Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to a new term!  I hope that you all managed to enjoy a bit of a break, whether that involved a holiday somewhere warm or staying closer to home.  We welcome two new students to St Finbar's this term, Madi (3D) and Harper (1H). We're so glad that you've joined us. 

We had an exciting baby news announcement on the last day of term! Our Deputy Principal, Laura Zeeng, is expecting a baby girl in November. 

We have a lot coming up this term, starting with our Athletics Carnival tomorrow. Please take the time to read through the information provided on NForma to ensure that your children have everything they need for a successful day tomorrow.    A reminder that all students in Years 3 to 6 need to be at school by 8:15am.

A huge thank you to Mrs Tania Thompson, who has put in a huge amount of work organising tomorrow's Athletics day. We're particularly grateful because she has pretty much had to start planning from scratch after our cancellation in March. 

Grandparents' Day 

We are looking forward to our annual Grandparents' and Special Friends Day next Thursday 23rd  July. This is always one of the most well-attended dates in our calendar; the information below may help with logistics. 

• Thomas Sherry playground will be open for parking from 8:30am
• The children may sit with their grandparents during Mass - the teachers will do their  best to facilitate this as classes enter the church.
• Following Mass, grandparents and friends are invited to visit the classrooms. School staff will be available to help everyone find the right classrooms. Generally, we'll direct grandparents to the youngest child's classroom and older siblings can meet their grandparents there. Family groups are welcome to stay together if you need to visit two or three classrooms. 
• At about 10:45am grandparents and friends will be invited down to the hall for a light lunch. Christian will be on site with his coffee van. 

Child Safe Standard 5

At St Finbar's, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, included and able to participate fully in school life. Child Safe Standard 5 reminds us of our responsibility to uphold equity and respect the diverse needs of every student.

One of the ways we do this is through the work of our dedicatedLearning Diversity Leader, Mrs Peggy McDonald, who partners with teachers, families and specialists to ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive. We're also lucky to have such a wonderful team of Learning Support Officers who work with individuals and small groups. Regular Program Support Group (PSG) meetings provide valuable opportunities to celebrate progress, discuss goals and work together to meet each child's individual needs.

For many students, Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) help guide their learning journey. These plans allow us to make thoughtful adjustments in the classroom so that every child can access learning, participate confidently and experience success. 

At St Finbar's, inclusion is at the heart of who we are. We are proud to work in partnership with families to create a learning environment where every child is known, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. This commitment reflects our belief that every child is a treasured member of our school community.

Take care and God bless,

Michelle Hill

Principal