Deputy Principal's Report

Hello!

As we move into the final weeks of the school year, there is a wonderful sense of energy and anticipation across St Finbar’s. It’s an exciting time of year, filled with celebrations, reflection, and opportunities for our students to shine. It is also, undeniably, one of our busiest periods full of events, transitions, and preparations for the year ahead.

During this time, it’s important that we continue to support one another and remain grounded in the strong relationships that make our community so special. Let’s take the chance to cherish the time we have left together in our classrooms, year-level teams, and the many different communities that form the heart of our school.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership, positivity, and care as we bring the year to a close.

Year 4 Camp

Our Year 4 students recently returned from a memorable three-day adventure at Lady Northcote Discovery Camp in Glenmore. From the moment we arrived, their enthusiasm, positivity and growing resilience shone through. Resilience quickly becoming the defining theme of the camp.

Students threw themselves into every activity on offer, including bike riding, initiatives and low ropes, canoeing, and the always-popular giant swing, which many bravely completed in rain and even hail. The Survivor session was another highlight, where students tried their hand at yabbying and hut building, showing fantastic teamwork and determination.

Evenings were just as enjoyable. Night One featured a highly entertaining talent show and disco, with plenty of laughs and impressive performances. Night Two offered a more relaxed atmosphere with a cosy movie night, giving everyone a chance to unwind after a big day of activity.

A heartfelt thank you to Miss Antonio and Mr Daly, Miss Kay, Sue, and Cath for their dedication, care and energy throughout the camp. Their support ensured our students were safe, encouraged and able to make the most of every opportunity.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 4 cohort for the way they embraced challenges, supported one another, and demonstrated resilience in such meaningful ways.

Celebration of Excellence – Year 3 Division Superstars!

This fortnight, we are delighted to celebrate the wonderful achievements of our Year 3 students as they wrapped up their recent Mathematics unit on division. Throughout the unit, students have been learning to identify keywords, use number facts, and apply these to construct their own division worded problems. An impressive step in developing deep mathematical thinking.

A special highlight was welcoming Poppy, Sienna, Gus and Tommy to the Deputy Principal’s office earlier this week. With confidence and clarity, they each explained how they used specific keywords such as shared equally, groups of, and divided between to design meaningful and accurate division worded problems. 

They proudly shared their self-created worded problems, demonstrating not only strong number knowledge but also the ability to communicate their thinking. A skill that sits at the heart of true mathematical understanding.

Their enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to challenge themselves are a testament to the hard work happening in Year 3. Well done to our budding mathematicians. Your problem-solving skills are shining brightly!

Year 6/Teacher Buddy Afternoon Tea – A Cherished St Finbar’s Tradition

This week, our Year 6 students and staff gathered in the John Ashe Playground for the much-loved Year 6/Teacher Buddy Afternoon Tea which is a long-standing St Finbar’s tradition that continues to highlight the warmth, gratitude and community spirit that make our school so special.

Students arrived with an impressive assortment of food to share, from homemade treats to carefully prepared snacks, each plate contributing to a beautiful spread that reflected the generosity and thoughtfulness of our Year 6 cohort. The atmosphere was relaxed and joyful, with students and teachers taking the time to sit together, chat, reflect on the year, and simply enjoy one another’s company.

This occasion is always a meaningful milestone for our oldest students as they prepare to transition into the next chapter of their schooling. It offers a chance to say thank you, to connect, and to celebrate the relationships that have supported them along the way.

A sincere thank you to our Year 6 families for their contributions, and to our staff for helping uphold this treasured tradition. The afternoon was a wonderful reminder of the strong bonds and culture of gratitude that shape our community.

Narelle's Book Recommendations

What is a ‘graphic novel’? Did you know that reading them can enhance your child’s literacy superpowers? Graphic novels are books that combine pictures and text to tell a story, in a format often similar to a ‘comic book’.  Graphic novels are an excellent choice for readers of all ages and abilities. The accompanying pictures provide visual cues for readers to decode which help infer meaning and enrich the story. 

Readers use five different types of literacies when reading a graphic novel, including linguistic, visual and symbolic, to interpret and decode the story on the page.  Unlike a movie or television show, the reader is in control of the pace of a graphic novel, allowing them to take as much time as they want with the story. 

Graphic novels can be stand alone books or part of a series, such as Amulet or The Baby-Sitters Club. Stories within graphic novels span a wide range of genres including humor, fantasy, adventure, mystery and realistic fiction. Many graphic novels tackle relatable topics such as friendships, moving to new schools, changing family dynamics,  and embracing differences. 

They include adaptations of popular classics such as Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz and The Secret Garden. Books such as Raina Telgemeier’s Sisters and Smile are as popular today as when published over ten years ago, as is the Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi. We are lucky to have many wonderful graphic novels in our library and love helping students find stories in this exciting format. Our collection continues to grow and we look forward to helping your little reader find a graphic novel they love. 

Top picks for Christmas 

Prep -2

Kid-life is the worst! Surely, freedom as a cat would be a dream life - or would it? Find out when our cheeky protagonist gets their wish to transform into a cat. Gorgeously illustrated and fun rhyming text will make this book a bedtime favourite.

Wizz is back, pleading with you again not to open and keep reading this book - please! Watch Wizz’s adventures spiral “out of this world” as the story goes on - you won’t be able to stop.  

Year 3/4 

After the hilarious adventures of Justin Chase in Worst Week Ever,now it’s Worst Pets Ever! Captain Fluffykins, Nickers and Brutus are locked up in the Worst Pets Ever Obedience School - it’s so awful, they’re hatching a plan to escape. Fantastic fun for independent readers or a family read along. 

Cater to the curious minds in your household with this excellent collection of answers to questions such as “Why do we burp?” and “Which animal has the most teeth?”. With 213 weird questions and answers, this one’s sure to keep them entertained over the summer holidays. 

Year 5/6

The sequel to the hugely popular Runt (also adapted into a movie), follows the adventures after Annie and Runt have competed in the dog show. Life is good, until Runt mysteriously goes missing - Annie must find a way to rescue Runt before it’s too late. A heartwarming tale every reader will love. 

In his first graphic novel, much loved Australian author Gus Gordon explores friendship, adventure and what happens when we move out of our comfort zone. Funny and life-affirming, a great read for all ages.