Deputy Principal's Report
End of Term Preparation
As we move deeper into the final stretch of the school year, we know this can be a time of mixed emotions for students and families. Excitement, anticipation and understandably tiredness are all part of these final weeks. Children are navigating big transitions, end-of-year events and changes to routine, so it’s natural to see energy levels dipping. Please continue to support your child by maintaining healthy sleep routines, keeping afternoons calm where possible, and encouraging them to talk about how they’re feeling.
Next Friday morning is our much-anticipated UP Day, where students spend time in their 2026 classrooms and meet the teacher and peers they will be learning with next year. This is a wonderful opportunity to build confidence and reduce the ‘unknowns’ that can cause worry over the break. Families can help prepare their child by speaking positively about the day, reassuring them that curiosity and nerves are completely normal, and reminding them that UP Day is simply a chance to explore, connect and feel excited about what lies ahead.
Our staff have also been working incredibly hard behind the scenes. Over the past several weeks, classroom teachers, specialist teachers, Learning Diversity staff and Leadership have collaborated closely to place every student in the best possible learning environment for 2026. This is a thoughtful, multi-layered process that takes into account academic needs, social connections, wellbeing considerations, class dynamics, and recommendations from a range of teachers who know each individual child deeply. We ask for your understanding and trust in this process.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we approach the end of another wonderful year at St Finbar’s. Together, let’s help our students finish strong, stay connected, and look forward with confidence to the exciting year ahead.
Choir Community Visit – Sharing Christmas Joy
This week, our wonderful St Finbar’s Choir had the privilege of visiting Mayflower Aged Care and Halcyon Aged Care to share the spirit of Christmas with residents. With beautiful voices, warm smiles and plenty of festive cheer, our students performed a selection of carols that brought joy, comfort and connection to everyone present.
After singing, the children spent time chatting and mingling with residents, offering a moment of companionship that was clearly treasured. Many residents commented on how uplifting it was to have the students visit, and how much they appreciated the energy and kindness the children brought into their day.
These visits remind us of the power of community, compassion and intergenerational connection. A heartfelt thank you to our choir members and staff for representing our school with such grace and generosity. They truly helped spread the magic of Christmas.
Thank you to Miss Kay for preparing the children and Ms Douglas for arranging the visit.
Narelle's Book Recommendations/Returning Library books
As we approach the end of the school year, we kindly ask that all St Finbar’s library books be returned from next week. This helps us complete our annual stocktake and ensure our collection is ready for students in 2026. Thank you in advance for your support in getting books back to us promptly.
We are also excited to share two fantastic opportunities to keep students reading and engaged over the holidays. The Big Summer Read programs at our local libraries offer a fun and interactive way to build reading habits over the break, with great prizes on offer including book packs, LEGO sets and MOPA vouchers.
You can explore the programs here:
Bayside Libraries – Big Summer Read:https://bayside.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/HOME?HOMEPRMS=UD_BIG_SUMMER_READ
Glen Eira Libraries – Big Summer Read:https://library.gleneira.vic.gov.au/whats-on/big-
summer-read
A huge thank you to our school community for fostering a love of reading throughout the year. Happy summer reading! Thank you to our librarian Narelle for all the work that goes into allowing our students to borrow each week and the huge effort that goes into maintaining our library with new and current books that keep our students engaged and foster their love for reading.
A Final Word of Thanks
As we draw near to the end of the school year, Laura and Callum would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the entire St Finbar’s community for your ongoing support, partnership and generosity throughout 2025. It has been a year filled with learning, growth, celebration and connection and none of it would be possible without the trust and collaboration of our families, staff and students.
We are continually inspired by the way our community rallies together supporting school events, engaging in learning conversations, volunteering time, and showing such genuine care for the wellbeing and success of every child. Your encouragement, understanding and willingness to work alongside us make St Finbar’s a truly special place to belong.
To our wonderful students, thank you for your enthusiasm, resilience and joy. To our dedicated staff, thank you for your professionalism, creativity and unwavering commitment. And to our families, thank you for the countless ways, big and small, that you help this community thrive.
As we prepare to farewell the year and look ahead to the opportunities of 2026, please know how grateful we are for the partnership we share. We wish all families a safe, restful and joy-filled holiday season, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back with renewed energy in the new year.
May God bless,
Callum & Laura