Hello!

Thank You

As we reach the end of an eventful Term 2 at St Finbar’s, it’s a wonderful time to pause and reflect on all that we have shared as a community. This term has been filled with energy, excitement, and an impressive display of student engagement across so many areas of school life.

From the cheers at Cross Country to the solemn reflections of ANZAC Day, from the joy of excursions and incursions to the determination shown during our 5/6 Winter Sport competitions and Lightning Premiership Days – our students have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and spirit. We’ve witnessed creative talents come to life through our preparations for Peter Pan the Musical, and hearts warmed during our Mother’s Day celebrations, Dad’s camping trip, and our ongoing visits to Mayflower Aged Care Residence.

Term 2 has truly showcased the depth of learning, the strength of relationships, and the community spirit that make St Finbar’s such a special place. Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and incredible students for making it all possible.

Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating holiday break.

Semester One Reports

Semester One Student Reports will be available for families to access via the Parent Portal between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Wednesday 2nd July. An instructional PDF guide on how to login and navigate the portal will be included with this newsletter to support parents and carers in accessing their child’s report. We encourage you to take the time to read through your child’s progress and celebrate their achievements and growth over the first half of the school year.

nForma - Parent Portal Access for Student Reports

Please see below for the PDF Guides below for accessing your child’s report. Please allow the 3 hours between 1:00 and 4:00 PM on Wednesday for your child’s report to be uploaded to the portal. If you have not received the report by 4:00 PM or you are having technical difficulties, please email Callum Mills - cmills@sfbrightoneast.catholic.edu.au

Save the Date

We are excited to invite all families to a special Parent Information Night hosted by Toolbox Psychology with Psychologist David Berlinski. This valuable session is FREE and will take place on Tuesday 1st of July from 7:00pm to 8:00pm in the school hall. The evening is targeted to an adult audience and will be relevant for all families with children of any age. David will share a range of evidence-based strategies that support children and adults with emotional regulation. Please refer to the image on the right for more information. It is a wonderful opportunity to gain practical tools and insights to support your family’s wellbeing – we encourage all parents and carers to attend. Please fill in this google form to register your attendance.

FREE Parent Resources

As stated in our previous newsletter, many families have reached out to us seeking resources to support themselves, their families and their children. Each fortnight, we’ll share a selection of helpful tools—including professional development sessions, books, podcasts, and more—that you may find valuable. We’re all doing our absolute best, and these resources are here to support our growth, understanding, and shared learning journey. If you find any resources yourself, please share them with us to share with the parent community in the future.

Resource 1 - The Grow Your mind Podcast

A podcast hosted by children and teens where they use storytelling and humour to to increase children’s understanding of their mental health and ways to be resilient. Throughout various episodes, these children interview people like Australian boxer Harry Garside and other professionals. This podcast is best listened to with parents and students together as they explore concepts of gratitude, healthy friendships, courage, mindset, and the importance of movement and hope!

Access the podcast HERE to stream it on your preferable device.

Excellence – The St Finbar’s Way

Celebrating Students Who Strive to Be Their Best

This fortnight, we are proud to celebrate Chloe in Year 4 as our Celebration of Excellence feature. Chloe has demonstrated outstanding dedication to her learning, particularly in Mathematics. With a genuine passion for problem-solving, Chloe has taken it upon herself to extend her understanding of Algebra by working diligently outside of school hours. Her commitment to challenging herself and striving for growth is truly inspiring. In this edition, we’ve included an example of Chloe’s recent work as well as an excerpt from a short interview, where she shares what motivates her and how she approaches learning with curiosity and persistence. Well done, Chloe!

Tell us about your favourite subjects:

CL: My favourite subjects include Maths, Writing and ICT. In Maths I love to improve my skills and take on challenges. In Writing I really enjoy writing narratives and ICT gives me the chance to explore technology and be creative.

What have you been working on in your own time?

CL: At home I work on Maths with my dad. We work on algebra, multiplication and division. I also play Soccer in my spare time.

I know you work really hard on your Maths - How often do you practice outside of the lessons you get here at St Finbar’s?

CL: I practice for 30 minutes everyday and it helps me get better.

What makes a good mathematician?

CL: I think it is important to practice everyday and try to challenge yourself. A good mathematician builds on the skills they know to try to solve problems.

What are some personal goals you have for yourself for Maths and in general?

CL: I would like to get better at algebra and do more complex equations and in general I would like to improve my reading fluency.

What advice do you have for other people who might want to improve their Maths or challenge themselves in Maths?

CL: Just give it a go even if it looks hard. If it is hard or a complex problem, use what you know to figure it out step-by-step.

History in Year 5 & 6

This term, our Year 5/6 students have been immersed in a rich History unit exploring personal and collective stories of migration to Australia. The students have investigated their own family histories, uncovering the journeys, challenges, and contributions of those who came before them. This learning has fostered a sense of connection, identity, and appreciation for the diverse stories within our community. We are especially grateful to the families of Mila and Hendrix from 5H, who have generously shared the websites their children created to showcase their family migration stories. These digital presentations are a powerful example of learning that is both personal and meaningful—thank you for allowing us a window into your family histories.

Have a great week - May God Bless

Laura and Callum

Deputy Principals

Sustainability

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