Deputy Principal's Report

Welcome back to what already looks like a very full term. We hope the holidays brought some warmth, especially for those who stayed local, and plenty of relaxation. The children have returned looking refreshed and excited for the term ahead.

In true St Finbar’s style, we are beginning the term with a whole school sporting event. Tomorrow is our second attempt at the House Athletics Day. The children should feel well prepared, as they were earlier in the year. If any students are feeling a little unsettled, this is completely normal. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you feel we can support them in any way. If you wish to go through the following social story with your child/ren tonight, feel free to do so as often events that are predictable and understood lessen the worry some students may feel.  

Diversity News Update

We are very fortunate to have been selected to participate in an oral language intervention pilot program for our Year 1 students. This program is designed to boost oral language skills for students who may be experiencing difficulty with language skills primarily with retelling events or stories. We strongly believe that early intervention is essential for closing the gap and helping students feel happy and confident at school. We will be closely supported throughout the eight week program by MACS staff and trained speech therapists. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this program may have for some of our students.

As we continue to support our students, our NCCD collection period is approaching with the August Census date. This is a time when the school reflects on the supports provided across all year levels over the past twelve months. I would like to thank parents and teachers for your ongoing support, especially through your participation in this process and your collaboration with us in developing learning goals for students. We are very lucky to have an incredible team of LSOs and intervention teachers who deliver a wide range of evidence based support programs in classrooms, small groups and individual sessions. We are always learning and seeking ways to improve outcomes for all students, and we welcome feedback from our community on how we can continue to strengthen this work.

Learning in Year 1

I had the privilege of walking into Year 1 as they were sharing their school holiday stories earlier this week. They enjoyed sharing stories about their fabulous school holidays as they practised their oral language skills by telling a partner about their break before listening carefully and sharing their partner's holiday highlights with the class. Students then built on these conversations by writing simple sentences about their experiences, developing both their speaking and writing skills. They were so excited to share some of their templates in this weeks newsletter. 

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Peggy McDonald & Laura Zeeng