Dear Parents,

A reminder that we have a long weekend coming up next week. Friday 3rd November has been allocated as a Time-in-Lieu day. As a direct result of the Catholic Education Multi Enterprise Agreement 2022 schools are required to compensate staff for time that they have accrued throughout the school year for their attendance at functions outside of the normal work day.

Monday 6th November is a report writing day and Tuesday 7th November is Melbourne Cup Day.

Farewell to Pat

Our farewell to Pat is happening next Thursday afternoon. We will gather in the hall at 2:30pm for a formal goodbye which should go for about 20 minutes. We will then open up the playground spaces for a more informal catch up with Pat. Christian will be here with his coffee van for those of you that would like to buy a coffee or hot chocolate, and all students will receive an icy-pole. You are free to take your children home a bit early on this day once you have said goodbye to Pat, however you will need to sign your child out through the office. Drive-Through may be affected on this day as we will not open the gates until 3:25pm.

Prep 2024 Orientation

Our first group of Prep students visited us on Monday and enjoyed their first taste of 'big school'. For some students with older siblings already at St Finbar's, it was exciting to spend some time at the school that is already familiar with them. We look forward to welcoming our next group this coming Monday. The incoming preps will have two more opportunities to visit in order to ease their transition into Prep next year.

Day for Daniel

In our school, we are committed to fostering a nurturing and secure environment where our students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to speak openly about their feelings and experiences. A Day for Daniel Morcombe is a day where we are reminded of the critical importance of student wellbeing and child safety. It is dedicated to the memory of Daniel Morcombe and serves as a powerful reminder that the safety and emotional wellbeing of our children are paramount.

Over the next fortnight, students will engage in activities that acknowledge how students feel safe, act safe and respond to unsafe situations. A Day for Daniel encourages us all to engage in conversations about personal safety, to educate our children, and to strengthen the bonds of trust within our community. We invite you to engage in similar conversations at home, as we work together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our St. Finbar’s students.

Thank you to our Wellbeing Curriculum Leader Laura Zeeng who has coordinated Day for Daniel here at St Finbar's.

Lost Property

Our lost property box is overflowing at the moment. Nearly all items are unnamed or have names of ex-students. There are also many non-uniform items leftover from camps and/or swimming program. At the end of next week we will clear the box, donating items back to the Uniform Shop or a local Op Shop.

Speaking with Power

Our Year 5 students are in the middle of their Speaking with Power public speaking program at the moment. Anyone who has ever attended a St Finbar's assembly would have witnessed first hand the professionalism and confidence with which our Year 6 student leaders lead our assemblies. This is due in no small part to this comprehensive program which teaches our students the essential skills for public speaking.

Christmas Carols

It's still a while away but it will be here before we know it. Our annual Christmas Carols will take place out on the Mary Clare playground (weather-dependent) on November 29th at 5pm. Anna is planning on preparing picnic boxes again so keep an eye on the Healthy Hut ordering platform for these.

God bless,

Michelle Hill,

Acting Principal

Team Kids