Deputy Principals' Report

Dear Parents and Friends,

Hello from Canberra. All of the staff present this week have been impressed with the maturity shown by our Year 6 students this week on camp. The students have displayed many of the St Finbar's values and have cared for and looked after each other at all times. For many of these students, it is the longest that they have been away from home and they have embraced the challenges and shown resilience. Their enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, manners and respect for the tour guides has been impressive. This has also been noted and expressed by many tour guides and presenters during the week. We have been proud of the way that these students have represented St Finbar's this week.

School camps have many benefits including:

Development of social skills.
Development of independence skills.
Development of decision-making skills.
Increased environmental awareness.
Learning new skills.

New Psychologist - Ellie Nicolay

We warmly welcome Ellie Nicolay, our school psychologist to St Finbar's this year. Ellie has a wealth of experience and will be a great asset to our community. Ellie will be at school on Mondays to work with our students, starting Monday 10th February. If you would like more information please contact Cathy Ferrari - Wellbeing Leader - cferrari@sfbrightoneast.catholic.edu.au or call school. Please read Ellie's biography below.

Bio: Ellie Nicolay

Ellie is a psychologist who has a strong interest in supporting the wellbeing and positive development of young individuals and is passionate about working with children. She holds a Masters in ‘Educational and Developmental’ Psychology from Monash University, and has had experience working in primary school, secondary school and private clinic settings. Ellie provides a holistic, family-centred approach to therapy and draws from a range of evidence-based treatments including cognitive behavioural therapy, play therapy and mindfulness. She believes that a collaborative approach involving the child, their parents, teachers and other allied health professionals, is integral to achieving the best outcomes. In her other world, Ellie is also a Mum of three adolescent boys, and enjoys family time as well as reading for pleasure, cooking and walks with her Labradoodle Oscar.

Cathy Ferrari and Michelle Hill

Deputy Principals