Term 4, Week 3 Newsletter
Principal Message
Canteen News
Everyone would be aware what a success story the school canteen has been this year. Each week Kylie purchases produce, cooks and bakes goodies, organises her team of volunteers while always chatting, smiling and creating a fun space where people feel valued and welcome. Kylie has listened to feedback and made positive changes to keep the customers satisfied! (e.g. happy, well-fed children!) The sad news is that Kylie is moving on to new challenges with her work life and is ready to hand on the baton to someone else. I’m sure we’ll have people ready to take over the reins. On behalf of the whole school community I’d like to thank Kylie for everything she has done for us in 2024. You will be greatly missed and you’re always welcome to come back and say hello. I’m sure there will be plenty of visitors before the end of the year for people to drop in and personally say ‘thank you.’
Parent Education: Angela Lockwood: Parent Educator & Occupational Therapist.
Save the date- Wednesday 20th November at 6pm at school. Suitable for parents of all ages. In this session parents will learn the core skills a child needs before they start school. How to use the summer holidays to prepare them for the step up into school life. How to use fun ways to engage your child so they are excited to start school.
New School Indigenous Mural
We are excited to welcome local artist Cherie Leon who has painted a mural especially for St Finbarr’s. In the passage below Cherie shares the story of the significance of the artwork.
A totem is an animal, plant, another natural object like rock, river or tree that is connected to a person ancestrally. It can have an emblem such as a wooden pole or decorated object to represent it. Much of our art is connected to and reflects the power of totems and how they are connected together in the story of life.
A totem connects us to Country, to each other and the Dreaming. In nature all creatures and objects have their place and importance, and so do we in our community and in our relationship to Country. By being connected to totems and what they represent we individually and collectively share responsibility for each other and Country. In this way we each make sure that we don’t do wrong by Country, that we look after Country, and it will look after us.
There are totems that link us together as women and as men, as a clan or land-connected unit, and as a bigger tribe of people living in Country. Wajung, the dolphin, is the totem of the Arakwal women, and Miwing, the sea-eagle is the men’s totem, and our clan totem is Kabul, the carpet snake. We are the carpet snake people.
Each of us is given an individual totem that we need to learn about and understand, and help protect and maintain for the future.In this way we all play our part in respecting and caring for Country.
After School Care
We are excited to have Leeza from Active Kids After School commencing the program this Monday from 3-6 pm each afternoon of the school week. To enrol your child in this fun and exciting activity contact Active Kids on 0417 276 407.
Ballina Parish is running a series of talks on the Mass with Deacon Anthony and would like to invite parents and staff to attend this informative series based on Deacon Anthony's book 52 Sunday's. Please see the flyer below.
Students Not Returning For 2025
We have been receiving a number of enrolment enquiries for various year groups for 2025. If you are aware that you are, or may be, relocating at the end of the year, or that your child/ren will not be returning to Finnies, could you please contact Buffy via email at bbp@lism.catholic.edu.au and inform her of your decision.
Last orders for Book Fair reminder - From Eva Matheson
Any book orders paid for online MUST return the wish list to the front office (if easier, take a photo of the completed Wishlist and send to Eva.matheson@lism.catholic.
Books cannot be ordered without the wishlist being returned to the school. Please circle or tick the books on the Wishlist that have been paid for.
Today I spent the lunch break in the garden, it is wonderful to see so many enthusiastic gardeners. These were today's helpers, as we planted our new banana trees.
Halloween Disco
The Halloween Disco has become quite an institution here at school. What an opportunity to have fun, dress up and dance away. It also brings together a core group of parents who give back to the school through their tireless work in coordinating the event. Special thanks to Kaysi and Santosha and their team who decorated, filled treat bags, supervised and cleaned up after the event. Also, after such a successful Grandparents Day it's so good to see the school yard filled with families getting involved and celebrating school life with their children.
Yours in Partnership,
Tim Bleakley
Principal
Some Halloween Pics
Mission
Grandparent's Day
Last Friday we celebrated Grandparents Day. It was an incredibly special day where, as a school community, we acknowledged the hard work, commitment, faith and love that grandparents sow into the lives of their grandchildren.
The morning included a liturgy, assembly, open classrooms and was completed with a morning tea. We had grandparents visiting from near and far and while not all were able to be there in person they were acknowledged in the hearts and minds of their grandchildren.
Mission Mass
On Friday the 8th of November we will celebrate a Whole School Mass. This Mass will be a celebration reminding us that together, we have the power to create change and build a more just world for people everywhere. By supporting missionaries in their work, we can create life-changing opportunities for countless children, families, and communities worldwide. We warmly invite all Finnie's families and friends to join us at this celebration.
When: Friday: 8th Novemeber
Where: St Finbarr's Church Byron Bay
Time 9:30am
Teachers V's Students Socktober Match
To help support the missionaries, on Tuesday the 12th of November at 9:30am there will be a 'Teachers v's Students' soccer match fundraiser.
To raise funds for such a worthy cause, students can purchase raffle tickets that will enter them into a draw, giving them a chance to kick it out against the 'Finni-roos'. There will be three student teams, with each team consisting of 14 players selected via the raffle. Each team will compete in a 10min match against the mighty 'Finni-roos'
Tickets will be $2 each and will be sold each morning from 8:30am in front of the hall in the lead up to the match. As tickets are purchased, they will be organised into individual class draws. Each of the three teams will include 2 students per grade; 14 students per team. Please know, if your child gets drawn out more than once they will only be able to play in one of the student teams.
Once the teams have been drawn, the remaining tickets will go in another draw for a chance to win one of the three brand new soccer balls that will be purchased for each of the games. All are welcome to attend to see what will surely be some highly competitive matches.
Combined Parish School Mass
Our combined Parish School Mass for Term 4 will be held at St Finbarr's Church Byron Bay on Saturday the 23rd of November at 6:00pm . All our Finnie's families and friends are warmly invited to come along and celebrate.
Yours in Partnership,
Mrs Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal- Mission and Inclusion & Diversity
Learning & Teaching
Professional Learning For Teachers
On the first day of Term 4, teachers participated in professional learning to support the implementation of the NSW curriculum reform. This year, the English and Mathematics syllabuses have been implemented across K-6 with it being the second year of implementation for Kindergarten - Year 2.
There will be an ongoing staged rollout of new syllabuses across Key Learning Areas over the coming years, requiring a great deal of preparation for teachers in addition to their usual duties. The curriculum reform involves more than new programs; it also requires updated pedagogical approaches to animate the curriculum. The staff at St Finbarr’s have embraced the curriculum reform as an opportunity to reinvigorate learning and teaching, providing our students with strong foundations of knowledge that enable lifelong learning.
Next year teachers will be learning about the new Creative Arts and Science and Technology curriculums ready for implementation in 2026.
K-6 Semester Two Reports
Students in Kindergarten - Year 6 will be issued with Semester 2 Reports in Week 9 of Term 4. We will notify parents via email once reports are available on Compass. If you have any queries about Compass access, please contact the office.
PAT Testing
Over the past two weeks students across the Lismore Diocese in Year 2-6 have undertaken Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics and Reading (known as PAT Assessments). PAT Adaptive assessments create an individualised test experience for a precise picture of student achievement, they are an equitable way to assess student growth and achievement from year to year. These tests not only allow teachers to measure student growth but also to plan and refine learning and teaching to cater to the diverse range of learners within classrooms.
Yours in Partnership,
Lauren Magnus
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching