Issue 8, Term 2, 21st June 2024

Principals Report

Dear parents, friends, and community. 

As we come to the end of Semester One for 2024, we celebrate a fantastic first part of the year. I am so blessed to lead in this beautiful school and community with supportive parents and friends. 
A Heartfelt Farewell to Ms. Bridget Wells
It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Ms. Bridget Wells at the end of this term. Originally planning to stay in Quilpie for just 12 months, she ended up becoming an integral part of our community for 3 1/5 years.
In her classroom, a remarkable vocabulary wall stands as a testament to her dedication. Among its words is the longest one in the dictionary: “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.” Our students have been fortunate to participate in this linguistic legacy.
Bridget embodies wisdom, humor, and boundless compassion. Her witty nature and unwavering passion have made her a cherished treasure among our staff. As she embarks on her next adventure in Canberra, we hold her in our thoughts and prayers. In August, she will complete the Camino Walk in Spain—a journey we eagerly anticipate for her.
Thank you, Bridget, for leaving behind memories that will forever be cherished. You will be sorely missed.

Quilpie Shire NAIDOC Week Celebrations
This year we have been invited to be a part of the Quilpie Shire NAIDOC celebrations in Week One of Term Three. 
•    Monday, 8th July:
o    The week begins with an Opening Ceremony at Quilpie State College.
o    This is a Pupil Free Day, and students are invited to attend but will need an adult to accompany them.
•    Wednesday, 10th July:
o    Eromanga State School has organised a day of activities for Year 1-6 students.
o    Students will leave at 8.30am and return to school by 3pm.
o    Morning Tea and Lunch will be provided.
•    Friday, 12th July:
o    St Finbarr’s is hosting the Closing Ceremony.
o    Activities include building Gunyeas, Ochre Painting, Traditional Games run by Deadly Choices, and Grinding oats and rice.
o    Morning Tea and Lunch will be provided.
•    A permission form for transportation to Eromanga on Wednesday, 10th July for Year 1-6 students will be sent home today.
Enjoy the celebrations! 

Under 8’s Day 
On Thursday, 11th July, in the first week of the next term, a special event known as “Quilpie’s Under 8’s Day” is being organised for our P-2 students. This event is the result of a collaborative effort between the teachers of St Finbarr’s and Quilpie State College, who have been working diligently to plan a day filled with fun and learning for our Under 8’s in the community.
The theme for this year’s Under 8’s Day is “Connecting Culture”. This theme has sparked our creativity, and we are excited to see how it will be reflected in the day’s activities. In line with this theme, we are encouraging all students to dress up in a way that represents their favourite country. This could be a costume that represents something iconic from that country or simply wearing the colours of the country’s flag.
This event promises to be a wonderful opportunity for our young students to learn about different cultures and express their creativity. We look forward to seeing everyone’s costumes and celebrating our diverse community!
New 4-6 Teacher 
Next term, we’re excited to welcome Mrs. Krystal Cathcart, an experienced educator with a Bachelor of Education and a soon-to-be PhD holder, to our teaching staff. Mrs. Cathcart, who will be joining us along with her family, has taught all grades from Prep to Grade 12 and is known for her ability to cater to individual learning needs. She believes in holistic child development and building strong relationships with students. Her passion for teaching and her commitment to her students have earned her high praise from her current Principal. We look forward to her joining our community. 

Wishing you all a peaceful and restful school holiday. Enjoy this special time with your children and family. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, 9th July for Term Three. Have a wonderful break!
Until next time, 
Mrs. Kara Marsh

Student of the Week & Gotcha Winners Term 2

Gotcha tickets are given out each week when students are seen to be following our school rules and values.  Actions may include caring for each other, greeting other students, staff and parents warmly or showing respect and responsibility.                                                                                                                                                                                      Actions may also be following the words of Mary Mackillop - 'Never see a need without doing something about it'.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       All the Gotcha tickets a placed in the 'Gotcha box' and two names are drawn out each week, the remaining names stay in the box and are added to each week.

Miss Janell

What a wonderful surprise we had last week, when Miss Janell came to visit and bought along some of her world-famous pikelets. They are made from a secret recipe and very delicious.

Prep Classroom

What a great Term we’ve had in the Prep Classroom!

In English, we are reading the Pig the Pug series written by Aaron Blabey. So far, we have enjoying reading and making connections between Pig the Pug, Pig the Blob, Pig the Winner, Pig the Star and Pig the Tourist. Students have been investigating the purpose of each story and what the author is trying to teach us. Whilst exploring the personality traits of Pig the Pug and Trevor, students have made connections between the books and their own experiences. Throughout the books, students are recognizing how the main character’s behaviour choices have affected his friends and others around him.  

In technologies, students have explored how to use a laptop and create a document in Microsoft word as well as a variety of apps on the iPad. These apps have introduced students to coding, problem solving and book creating. 

In Mathematics, Preps have been exploring measurement, including length, capacity, mass and duration. We have enjoyed learning new vocabulary and investigating how much a container holds and what it looks like when it is empty, half full and full. Students also loved learning the hefting technique and using the scales to discover how heavy items were and how to make the scales balance.  

Wishing everyone a wonderful break, 

Mrs Hennessy

P-2 Classroom

Dear Parents,

Wow! What a beautiful, busy crisp term it has been. It has been so wonderful seeing students enjoying sitting in the beautiful Quilpie sun at lunchtime. P-2 have had so much fun experimenting in science with different liquids, powders and investigating how substances combine and separate.  We love working as a team in the afternoons to enjoy our time together learning and growing.

Students are becoming very proficient in their handwriting and fine motor skills. Preps are showing our 1s and 2s how much they have learnt over the term, it is such a delight to see. We have enjoyed our Health unit of discussing what food is healthy and the different food groups food belongs too. There have been many highlights of Term 2 and I cannot believe we are half way through the year. All our students have grown so much, and I am so proud of each and everyone of them.

Year 1s and 2s enjoyed designing and decorating their dioramas in Week 9 to match their creative narratives. These stories were based off The Last Laugh English unit. I love the creative and critical thinking that is occurring in our classroom. My goal has been to encourage our students to become independent in their thinking and share their ideas as a team, our class is absolutely displaying this.

Year 2 are very excited that we have begun learning multiplication in math, whilst year 1 are becoming very efficient with their addition facts. Our Numbers of the days and hands on activities have been a hit in Math warmups.

I pray and hope that you all have a wonderful holiday break. I am looking forward to next term and feel privileged to be on this journey with all your beautiful children.

God Bless,

Miss Tahlia Derry

Diorama's

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3-6 Classroom

Farewell Ms. Wells

Goodbye and Good luck to Ms. Wells, we will miss your use of Big words and caring nature. Love ya work!

Mini Finnies

Mini Finnie's is a play-based education program, aimed at developing essential skills for a successful transition into prep.

The program will run each Friday morning during Term 3 & 4 from 8.45 - 11am.

All children starting prep in 2025 are welcome to attend with their parent or guardian.

Our Principal Kara Marsh and Miss Jen Anderson are looking forward to welcoming you!

Please contact the Office if you know of anyone who would like   to attend. quilpie@twb.catholic.edu.au, 

ph 07 46 215 200

Please fill in this form to RSVP https://forms.office.com/r/26CQf7rRFy   (right Click to open link)

NAIDOC Week Opening Monday 8th July

Under 8's Day Thursday 11th July 2024

TERM 2 SCHOOL FEE'S

School Reports

Semester 1 School report cards have gone home today. Please check your bags

Pirate Day 21st June

Catholic Education Week

Things are gearing up for Catholic Education Week from 21-27 July 2024.
The overarching theme of CEW this year is Communities of Faith, Hope and Love. In our Toowoomba Catholic Schools, we will be highlighting the theme of ‘love’.

This theme, referencing 1 Corinthians 13, provides schools with an easily adaptable theme, clearly linked to their Catholic ethos. To learn more about the connection of love to our Catholic

13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.

Tuck-Shop 2024

Thank you to our families each week who run a Tuck shop- the kids love having Mum or Dad there and all our other Mums & Dads love not having to make a lunchbox on a Monday.

Please make sure you read the Operating Procedures in the Tuck shop to familiarize yourself with how it runs, always ask Office questions if you're not sure.                                                                                                                    

10am Snack Attack                                                                                                                                                                          11am 1st Break -Fruit/veg option and  home bake                                                                                                                     1pm 2nd Break- Lunch and dessert                                             

Parents on Tuck shop will not be sent home an envelope for their student. Please see the office if you have any issue's or need some money to pay for items (please bring receipt)

Please note: Please don't send PEANUT related snacks to school. Peanuts only are not permitted; other nuts are fine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             A link to the Operating Procedures can be found below.                                                        

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School Absences

Volunteer Declaration

Can parents who haven't returned their form please do so. Please speak to the office if you need another form . These forms are  a conformation of you having understood what behaviour is required from parents in regards to dealing and interacting with students when on Tuckshop.

Assembly

Dont forget each Friday we have assembly in the Mary Mackillop room, where student awards are presented and School notices are shared with students and families present , at 8.45am when the bell rings please head on into the Mary Mackillop room 

Quilpie & District & Regional Sport

PPF 2024

The next scheduled meeting is 

 July 24th ,5pm 

All are welcome to come and have some input into your school.

President -Mr. Sam Bartlett
Vice president-Mr. Dan Hoch
Treasurer - Mrs. Amy Kuhn
Secretary – Ms. Kerri Thompson
Fundraising C0-Ordinator - Mrs. Lousie Hoch

School Website & Calendar

Please make youself familiar with our School Website, below is the Website link and a direct link to the school online calendar which has future dates on it that may not have been included in the Term planner, such as AGM and Fete dates.

Below shows you in 4 steps on how to subscribe the school online  calendar onto your phone's calendar, when reading school newsletter via your phone 

 St Finbarr's School, Quilpie, Calendar 

 St Finbarr's School, Quilpie Website

2024 Term Planner

Please find the Term Planner for T1 and T2, please also keep a look out on our website for other dates or subscribe to school calander as shown above.

School Yard access

School Bell Times

Term Dates 2024

St Finbarr's Student Protection Contacts

It is a legislative requirement that all non-state schools have at least two nominated staff members to whom a student can report the behaviour of another staff member that the student considers inappropriate.  We call these specially trained staff members School Student Protection Contacts, or SSPCs.  Each SSPC has been nominated by the principal in recognition of their integrity, approachability and knowledge in the area of student protection.  Whilst students are encouraged to speak up to any trusted adult in the school community, it is important that they know they can access these specific staff members at any time should they have worries, queries or concerns. You will have noticed posters throughout the school depicting our current SSPCs.  The SSPCs are also published on our school website along with information about our student protection processes.  In everything we do at St Finbarr's student safety is our highest priority, therefore the SSPCs at our school are key personnel in our overall safeguarding processes.  Please see the poster depicting our current SSPC team.