with Mr Bleakley asking all our grandparents to stand and receive a special blessing for their dedication and love.
Following the Liturgy, our students were thrilled to share their learning during open classrooms. The celebration wrapped up with a delicious Grandparents Day cake and a shared morning tea.
Thank you so much to everyone who travelled near and far to be with us. Your presence made the day truly memorable!
The Blessing Shared:
Loving God, Bless all grandparents and special people in the lives of these children. Those gathered with us here today, those who cannot be with us and those who have gone to be with you.
May they share their wisdom and faith with us. May they have courage and confidence to hand on your gifts of experience and knowledge, of stories, songs and memories.
May they continue to learn and grow with us day by day.
Save the Date:
Catholic Mission- Teacher's V's Student's Soccer Match
Join us for our Annual Teachers vs. Students Soccer Match on Tuesday, November 18th, as we raise vital funds for Catholic Mission. The morning kicks off with a special Catholic Mission Liturgy in the Hall at 9:15 am, followed by the much-anticipated match starting at 10:00 am on the oval.
Want a spot on the student team? Raffle tickets go on sale Monday, November 10th, for just $2 each! Buy as many tickets as you wish for your chance to be drawn out to play against the staff and earn ultimate bragging rights. Let's support a great cause and find out once and for all: Who reigns supreme on the field?
Saints, Souls, and Spooky Fun!
The Ancient Story Behind Halloween Fun
Ever wonder why we dress up and go trick‑or‑treating? The fun of Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is rooted in our Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar.
All Saints’ Day (1 Nov.) – The Church set aside 1 November to honour all the saints, known and unknown. The night before became known as All Hallows’ Eve.
All Souls’ Day (2 Nov.) – The following day the Church remembers all the faithful departed, teaching that our prayers, almsgiving and the Mass help those souls.
From “souling” to trick‑or‑treating – In medieval Europe, children would go “souling,” asking for food in return for prayers for the dead; this practice evolved into today’s trick‑or‑treating.
So while we enjoy costumes and treats, the tradition reminds us of the Church’s ancient call to pray for the dead and to honor the communion of saints that surrounds us.
Holy Spirit Parish Bulletin
Yours in Partnership,
Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal
Mission- Inclusion & Diversity
From our Leader of Pedagogy
Building Strong Foundations in Literacy with InitiaLit
At St Finbarr’s, we are committed to ensuring every child becomes a confident and capable reader and writer. One of the key programs we implement to support this goal in the early years is InitiaLit, a whole-class literacy program developed by MultiLit. Rooted in the science of reading, InitiaLit provides a strong foundation in phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing—key pillars in early literacy development.
What is InitiaLit?
InitiaLit is a structured, evidence-based approach that integrates the teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It is designed to ensure that every student receives high-quality, consistent literacy instruction from the very beginning of their schooling.
The Importance of Explicit Teaching
A crucial component of InitiaLit is explicit teaching. This means that concepts are taught clearly, directly, and systematically. Before students are asked to apply their knowledge independently—whether that’s sounding out words, reading texts, writing sentences, or answering questions about a text—they first receive thorough instruction and guided practice.
Why is this sequence of learning important?
Reading and writing are not skills that develop naturally for most children. Just like learning to ride a bike or play an instrument, literacy skills require clear instruction and careful scaffolding. Explicit teaching ensures that:
- All children are given the tools they need to succeed from the outset,
- Misunderstandings are addressed early, and
- Confidence grows through success, not guesswork.
From Learning to Practising
Once students have been taught a concept (like a new sound or spelling pattern), they are given time to practise it through guided activities and then apply it in independent activities. This structure supports the gradual release of responsibility from teacher to student, ensuring that when students work on their own, they are doing so with understanding and purpose.
For families who are able to assist in classrooms during guided and independent activities during InitiaLit, we thank you for your flexibility and your continued support.
ACER PAT Adaptive Mathematics and Reading Assessments (Yr 2-6)
During weeks 1-4, students in Year 2-6 will be participating in the ACER PAT Adaptive Mathematics and Reading assessments. These assessments are conducted online at school.
What are PAT Adaptive Assessments?
The PAT Adaptive assessments are computer-based tests developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). They are designed to measure students' abilities in Mathematics and Reading, providing a detailed understanding of their current learning levels. The "adaptive" nature of these tests means that the difficulty of questions adjusts based on the student's responses, ensuring a more accurate assessment of their skills.
Why are these assessments important?
The results from the PAT Adaptive assessments help us:
Identify your child's strengths and areas for improvement.
Monitor their progress over time.
Tailor our teaching strategies to better support their learning needs.
Provide insights into their achievement compared to national benchmarks
Year 2 - Diwali Celebrations
We had the pleasure of welcoming Hema, Anika, and Chandra, into the Year 2 classroom where they shared their Indian heritage and taught the students about Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Students learned what Diwali is, how it is celebrated, and listened to a special story about the festival. They also took part in a colourful rangoli making activity using sand and enjoyed tasting traditional foods such as mango lassi and a sweet Indian treat. It was a wonderful and engaging experience that all the students thoroughly enjoyed.
