Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter 2022

Learning Dispositions

This year at St Finbarr’s we are focusing on six learning dispositions. The term 'learning dispositions', sometimes called 'habits of mind' or 'dispositions to learning', refer to the way in which learners engage in and relate to the learning process. Learning dispositions affect how students approach learning and therefore the outcomes of their learning. Our focus to commence the year has been ‘Collaboration”. Classes have been learning how important it is to work successfully together as a team. For the next two weeks our focus at school is “Taking Risks”. You may like to speak with your child about what this could mean in their work and play at home and at school.

Why are Learning Dispositions Important? 

“...because “the acquisition of knowledge and skills alone does not guarantee that they will be used and applied”. (Katz, 1993)

“The fundamental purpose of education for the 21st century, it is argued, is not so much the transmission of particular bodies of knowledge, skill and understanding as facilitating the development of the capacity and the confidence to engage in lifelong learning.” (Carr and Claxton, 2002)

“ ‘Learn for Life’ is a value, an attitude and a skill that our students need to possess, and it is fundamental in ensuring that education remains an uplifting force in society.”  Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education.

Meet The Teacher - Miss Bronte Doolan

Well Done Mrs McEvilly Butler

Congratulations to our Stage Three and Digital Technology coordinator, Mary McEvilly Butler for recently becoming a Google Certified Trainer. Mary is now a  certified expert in the use of Google technologies for teaching and learning. The Certified Trainer program also places a great deal of emphasis on developing the skills and techniques to expertly impart knowledge to others, which means that all our staff are well placed to directly benefit from Mary’s expertise. Well done Mary.

Principal Appraisal

Dear Parents,

During Term 1 on Tuesday 22nd March, Tim Bleakley will be involved in a principal appraisal process as part of his contract of employment. The appraisal process seeks information from a variety of people associated with the parish school and uses a number of tools to ensure effective consultation. The process aims to highlight the positive aspects of the leadership offered and identify areas for further development.

 A timeline is currently being arranged to suit the needs of the parish school community. The appraisal will be conducted by an External Chair nominated by the Catholic Schools Office.

 The full principal appraisal process involves:

 Ÿ a survey and self-appraisal statement completed by the principal

Ÿ an interview with the principal

Ÿ input as arranged with the parish priest

Ÿ surveys of parents, parish school staff and Catholic Schools Office personnel

Ÿ interviews with the Schools Leadership Team

Ÿ interviews with a random selection of staff who request an interview with the Chair

Ÿ interviews with a random selection of parents who request an interview with the Chair

 The preferred method of survey completion is by the online survey form. A link to this form will be forwarded to your email address.  Please ensure your current email address is registered at the school as this survey link will be sent to you two weeks prior to the appraisal. Parents may express their interest to be interviewed via this electronic form. Not all those who express an interest to be interviewed will be contacted. If not contacted, then parents may wish to email their comments. Anonymous comments and emails will not be considered.

 In writing the appraisal report, use of the information gathered will remain confidential and not identify sources. Every family in the school is encouraged to complete a survey. 

Your support of the appraisal process is appreciated.

 Yours sincerely,

Michael Mullaly

Chair 

Lost School Uniforms

There have been many school uniform items on the lost and found table. All labelled items have been returned to their owners. The remaining items will be taken to the Byron Bay St Vincent De Paul Shop. Please ensure that you clearly label all uniform items, so that they can be returned to your child if misplaced.

Viewing the Newsletter on Your Phone

When you view the school newsletter from your mobile phone, please be aware that the side bar will not fit on your phone screen. To view the upcoming events, school website and the calendar. Please click on the three horizontal lines (sometimes referred to as the hamburger) on the top left corner of the screen and navigate to the required section.

Rapid Antigen Tests

There are still RAT tests in the office awaiting collection. If you have not picked up your test kits for your Child/ren  yet, please call into the front office to collect.

Kind Regards,

Tim Bleakley

Principal

Ash Wednesday

Next Wednesday the 2nd of March is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent which lasts for 6 weeks. We call it Ash Wednesday because many Christians around the world receive a cross of ashes on their forehead. 

Ashes are a sign of sorrow and repentance that have been used by God’s people for hundreds of years. The cross is a sign that signifies that we are not perfect but that we are followers of Christ and believe that He is always with us. 

It reminds us to be hope-filled people who can encourage, inspire and support each other while acknowledging that there are many experiencing difficult times. As people of Christ, we can become beacons of hope to others.

Loving God,

 be with us in a special way during this time of Lent so that we can become a people of hope and courage. 

Help us to think about how we treat others, the way we act, our attitude to life, and how we can be supportive and encourage others.

We make this prayer through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen

Sacrament of Reconciliation 

If your child is in Year 4 and wishes to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, parents are required to attend the Parent Information night to register their child. This meeting will be held tomorrow night, Wednesday the of 23rd February, 6:30pm at St Finbarr’s Church. If you are unable to attend please email the Parish Office stfins@bigpond.com or call (02) 66 856260.

The Reconciliation lessons will commence for children next week (at school). 

The Sacrament will be celebrated at St Finbarr’s Church over two nights Tuesday 29th March, 6-7 pm or Wednesday 30th March, 6-7 pm.

Kind regards,

Sonya Piccoli

Assistant Principal- Mission

Traffic Management Plan/ Pick Up & Drop Off Locations

Thank you so much for being so prompt in dropping off your children in the morning and collecting your children in the afternoons. A reminder that teachers are not on duty until 8:30am and any students who arrives well before this will be seated in the office until 8:30am. 

As the oval is a learning space, for the safety of students and staff using this space we are unable to open the gates before 2:55pm. While we understand that this can cause some backlog of traffic, this is out of our control. We thank you for working with us on this so that we can keep everyone safe. 

There has been some confusion around pick up locations - please see the attached image in regards to the names of the pick up locations. 

To clarify: 

Car Lines: Students sit with teachers adjacent to the school hall and are able to hop into cars when your car is between the yellow posts (8 cars at a time). The gate will be opened at 2:55pm each day. 

Parent Pick up Gate: This gate will be opened by the teacher on duty and students will be let out as they can see you. If you are collecting your child/ren from the parent pick up gate and have not arrived by 3:20pm your child will be walked by a teacher to the car line as the buses commence their collection at 3:25pm from this gate. 

Bike Riders: In the morning students can enter the drop of gate but they are required to walk their bikes through the gate and up to the bike storage. 

In the afternoon students wait in the undercover area and a teacher will walk them to the bike storage and then to the Afternoon Bike Exit where the gate will be unlocked and students supervised as they leave. 

Any children that have not been collected by 3:25pm will be taken to the school office. We ask that all Children be collected by 3:30pm from the office. 

Thank you for working with us on this. 

Lauren Magnus

Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

Sports News

Tweed Zone Swimming

Well done to our St Finbarr’s Swimming Team for their participation and sportsmanship displayed at the Zone Swimming Carnival two weeks ago.

 Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the Diocesan Swimming Carnival to be held tomorrow at the Murwillumbah Aquatic Centre. We wish them all the very best in their respective events.

Adam P

Capri S

Georgia J

Isla C

Harry T

Roley C

Ned T

Orlando B

Hayden C

George T

Oliver B

Winter Sports

The Stage 3 Winter Sports trials are almost complete. Well done to those students who have already competed and good luck to those who are yet to come. Results of those students who have been selected for the Diocesan trials will be announced in the next newsletter.

Cross Country

It may be a good idea for all students to dust off their joggers and start some running training for our up and coming Cross Country Carnival which is held later in the term. Students will do some extra running with their class and PE lessons but it is always a good idea to run at home after school or on the weekends to build up our stamina.

Lisa Clark

Sports Coordinator

Tweed Zone Swimming

Byron Bay Football Club Registration

Byron Bay FC Soccer season registration now open!
Registration now open for players 5 and up, mixed miniroos teams and girls teams available in all age groups and SAP program for advanced players aged 8 and up. Season information and registration details available at www.byronbayfc.com.au/miniroos-5-to-11-years. For players 12 and up, training and trials start from the 15th Feb.Enquiries to miniroos@byronbayfc.com.au

Regards,
Kerry NorthcottByron Bay Football Club
Byron Bay Memorial Recreation Grounds
: 0499 655 928
e: juniors@byronbayfc.com.au
w: byronbayfc.com.auf: ByronBayFC

Student Awards