Volume 14 Issue 4 Term 1, 21st March 2025

Principals Report

Dear Parents and Friends,

I hope this message finds you well. I am delighted to share some wonderful updates and express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

Family Mass: This Sunday, we will gather at St Finbarr’s Church for a special Family Mass at 6 PM. Our students have been diligently practicing their readings and are expected to arrive by 5:45 PM. Please let us know if you are unable to attend. We encourage the children to dress in their nicest clothes for this meaningful occasion.

Cross Country Event: Our much anticipated Cross Country event will take place at the Golf Course. Please drop your children off at 8:30 AM. While students should bring a lunchbox, there will also be a canteen available for those who wish to send money with their child. Students are encouraged to wear their sport house shirts and bring a water bottle. Teachers will ensure that hats are provided.

Harmony Day: Harmony Day was a resounding success, thanks to the generous food contributions from our families. The shared morning tea was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our diverse cultures and foster a sense of community. A heartfelt thank you to all students, staff, and parents for your participation and contributions.

NAPLAN: We are incredibly proud of our Year 3 and 5 students who have completed their NAPLAN testing. Their effort and positive attitude were commendable. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and dedication.

Upcoming Visits: We are excited to welcome Mrs. Lindy Sommerfield next Thursday for in-person lessons. Additionally, Mr. Waples, our Instrumental Music teacher, will be visiting in Week 10 for his in-person sessions.

As we progress through Term 1, I am continually inspired by the acceptance, tolerance, empathy, and kindness displayed by our school community. Despite the challenges and tiredness that come with the term, the dedication of our students, parents, and staff ensures that everything runs smoothly.

"Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students, and enthusiastic parents with high expectations." - Bob Beauprez

Thank you for your unwavering support and for being an integral part of our school community.

Until next time,

Mrs. Kara Marsh

School Absences

Prep 1 Classroom

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well and filled with joy. I am delighted to share the wonderful learning experiences our students have enjoyed over the past fortnight.

In our English lessons, we have focused on persuasive writing. Our students have been learning to express their opinions and share their ideas with confidence. Using the OPAL and DART strategies, they have practiced giving three strong reasons to support their viewpoints.

In Mathematics, we have explored the beauty of numbers through addition and subtraction, and discovered the world of shapes. These foundational skills are essential for our students' growth and understanding.

Our Science lessons have taken us on a journey into the fascinating world of plants and animals. Students have learned about the unique features of various plants and animals and practiced labeling the parts and structures of plants.

In HASS, we have celebrated the concept of family. Students have shared who is in their family, where they come from, and learned about their family history. This has helped them appreciate their own backgrounds and the rich diversity of others.

Our Religion lessons have focused on the Golden Rule, teaching our students to treat others with kindness and respect, just as Jesus taught us. We have also explored the importance of prayer and how Jesus showed us to pray with love and sincerity.

I am looking forward to continuing this term filled with learning and growth. Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting your children to our care.

With warmest regards,
Miss Derry

St Finbarr's Pillar Awards 2025

PPF 2025

Please send any Agenda items you may have to the Office or a Committee member prior to the meeting.

Harmony Day 2025

Today was Harmony Day at St Finbarr's, and it has been an extremely busy day for everyone. However, we enjoyed the best morning tea with a delightful array of international treats. From Japanese-inspired sushi and Origins of Scotland scones to spring rolls and French profiteroles, the variety was truly impressive. A big thank you to everyone who brought along a plate!

School Fees

Quilpie & District Sport

This Monday 24th March at the Quilpie Golf course

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday for last week to Charlie 

2025 Open Day

Please contact the Office or Mrs. Marsh if you have any questions.

St Ursula's College

Connecting Communities// On Wednesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Principal of St Ursula's College Toowoomba, Mrs. Deirdre Young, along with her PA, Mrs. Lisa McKellar, and Incredible Head of Boarding, Jodie Marshall, as part of their Country Tour. Our students were thrilled to meet Ursie the Bear! We are incredibly fortunate to have St Ursula's College, a Secondary Toowoomba Catholic Schools Boarding School, as part of our educational system. Their commitment to the same values and morals that we uphold across the 32 schools in the Toowoomba Diocese is truly commendable. Thank you for visiting us today.

We wish you safe travels and look forward to seeing you again soon!

Boarding School Visit

This week, Nate visited St Brendan's in Yeppoon for Discovery Day. St Brendan's is a very popular school, with many Quilpie kids attending. We hope you had a great experience, Nate!

Looking ahead, we are excited about our student future visits to other schools in the region. These visits will provide more opportunities for our students to explore and engage with different educational environments. 

Project Compassion Boxes

This Lent, Caritas Australia's Project Compassion invites you to Unite Against Poverty and take action to make a lasting difference., join Project Compassion in 2025 by a making a donation.

Project Compassion boxes went home this term and are due back in the first week of Term 2, perhaps your child may like to donate their treat money one week or some spare change. A little goes a long way for those in need. 

Tuck-Shop 2025

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Term 1 Swimming lessons

Your Contact Details

If your details have changed in the past year, especially your emergency contacts, please let the Office know so our records are accurate and up to date.

After school CWA activities

School Website & Calendar

Have you downloaded the School Calendar to your phone yet! This is the quickest way to see upcoming events for St Finbarr's as they will already be on your phones Calendar 

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

Assembly

School Yard access

School Bell Times

Term Dates 2025

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.