Principal's Report

Dear Families,

I will be taking some long service leave at the end of this term starting from Thursday September 11th. During this time, I’ll be lucky enough to spend a few weeks travelling in Greece. I’m very much looking forward to returning refreshed and seeing everyone at the start of Term 4.

In my absence, Callum Mills and Laura Zeeng will be stepping into the role of Acting Principals, and I know the school will be in excellent hands.

Happy Father's Day

This Sunday we celebrate all the dads, grandfathers, uncles and special role models in our community. We know Father’s Day can look different for every family, and we are thankful for all those who support, guide and care for our children.

A reminder that our Father’s Day Breakfast is on tomorrow morning from 7:30am – we hope to see many of you there! A big thank you in advance  to our Year 3 Parent Reps who have put in so much time to preparing for tomorrow. Anna and her canteen team will be up before the crack of dawn preparing the breakfast, so please say thanks if you see Anna (if her eyes are still open). 

Dads’ Footy Match – A Huge Success!

Last Saturday’s Dads’ football match against St Joan of Arc was an absolute highlight of the year so far.  We had a huge turnout, and the atmosphere around the ground was fantastic, a true celebration of community spirit.  The kids’ match beforehand was a lot of fun, with plenty of smiles, energy, and fun on display, and then it was time for the main event  with the Dads' match.

A big thank you to Daniel Kalnins and all the other dads on the organising committee for the time and effort they put in to make this event such a success. Thanks also to Matt Skehill for once again taking some great photos. 

You can see some photos below, and don’t forget to check out the P&F page of this newsletter for even more great moments captured.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools - School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS)

The MACSSIS survey window is now open and will remain so until Thursday, 19th September.  On Monday, you should have received an email from Amanda Johnson with your personal Family PIN to access the survey.

Last year, 79 families took part, and we’d love to see that number grow this year. We know it’s a bit of a time commitment (around 20 minutes to complete) but your feedback is incredibly valuable. A big thank you to the 18 families who have already submitted their responses.

Students in Years 4 to 6 will also complete their own version of the survey, and all staff take part as well. This is an annual initiative across all MACS schools, and the results give us important insights into how we’re going as a community and where we can continue to grow.

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences 

Our Student Led Conferences are coming up next week on Monday 8th September and Tuesday 9th September from 2:15pm – 6:15pm.

Students in Years 3 to 6 will also be taking part in these conferences. Each session begins with time for parents to meet privately with teachers, before students are invited in to share their learning journey. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to talk about what they’ve been working on, the goals they’ve set, and the steps they’re taking to achieve them.

To book your conference time, please click on this link: www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/myawy or use the QR code provided.

Swimming Program

Our Swimming Program has now concluded for 2025. We were very pleased with our new venue at the Danny Frawley Centre, and we will be in touch with them soon about securing a booking for 2026, as well as discussing ways to further improve next year’s program.

The students have done so well coping with the intensive schedule, showing resilience and enthusiasm throughout. They should feel very proud of their efforts. No doubt they are ready for a well-deserved rest and a return to normal routine.

Final Day of Book Fair

Thank you to Narelle who has coordinated our Book Fair. You have one last chance to purchase books tomorrow morning during the Father's Day breakfast. 

Annual Review Meetings

This week we have started conducting our annual review meetings with our 40 staff members here at St Finbar’s. These conversations are an opportunity to sit down with each person, celebrate their achievements so far this year, and reflect together on any challenges they may be facing. They provide a meaningful way to acknowledge the dedication of our staff.

We are also grateful to our families, whose ongoing encouragement and partnership enable our staff to do their best work with the children in their care.

Take care and God Bless, 

Michelle Hill 

Principal