Term 3 Week 6 2025 Newsletter

Principal's Message

School Review  Feedback

A Culture of Kindness
As you may be aware St Finbarr’s has been engaged in a School Review recently. This is a process that takes place every three years and assists in creating school goals as we strive to continually reflect on and improve in all we do. Three educators, each experts in their fields, interviewed staff, students, parents  and our Parish Priest and visited classrooms over three busy days. Our feedback was very positive and the panel were able to provide many affirmations, commendations as well as  recommendations to guide us moving forward . My favourite passage from the final report is the opening paragraph below which describes the school of creating a ….”Culture of Kindness”. Below is the final report.

St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary School is to be commended for: 

A deeply embedded culture of mutually respectful relationships evident across all facets of the campus. Interactions between staff, students and families consistently reflect the school’s Catholic mission, purpose and vision. A culture of kindness, nurturing of others and “loving like Jesus” is intentionally fostered and embraced.
The commitment by all staff to the purposeful use of data to monitor student progress in learning and respond to their needs. Staff value opportunities to continuously build their data-literacy skills and the time they spend with colleagues analysing and discussing data in their Professional Learning teams.
The unwavering commitment to student wellbeing, evidenced by the intentional practices and systematic processes.
The shared investment in enacting key improvement strategies identified in the SMP and accompanying SAIPs. Teachers are willing to implement agreed practices and are eager to learn from each other about how to implement them with fidelity.
The school-wide approach to encouraging positive behaviours. This has had an obvious and sustained impact on the learning environment which presents as calm and conducive to quality learning.
The way in which the school has facilitated access to external services on site, supporting families of students with inclusion needs.
The significant investment in professional learning aligned to school priorities and individual needs. Agile staffing arrangements provide opportunities for mentoring, the sharing of practice and ongoing collaboration.
The leadership team’s commitment to fostering positive relationships with students and staff through visibility in classrooms that translates into high levels of trust.
The promotion of evidence-based practices through the Learning Collaborative where whole-school fidelity in the use of learning intentions and success criteria are evident in classrooms, enhancing student learning.
The purposeful and innovative integration of technology, such as using Generative AI, that demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to enhancing learning experiences and supporting student needs.
The intentional and collaborative work within Professional Learning Teams, where leaders actively work alongside teachers. This is a powerful strategy for fostering a strong sense of collective efficacy and shared responsibility. 

Affirmations

St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary School is to be affirmed for:
The developing agenda, focused on refining and expanding pedagogical practices to maximise their impact on student engagement and learning and wellbeing outcomes.
The recognition of the importance of the classroom environment (referred to as the third teacher) in fostering engagement and success through the visibility of learning prompts and supports.
The focus on deepening the explicit teaching agenda through the gradual release of responsibility model to foster student belief in their capabilities to learn successfully.
The exploration of opportunities to connect with the wider community and build partnerships to enhance student learning, engagement and wellbeing.
Staff commitment to their professional growth, evident in the high opt-in rate for the instructional coaching model.
The effective support provided to graduate teachers, including mentoring opportunities which are highly valued.
The provision of initiatives, such as the Finny's Fringe Festival and partnerships with external organisations such as St Andrew's Aged Care Home, which enriches the educational experience and strengthens school/community connection
The strategic allocation of a full day release every fortnight for teachers. This creates dedicated time for professional collaboration, which is beneficial for developing a shared understanding and refining of pedagogical practice.

The well-maintained physical learning environment, including the purposeful use of outdoor spaces, which reflects the school's commitment to creating a safe and nurturing atmosphere for students.

The intentional development of leadership opportunities, such as the coaching model and the support provided to new staff, that is a proactive strategy for building a highly capable and sustainable team.

The strategic resourcing and staffing, with decisions made in response to student needs, that prioritises literacy and numeracy, demonstrating a data-informed approach to maximising learning outcomes.

The intensive support and collaborative planning provided for the implementation of the new curriculum that highlights the strong partnership between teachers and leaders

Recommendations

Implement processes that enable staff, students, families and appropriate community partners to contribute to the development and implementation of the next school SMP and accompanying annual school improvement plans.
Develop whole-school targets for improvement that are derived from systematic analyses of data sets, particularly learning data. Embed mechanisms for monitoring progress towards the achievement of those targets.
Embed a range of evidence-informed teaching strategies that empowers students to increasingly take responsibility for their own learning. Consider strategies such as:
 

• Encouraging student agency in their learning experiences.
• The co-construction of agile individual learning goals with students
• Constructive and timely feedback practices, including self-and peer assessment
  Design and facilitate learning experiences for students that offer the right amount of challenge for each learner. The needs of high-potential learners should remain a particular focus.
  
  Continue to build a school-wide, self-reflective culture focused on measuring the impact of teaching and subsequent refinement of teaching practices. Provide opportunities for staff to engage in collective professional inquiries, as well as learning from peer observations, mentoring and coaching opportunities.
  

A big thank you to those parents who provided feedback to the panel through on-site interviews: Lara Brimson, Jessica Brook, Jessica Tilley, Annabelle Cohen, Samantha Turrusi and Kylie McGovern. We certainly appreciate and value your support.

Safe on Social Media with Kirra Pendergast

Postponed due to illness

New date: Tuesday 2nd September @ 7pm

We have our new podcast series starting this week:

Stay tuned! Teddy S from Year One

PLEASE NOTE THE PRC CHALLENGE WAS AN OPTIONAL READING CHALLENGE. THOSE STUDENTS WHO TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE WILL HAVE A REMINDER SENT HOME

Yours in Partnership,

Tim Bleakley - Principal

Catholic Faith & Identity

First Holy Communion – A Special Milestone in Our Faith Community

We are delighted to share that 19 students from the Holy Spirit Parish are currently preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. This is a deeply meaningful step in their faith journey and as these young members of our parish prepare to welcome Jesus in a special way, we hold them in our hearts and prayers. This sacred occasion reminds us all of the beauty and grace of growing in faith.

The First Holy Communion celebration will take place on Friday, 13th September, at St Finbarr's Church, Byron Bay. All families are warmly invited to join us for this joyful Mass and to support our students as they take this important step in their spiritual lives.

Let us continue to keep these students and their families in our prayers during this special time.

Jubilee Celebration at St Finbarr’s Church

This year marks a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church, a sacred time of renewal and celebration. The theme for this Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope”, a beautiful reminder that we are all journeying together in faith, guided by hope.

As part of our diocesan Jubilee celebrations, St Finbarr’s Church, Byron Bay, will host a very special visitor, The Good Ship Hope. This striking boat, inspired by the Jubilee logo, was lovingly created by the students and staff of Newman College in Port Macquarie. It symbolises our shared journey as Pilgrims of Hope and has been travelling from one Catholic school and parish to another across our Diocese, carrying with it the spirit of unity, faith and hope.

We are excited to announce that The Good Ship Hope will arrive at St Finbarr’s Church on the 9th of September.

To mark this special occasion, we will be holding a Jubilee celebration on the 10th of September at St Finbarr’s Church and the whole school will be attending.

We warmly invite all families and members of our community to join us for this unique and meaningful celebration. It promises to be a wonderful gathering of faith and fellowship as we reflect on our journey together and look forward with hope.

Proclaim: Wildfire is Coming to St Finbarr’s

We are excited to announce that Proclaim: Wildfire, a dynamic youth ministry team from the Lismore Diocese, will be visiting St Finbarr’s on Tuesday, 2nd September.

Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will have the opportunity to take part in an engaging and faith-filled experience designed to inspire, encourage, and deepen their relationship with God. Through music, storytelling, prayer, and high-energy interaction, the Wildfire team brings the message of Jesus to life in a way that is vibrant, joyful and deeply meaningful for young hearts.

You can get a glimpse of what the students will experience by watching this short video linked below.

This is a special opportunity for our students to come together as a school community to encounter faith in a fun, relatable and powerful way. We look forward to welcoming the Wildfire team and sharing this memorable day with our students.

Yours in Partnership,

Sonya Piccoli

Assistant Principal Mission- Diversity & Inclusion

Learning & Teaching

Celebrating our 2025 NAPLAN Results

We are very proud to share the outstanding results of our students in the 2025 NAPLAN assessments. The dedication of our students, the professionalism of our teachers, and the support from families have all contributed to a very strong performance across all assessed areas.

This year, St Finbarr’s Primary School has not only met but exceeded both state and national averages in all areas of Literacy and Numeracy. Our Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts performed particularly well in Reading and Writing, where our school average was significantly above the national mean however as you can see below, St Finbarr’s is consistently above the State, National and Diocesan mean in all areas. 

Comparative Table - Proficiency Percentages 

These results affirm the effectiveness of our targeted teaching practices, consistent assessment for learning, and the collaborative efforts across our school community to support every learner.

While academic achievement is only one aspect of a child’s development, we are encouraged by these results as they reflect the strength of our teaching and learning programs. Most importantly, they help us identify areas for continued growth so we can ensure that all students are thriving.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in your child’s learning journey. Together, we continue to create a culture of high expectations and support for all students at St Finbarr’s.

Year 6 Camp Recount

Our Year 6 camp adventure began bright and early, departing school at 6:30am. Excitement was high as we boarded the bus and made our way to Australia Zoo. We spent the entire day exploring the zoo, visiting all the incredible animals and soaking up the atmosphere. A highlight was watching the Animal Encounters show at the Crocoseum while enjoying our lunch — it was an unforgettable experience!

After a big day at the zoo, our bus driver picked us up and took us to QCCC Mapleton, our home for the next few nights. We checked in, unpacked, and made our beds before sitting down to a delicious dinner. Our first night activity was something special — a movie under the stars! We watched Shrek 3 from our camp chairs, rugged up in warm clothes and (possibly) sneaking a few lollies. Lights went out at 9:30pm, though a few of us stayed up chatting for a while.

The next morning, we were up early and ready for a full day of adventure. After a hot breakfast, we jumped straight into our activities: canoeing, the giant swing, and the epic mud run! We had loads of fun, got absolutely filthy, and worked up massive appetites — good thing there was so much food!

That evening, our night activity included team trivia, a dance party, and fun team games. We were all worn out by the end of it, and lights went out at 10pm. We must’ve been tired because we actually had to be woken up the next morning!

On our final day, we tackled rock climbing, abseiling, and one last turn on the giant swing. As the day came to an end, we packed our bags, loaded up the bus, and began our journey home — with a well-earned Maccas stop on the way.

It was an unforgettable camp filled with laughter, adventure, and great memories with friends. We’ll be talking about it for years to come!

Yr 6 students

Kirra Pendergast Presentation

Please note the change of date for this presentation - Kirra will be at the school Tuesday 2nd Sept at 7pm. Please see a video below from here and also the RSVP link. 

Volunteer Induction

We value and promote experiences at St Finbarr's where parents can work in partnership and volunteer. As part of our Safeguarding processes all volunteers are required to attend a one off Volunteer Induction and complete a yearly Code of Conduct. 

If you have previously attended a parent volunteer induction session in 2024 and would like to continue volunteering and haven't already completed the Code of Conduct, please do so here: Code of Conduct form linked.

*If you attended the Kindy parent session as part of Mini Fins last year the volunteer induction was part of this presentation. 

If you have not attended Volunteer Induction and would like to volunteer at St Finbarr’s,Volunteer Induction sessions will be on:

Wed 3rd Sept at 2:45pm

Thursday 4th Sept at 8:30am

Please RSVP by sending an email to the school office. 

Yours in Partnership, 
Lauren Magnus
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

From the Leader of Pedagogy

Book Week Celebrations – A Joyful Celebration of Stories, Creativity & Learning!

Over the past few weeks, our school has been buzzing with excitement as we celebrated Book Week through a range of inspiring and fun-filled activities.

In Week 3, the Year 4 and 5 students had the amazing opportunity to attend the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival, where they were immersed in the world of books, authors, and storytelling. Students particularly enjoyed listening to and engaging with author, Pete Helier. In Week 5, Years 4, 5, and 6 enjoyed a live online session with beloved Australian author Tristan Bancks, gaining insights into his writing journey and creative process.

Kindergarten had a special treat with a visit from Uma’s mum, local author Michelle Macnamara, who captivated our youngest learners by sharing some of her delightful stories.

Last week, our K–2 students took part in two exciting writing workshops, swapping classes within their grades to spark fresh creativity and collaboration. Meanwhile, students in Years 3–6 chose from a range of hands-on writing sessions, including zines, podcasts, poetry, comic strips, and more—encouraging cross-grade collaboration and working with different teachers across the school.

This week kicked off with a bang as our teachers transformed the school with engaging visual writing stimuli, sparking imagination and rich discussions that inspired writing pieces throughout the day. 

Today, we wrapped up our Book Week celebrations with a vibrant Book Character Parade and Open Classrooms. A huge congratulations to all our students, teachers (and parents) for the incredible creativity, effort, and enthusiasm shown through the fabulous costumes.

Thank you to all the families who joined us—it wasn’t just a fantastic parade, but a beautiful opportunity for students to showcase their learning and celebrate the magic of books together.

Book Week Celebrations

Writing Stimulus

Yours in Partnership,

Rachel Mitchell

Leader of Pedagogy

Parent Connect