Term 2, Week 10 Newsletter

Principal News

Xavier College 25 Years Jubilee
I had the pleasure of attending Xavier Catholic College Skennars Head on Wednesday for the 25 Years Jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop Gregory Hoeming. In my seven years here at St Finbarr’s we have had many families choose to continue their child’s Catholic schooling at this excellent College. At the very special Mass and lunch gathering Principal Lee McMaster spoke of staff and students at Xavier going that extra mile and being proud of the school’s rich history and traditions. Bishop Gregory recognised the former Principals of the college and those staff who had 20 years or more of dedicated service. The Bishop challenged the gathering with questions such as, “What makes a Xavier student different from a student from another school nearby?” He spoke of the love and care for all people demonstrated by the life of St Francis Xavier  “We can be a better school if we are better people and when we see God in all things”. It was wonderful to meet many of our ex-students on the day, many of whom were in leadership roles,  and to witness the genuine joy and pride on their faces as members of the school community. I highly recommend taking a visit to Xavier College when considering your child’s High School journey.

Spanish Lessons in Term Three
There have been several planning meetings to coordinate this exciting program for Term Three. Organising school timetables and remaining compliant with specific regulations is quite complex and  impacts all Catholic, Independent and Government schools across Australia. We are required to ensure we are covering and reporting on all subject areas before implementing a new program such as Spanish. I  thank Yr One Class parent Anthea Picot who has been instrumental in getting the program off the ground and I recommend reaching out to Anthea for clarification or any questions. Anthea has been a wonderful communication link between the school and parent groups. As a trial in Term Three, Spanish lessons will be taught in Year One for one hour per week and integrate the Creative Arts to align with curriculum guidelines. There will be no extra charge for parents for these lessons for this year. If this proves to be successful in Term Three we will look at offering this to more classes in the future. Francisca Gonzales (our talented and highly motivated Spanish teacher) is also available for after school lessons (Monday/ Thursday/ Friday 3.20-4.45pm) and these will be charged at $10 per student. (Minimum class of 6 students) Bookings through Francisca at francisca.gonzalez.elgueta.f@gmail.com or please follow your class WhatsApp group.

School Survey
Another big thank you to those families who completed the Tell Them From Me survey recently. This helps inform our future goal setting and along with feedback from teachers and students helps us to continue to seek ways of improving all aspects of school life. As promised,  in our  next few newsletters we will communicate with you themes and data from the survey responses. 

Welcome Miss Jones
As we farewell Miss Tully from Year One Tallows we welcome Miss Meg Jones to the teaching team for 2025. Miss Jones will be taking the class for four days each week with Mrs Emily Roden returning from Maternity leave taking the class each Thursday. 

Message from Carrie in the Canteen

Thank you for all of your support this year - we absolutely love providing food for the kids and seeing their smiling faces. We’ve encountered a few challenges these last few weeks - a broken fridge, broken oven, one Woolies deliveries being cancelled and another delivery delayed until after lunch. These items are being fixed over holidays & we've put new processes in place.
We do all we can to get the orders out, but please remind your kids to come chat to us if they are missing an item or something isn’t quite right - we’re more than happy to help and we want happy customers. It's been beautiful to see how the canteen community comes together to help - a huge shoutout to all our mums & dads who so lovingly give their time in canteen - I absolutely couldn’t do it without you. 

See you next term, back up & running! 

Yours in cocoa cookies, Carrie

Vacation Care
Active Kids will be holding their Vacation Program during the school holidays and will also be available for the pupil free day on Monday 21 July. To book please call 0417 276 407

Soccer X After school Skills Program
Soccer X will be running their 9 week soccer skills program on the school oval in Term 3, the program will commence on Wednesday July 30. This program is suitable for all ages from Kindy to year 6. If you would like to register your child in for this program please see the information below.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing break, Term 3 will commence for students on Tuesday the 22nd July. Happy Holidays from all the staff!

Yours in Partnership,
Tim Bleakley
Principal

Catholic Faith & Identity

Prayers and Teddy Bears

Last Wednesday, our Finnie’s Kindergarten students hosted a beautiful ‘Prayers & Teddy Bears’ picnic that brought together families, faith, and a whole lot of teddy bears.

The celebration began in the classrooms, where students led a thoughtful liturgy focused on the theme of family. It was a truly special moment as our youngest learners shared prayer and reflection with their loved ones.

Following the liturgy, families gathered for a relaxed and joyful afternoon tea, enjoying time together and strengthening the sense of community that is so central to our school.

We extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated Kindergarten teachers and the many families who joined us and helped make this event such a success. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our Catholic faith and the importance of family in a warm and welcoming environment.

A Joyful Visit to St Andrews Nursing Home 

Living Our Faith in Action

Last Thursday, our Year 4 Finnie's students had the special opportunity to visit St Andrews Nursing Home. This was a morning filled with connection, compassion, and joy.

Accompanied by Miss Hurley on guitar, the students lifted spirits with heartfelt singing, bringing smiles and warmth to the residents. A lively game of bingo followed, and the children proudly shared their recent learning, demonstrating confidence and care. The visit ended with a shared fruit platter and meaningful conversations that bridged generations.

As a Catholic school, we are called to live out the Gospel values of love, respect, and service. This visit was a beautiful expression of our faith in action, honouring the dignity of every person and fostering community across generations.

We are so proud of our students for the way they embodied Christ’s love in their interactions. It was a blessing to witness these moments of grace and connection.

Year 2 Sacred Heart Mass

Last Friday, our Year 2 students led the Sacred Heart Mass with reverence, joy, and a deep sense of belonging. Centered around the Gospel of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7), the Mass reminded us of God’s unwavering love for each and every one of us, especially when we feel lost or alone. Just as the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one, we are reminded that God knows us by name and always calls us back into His embrace.

Father David shared a heartfelt homily communication on how symbols in our lives like the heart of Jesus, the cross, and even the shepherd’s staff, hold deep meaning. These symbols remind us to be true, compassionate, and loving, just as Jesus is to us. Our children beautifully demonstrated their understanding through prayer, song, and reflection, showing how faith is not just taught but deeply lived.

A sincere thank you to all the parents, families and parishioners who joined us for this special occasion. Your presence made the celebration even more meaningful. It was also wonderful to have open classrooms afterwards and it was a joy to share a glimpse of the daily learning and the faith-filled environment your children help create each day.

NAIDOC Celebrations

On Wednesday, we proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week with a day full of culture, connection, and community spirit.

Our day began with a beautiful liturgy that honoured the rich culture, history, legacy, and vision of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A special thank you to Mr Ron Mason for planning, organising, and leading this meaningful celebration, and to the students who guided us in prayer and acknowledgement.

We were privileged to welcome guest speaker Mr Desi Morgan big brother of Amalfi, Cormac and Assumpta who is the recipient of a Victorian NAIDOC Youth Award for Leadership. Desi shared his inspiring story and spoke about what NAIDOC Week means to him, leaving a lasting impression on students and staff alike.

Following the liturgy, students engaged in a variety of cultural activities, including outdoor games, dreamtime stories, and artmaking. Each student contributed a unique dolphin artwork to form a stunning whole-school mobile. We finished the celebration with a delicious sausage sizzle.

Congratulations to our colouring-in competition winners, and thank you again to all involved in making the day such a success.

From start to finish, it was a day filled with joy, learning, and a deep sense of cultural celebration.

Yours in Partnership,
Mrs Sonya Piccoli
Assistant Principal Mission-Inclusion & Diversity

Learning & Teaching

Understanding What we Teach at St Finbarr’s

At St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary School, we are proud to be part of the Lismore Diocese, which belongs to the wider network of Catholic Schools NSW. Our teaching and learning programs follow the requirements set out by NESA – the New South Wales Education Standards Authority – which governs all schools in the state, including Catholic and independent schools.

NESA provides clear guidance on what students need to learn at each stage of their schooling. This includes not only the curriculum content for each subject area but also the recommended time allocations for teaching each Key Learning Area (KLA). These time allocations help ensure a balanced and comprehensive education for all students.

Below is a general outline of the recommended weekly time allocations for each KLA in primary schools:

• English – approximately 25–35% of total weekly teaching time
  
• Mathematics – approximately 20-25%
  
• Science and Technology – approximately 6–10%
  
• Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) – approximately 6–10%
  
• Creative Arts – approximately 6–10%
  
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) – approximately 6–10%
  
• Religious Education – In Catholic schools like ours, Religious Education is given significant priority and is allocated approximately 2.5 hours per week, in line with diocesan expectations.
  
  These guidelines help us structure our weekly timetables so that every child receives a well-rounded education that nurtures their academic, spiritual, social, and emotional development.

If you have any questions about our curriculum or how we structure teaching and learning at St Finbarr’s, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Semester One School Reports – Available Today

Semester One School Reports will be available on Compass this afternoon. These reports provide a comprehensive summary of your child’s progress across all Key Learning Areas during the first half of the year.

In line with NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) requirements, students in Years 1 to 6 are assessed using the A–E grading scale. This scale is not based on effort or behaviour, but rather on how well your child demonstrates their understanding of the content and skills for their stage of learning.

Here’s a quick guide to what each grade means:

• A – The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can apply skills in a wide range of contexts.
  
• B – The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the required skills.
  
• C – The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the content and is working at the expected level for their stage.
  
• D – The student has a basic understanding of the content and is approaching the expected level.
  
• E – The student has a limited understanding of the content and skills and needs ongoing support.
  
  

Please remember that a ‘C’ grade is exactly where we expect most students to be – it means your child is achieving what is expected for their year level.

Kindergarten students are reported against a different scale, using the terms:

• Working Towards – the student is developing skills and understandings in this area
  
• Working At – the student is achieving expected outcomes for this point in the year
  
• Working Beyond – the student is demonstrating knowledge and skills beyond the expected level

We encourage you to take time to read through the report and celebrate with your child, their successes and goals. You might like to discuss what goals they been working on. 

Next term we will be having 3 Way Conferences again to discuss your child's progress and set new goals for the remainder of the year. 

If you have questions or would like to speak further about your child’s semester report and progress please email their class teacher to arrange a meeting for early next term.

Year 6 Authors & Illustrators

This term, our Year 6 students have been immersed in a rich writing unit focused on creating picture books. This unit encourages students to combine creative writing with visual literacy, exploring how words and images work together to tell powerful stories.

Students began by studying a range of high-quality picture books, identifying literary devices, structure, and themes. From there, they moved into planning, drafting, editing, and illustrating their own original texts – a process that required imagination, reflection, and perseverance.

One standout example is a beautifully crafted picture book centred on the theme of hope. This student author captured the idea that even in difficult times, small acts of kindness and courage can make a big difference. Through thoughtful text and expressive illustrations, their book sends a message of resilience and optimism that speaks to readers of all ages.

The Year 6 team is incredibly proud of the effort and creativity students have shown throughout this unit. Our kindergarten students were very lucky to be immersed in the wonderful literature that Yr 6 created during a special shared reading reading experience. 

Have an enjoyable winter break with your children and families. 
Yours in Partnership, 
Lauren Magnus
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

From the Leader of Pedagogy

STEM Inspiration, Connection and Community!

St Finbarr’s Primary School, hosted 10 primary schools from the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Tweed Heads and Richmond cluster, who gathered for a day of hands-on collaborative learning. 

Through the theme of the 6Cs of Deep Learning (from Michael Fullan), students participated in various interactive sessions, explored new technologies, engaged in creative problem-solving tasks, and worked on STEM challenges that emphasised communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

The event also focused on building a community of learners among the schools that can support and inspire each other and continue this work in their own contexts. Congratulations to selected students that represented St Finbarr's- Solo Speed, Summer Potter, Iluka Mukhtar, Eden Gourley, Tahlia Fazzari, Soli Bryant, Alex Phillips, Angus Ward and Hayden Cleary, for their curiosity, collaboration and enthusiasm on the day.

We extend a huge thank you, to Mrs Mary McEvilly Butlery and Mr Joe Keane for their expertise and for making the HPL STEM event a success.

Celebrating writing in Year Two

This term in English, the Year Two students have been diving deep into their research on seals and have been busy crafting hybrid texts to showcase what they've learned! See the link below. 

Yours in Partnership,

Rachel Mitchell

Leader of Pedagogy

Year Five and Six Science and Technology

This term, our Year 5 and 6 students wrapped up their Science unit on animal adaptations with a creative challenge: designing a new animal species adapted to survive on a fictional planet.

After learning how animals adapt to different environments on Earth, students applied this knowledge to invent their own creatures, using the 3D design platform Makers Empire to bring their ideas to life. From heat-resistant desert dwellers to floating sky creatures, the results were imaginative, thoughtful, and scientifically sound.

The unit finished with a showcase where students presented their 3D-printed models and explained how their animals could survive in their unique habitats.

We’re so proud of their creativity and innovation!

Mrs Mary McEvilly Butlery & Mr Joe Keane

Sports Update

Athletics and Winter Sports Wrap-Up: A Season of Success!

What an exciting few weeks it's been for sports at our school! From our annual Athletics Carnival to impressive showings at regional and state-level competitions, our students have truly shone.

School Athletics Carnival: A Day of Spirited Competition!

Our annual School Athletics Carnival, held on Monday, June 16th, on the school oval, was a fantastic day filled with both competitive and novelty events. It was wonderful to see so many students participating with enthusiasm and demonstrating great sportsmanship. We'd like to extend a huge thank you to the 20 Year 9 Xavier students who volunteered their time on the day – your help was invaluable!

The final house results were incredibly close, showcasing the competitive spirit of all our houses:

1st Place: Chisholm with an impressive 1392 points

2nd Place: MacKillop with 1285 points

3rd Place: Tennison with 1284 points

4th Place: Penola with 1173 points

A massive congratulations to our Age Champions for their outstanding individual performances:

Junior Boy: Wyatt W (winner), Taj L (runner-up)

Junior Girl: Aurelia H (winner), Violet C (runner-up)

11 Years Boy: Jackson C (winner), Hayden C (runner-up)

11 Years Girl: Frankie S (winner), Bonnie T (runner-up)

Senior Boy: Darcy S (winner), Oka D (runner-up)

Senior Girl: Sloane Q (winner), Libby P (runner-up)

Tweed Zone 1500m Race: Our Long-Distance Stars!

Following the competitive events at our carnival, eight talented students traveled to Banora Point to compete in the Tweed Zone 1500m race. A huge congratulations to all our participants: Frankie S, Wyatt W, Taj L, Zara M, Millie R, Hayden C, Jackson C, and Coco F. Everyone ran exceptionally well, and we had some fantastic results! Special mention to:

• Wyatt W: 1st in Junior Boys
• Frankie S: 2nd in 11 Years Girls
• Hayden C: 2nd in 11 Years Boys
• Jackson C: 3rd in 11 Years Girls

These four students have now qualified for the Diocesan Athletics Carnival next term – what an achievement!

Dio and Polding Cross Country: Pushing the Limits!

We are incredibly proud of the 10 students who competed in the Dio Cross Country in Woolgoolga: Hayden C, Violet C, Jackson C, Taj L, Levi L, Marlo L, Raff M, Libby P, Indie-Rose V, and Wyatt W. Their dedication and hard work paid off, with the following students achieving the amazing feat of qualifying for Polding:

• Hayden C
• Jackson C
• Taj L
• Levi L
• Wyatt W
• Libby P

Unfortunately, due to some event clashes, Hayden, Jackson, and Taj were unable to compete at Polding. However, our representatives who did compete achieved excellent results:

• Levi L: 21st in Junior Boys
• Wyatt W: 10th in Junior Boys
• Libby P: 18th in Junior Girls

Congratulations to all our cross country runners for their outstanding efforts!

Winter Sport Trials: Representing Our School!

Diocesan Rugby Union Trials:
Congratulations to Traye L, Jake B, and Roley C who showcased their skills at the Diocesan Rugby Union Winter Sport Trials in Wollongbah. A special shout-out to Roley C, who was successful in making it through to the Polding Rugby team! 

These Polding Rugby Union selection trials were held at Forbes last Monday. Roley played brilliantly and was selected in the Polding team to attend NSW PSSA State Championships next Term. We wish him all of the best.

Rugby League Winter Sports:
The successes for Roley C continued as he was also selected to compete in the Polding Rugby League team from June 16th-19th. The Polding team competed against many other primary school students from around the state, demonstrating incredible teamwork and skill to finish 4th overall. In a truly outstanding achievement, Roley was then selected for the NSW State Team! This is a huge accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of Roley's dedication and talent.

It's been a busy and successful period for sports at our school. We look forward to cheering on our students as they continue to represent us at higher levels!

Parent Connect