Principal's Report

Welcome to 2026!

Today marks one week since the children started back for the new school year, and everyone is quickly settling in to their new school routine.  It was great to welcome our new Preps yesterday. The school didn't seem quite the same without our youngest students for the first few days, but it was finally their turn. There was much excitement as they made their way into the school yesterday morning, pausing for many milestone photos along the way. 

We have some new students who have joined us this year.    We are so pleased that you and your families are now a part of the St Finbar's community. 

Welcome to :

Year 1 - Cruz E, Dana M

Year 2 - Benjamin K

Year 3 -  Milos M

Year 4 - Ayo O

Year 5 - Nicholas M, Mine D

Two new staff members have also joined us this year. We welcome Sarah Daly who is teaching 3D this year and a new LSO has also joined our team,  Dianne Rayner.   You can find a full staff list further down in this newsletter.

Thank you to the many families that attended Tuesday's Parent Information Evening; it was wonderful to see so many of you there. It's always a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers and see their new classrooms. For those that couldn't make it I have included the main points that were covered in my information session further down in this newsletter. Classroom teachers will make their own presentations available to you.  

Our Year 6 students will be presented with their leadership jumpers and badges tomorrow morning at assembly. This is always a special occasion for our new student leaders and the Year 6 parents are invited to attend. We also wish the Year 6s well as they head off to Canberra on Monday. They have a jam packed itinerary planned, but it is always a valuable experience for the children.

Parent Handbook

The parent handbook has been updated for 2026. The new Prep families have received their own hard copy version but here is a copy for your own perusal. You will also find a copy on the school website. 

Parent Information Evening slides

For those that weren't able to attend our information evening on Tuesday, here are the slides that were used. Feel free to browes

2026 Staffing

Prep A   Miss Bianca Antonio              Prep P     Mrs Louise Pickering

1C           Miss Carlie Cochrane             1H            Miss Sigrid Happell

2B            Mrs Fiona Byrne                      2F            Miss Caroline Farrelly 

3D           Miss Sarah Daly                        3G           Miss Annalisa Gourley

4D            Mr Shane Daly                         4M          Miss Meg Mackinnon           

5B            Miss Shannon Bourke            5L          Miss Niamh Lennon

6N            Mrs Amanda Norton/

                  Mrs Tania Thompson              6T         Mr Peter Tyndall

Parish Priest:                                                                     Fr. Ian Ranson

Principal:                                                                            Ms Michelle Hill

Deputy Principal/Learning Diversity:                       Mrs Peggy McDonald   

Deputy Principal/REL/

Wellbeing:                                                                           Ms Laura Zeeng

Learning and Teaching Leader:                                    Mr Callum Mills 

Administration Manager (M/Tu/Th/F):                   Mrs Libby Thomas

Administration Assistant (M/Tu/W/Th):                 Mrs Cath Davies-Gray

Leaders:

Literacy Leader:                             Miss Nonie Kay

Maths Leader:                                 Mrs Jo Fraser

eLearning Leader:                         Mrs Amanda Norton 

Sustainability/ 

Indigenous Perspectives/

Community Leader:                      Ms Lisa Douglas

Graduate Teachers/

Inductions Leader:                        Miss Sigrid Happell

Specialists Teachers

PE (Prep - Yr 4):                          Mrs Jenny Allen

PE (Yr 5 & 6) & Sports:             Mrs Tania Thompson

Performing Arts:                        Miss Nonie Kay

LOTE (Italian):                             Mrs Lena Sirianni

Visual Arts:                                  Ms Lisa Douglas

Reading Recovery:                    Mrs Dianne Ward

Intervention:                                Mrs Jo Fraser

Other Staff

Library Admin:                                 Mrs Narelle Connell

Learning Support Officers:          Mrs Sally Hill                                                                                                                                                        Mrs Sue Humble

                                                             Mrs Anthea Conroy

                                                             Mrs Sonia Blakey

                                                             Mrs Liesl Willcocks

                                                             Mrs Ania Von Oxenberg

                                                             Mrs Narelle Connell

                                                             Ms Ann Barber

                                                             Mrs Cecilia Hedley

                                                             Miss Alessia Colletti

                                                             Miss Kim Berends

                                                             Mrs Dianne Rayner

Occupational Therapist/

Learning Diversity Leader:          Ms Andrea La Fontaine

Groundsman:                                    Mr Dino Tornese

Take care and God bless,

Michelle Hill

Principal