Term 1 Week 8 Newsletter
Principal's Message
Looking for active involvement in school life?
At St Finbarr’s we value the role of parents in the school. Over the years we have had success in having a parent or team of parents act as a parent coordinator for each class. It’s a way to improve communication and help build community throughout the school. We have just begun the process of seeking interested parents to take on this role for each class. If you are interested please contact the school office to nominate. Below is an outline of the potential of the role.
Role of the Class Parent :
- Liaise between your Class Parent Coordinator, Parents, Teachers and the School. Ideally, there is a Class Parent Coordinator for each stage.
- Ensure we are creating a rich, loving and caring environment for our families.
- Encourage parents to help out with class needs; eg. reading groups, school excursions. Gather parents together to facilitate special events for example Mothers Day/Fathers Day.
- Support the strategic vision and values of the school.
- Encourage Christian values, promote the goals of the school and support the decisions made by the school.
- Encourage parents with any concerns or feedback for their teacher to make time to meet with them - this is central to a positive partnership.
- Help facilitate school / parent partnerships to become a reality.
- Coordinate social activities among parents in your class; eg. organise family / parent get togethers for the class (picnics, breakfast or coffee mornings, BBQ at the school, after school drinks and nibbles at the school, morning tea after school or class mass)
- Ensure all proposals and group communications are progressed through the Class Parent Coordinator who will seek final approval from the Principal.
- Offer support for families experiencing difficult or challenging times; eg. assisting with rostering and facilitating meals for families where one member is unwell and in need of help. Respect privacy and the fact that some families will not wish for any help or intervention on some occasions. Assistance with babysitting or cleaning where a need is identified.
- Include all parents as much as possible in the life of the class.
- Organise a welcoming morning tea for new families. Encourage families or parents who seem less confident to participate, by making personal contact by phone.
- Offer to meet and introduce yourself to new families so they feel welcome.
Parent meetings:
Thank you to those families who have already taken the opportunity to meet with the class teacher. This meeting early in the year is the ideal time to build a relationship and open communication to assist your child’s learning. Teacher/ student / parent meetings will continue over the next few weeks and it is the expectation that all class members will have participated by the end of Term One.
Mr Tim Bleakley,
Principal
Student Awards
Lent
On Sunday we celebrated the third Sunday of Lent.
In Sunday’s Gospel we learn that God is patient. Although we sometimes make poor choices, God is full of mercy and compassion. God wants us to think about the way we treat others and work at building positive relationships with those around us.
Loving God,
You are patient with us and generous with your kindness. When we fail you are always there to help us find the right road to you.
May your constant love and forgiveness give us the strength to keep on trying so that we may become compassionate and loving people. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Meet the Teacher...
Name: Mr Andrew Lollback
Role: Classroom Teacher, sharing Year 2 and 3P
Favourite hobbies/ interests: I love the outdoors and nature. I am a very keen sportsperson and I particularly enjoy fishing, surfing and football. I grew up on a large farm most of the cooler months of the year and at the beach during the warmer months.
On weekends and during the holidays I love to explore remote places, fish new waterways and hang with family and friends. I enjoy teaching and learning new skills, as well as being involved in new experiences.
Favourite meal: It is pretty hard to beat a nice feed of Sushi!
Pets: Where do I start… Fish, cows, horses, rabbits, a cat, dogs and sheep. I love animals and my family have always been in Wires. I have had just about everything as a pet at some point.
Where else I have been: I have worked mainly in Grafton. I was previously the Assistant Principal at Westlawn PS in Grafton. Before that I was based at Warialda PS and South Grafton PS and have taught all year levels at some point.
Favourite holiday destination: I absolutely love to travel but I would have to say any tropical holiday here in North Queensland. I love the warm water, fishing, rainforests and of course, the Great Barrier Reef.
Favourite quote: “Treat people the way that you would like to be treated”
Confirmation
CONFIRMATION PARENT MEETING THURSDAY 31ST MARCH 6:30PM 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
You are warmly invited to join Fr. David, Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, and St. Finbarr’s school staff at the Confirmation Parent Meeting on Thursday 31st March, 6.30pm at St. Finbarr’s Church, Byron Bay.
Any student in Year 3 or above who is a baptised Catholic is able to receive this Sacrament. Bishop Greg’s current Sacramental Policy for the Diocese of Lismore is for Confirmation in Year 3, First Reconciliation in Year 4 and First Holy Communion in Year 4.
This meeting will provide you with information in respect to the Sacrament of Confirmation and give you an opportunity to register your child for the programme for 2022.
Sacraments are such an important part of your child’s faith journey, and therefore, it is necessary that at least one parent attends this meeting. This will enable you as parents and carers to understand and engage with the process your child will be actively participating in as part of their preparation of the Sacrament. Children are not required to attend this meeting, however, part of the preparation will include parents and students together attending the dates below. Please note the dates below include Saturday Masses at St. Finbarr’s Byron Bay and the Sunday Masses at St Kevin’s Bangalow. You are only required to attend one of these Masses each weekend.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the meeting please contact the Parish Office on (02) 66 856260 or email stfins@bigpond.com
Weekend Masses:
Sat/Sun 7th/8th May - Enrolment Ceremony + Symbol Presentation
Sat/Sun 14th/15th May - Receive the Lord’s Prayer
Sat/Sun 21st/22nd May - Blessing + Practice
Tuesday 24th of May - Sacrament of Confirmation 6pm @ St Finbarr’s Church
Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal - Mission & Additional Needs
Celebration of Learning
Mrs Piccoli and I have had the pleasure of celebrating so many amazing students and their learning this past week with lots of visitors coming to show off their amazing writing. Students are learning how to ‘bump up’ their writing by setting individual learning goals and reflecting on their work.
Here are some amazing Kindergarten students who have been working so hard to be authors - all creating their own version of a book titled “The Duck”.
TEACHERS ARE LEARNERS TOO
Teachers are learners too. We are a professional learning community who share ideas to enhance our teaching practice and to create a learning environment where all students can achieve the fullness of life.
Each week our teachers engage in professional learning experiences both as a whole staff and also as part of smaller professional learning teams.
As part of our recent learning we looked at student writing samples in order to identify a learning focus across the school. We celebrated what our students are doing well in their writing, shared writing lesson experiences from all our classrooms. We set learning goals to further improve our own teaching and therefore support our students to see growth and achievement within their writing.
Sports News
Netball
Last Friday our Netballers were finally able to participate in their Diocesan Winter Sports Trials in Grafton. Well done Tilly, Bess and Sophie.
Students will be participating in the Soccer trials this Wednesday and Rugby Union next term.
Polding Swimming
Our best wishes to the following students who qualified for the Polding Swimming Carnival to be held in Sydney, today. We hope they are able to swim their best in their respective events.
Adam P, Harry T, Roley C, Ned T, George T, Oliver B
Congratulations Nash
Nash recently competed at the Queensland State Athletics Championships in Brisbane, placing 5th in the long jump, 8th in the triple jump and 11th in the 80m Hurdles. Nash was competing against 28 boys from all over the state of Qld.
Cross Country
After two years we can finally all join together again for our School Cross Country Carnival this Friday.
The event will take place on the school oval beginning at 9.15am and will conclude in time for lunch. The school canteen will operate as normal, however, a pre-order sausage sizzle will also be available and notes for the sausage sizzle were sent home yesterday. If your child/ren were absent from school yesterday or did not receive the note for the sausage sizzle order, please let us know so we can send one home tomorrow. The orders must be in no later than this Thursday the 24th. We are not able to receive orders on the day.
Letterbox Roasters coffee cart will be available during the morning and we welcome parents to bring their picnic rugs and stay to have lunch with us.
Mrs Lisa Clark,
Leader of Sport
April School Holiday Program
