Issue 11, 2023 Term 4, 10th October 2023

Principals Report

Dear Parents, families, and friends,
Welcome to our second last newsletter for the year. I am in disbelief of how fast the year as flown by. It has been a jam packed year. We have been so fortunate that we have had consistent staffing throughout the year and a year of high quality teaching and learning in the classroom. 
ST FINBARR’S P&F FETE
What a fantastic evening! I was blown away by the hard work all of our families, students and teachers/staff put into making it such an outstanding evening. 
There are too many people to thank for the night but to name a few I would like to thank our PPF Committee VP Mr Dan Hoch, Mrs Louise Hoch, Ms Kerri Thompson and Mrs Amy Kuhn we thank you for all you did. 
To the parents who helped, including our new mum of 2024, Mrs Courtney Bartlett along with Mrs Gina McConnell in the kitchen.!                                                                                                                                                                Robina for maning the cash register, Mary and Caragh for some of the best face painting you'll ever see in Quilpie- the line was endless.                                                                                                                                                          Our fantastic teacher/student officers/groundsman and admin for the amazing side show ally games and running the laser tag. 
To Mr Bruce Paulsen, Mr Jack Biddle, Mr Alec Rainnie and Mr Aaron Marsh for the Crustacean Cup. 
Mr Ben Hall, Mrs Jean Hall, Ms Josie Bowen, Mrs Sallyann Challenor and Ms Yo Pelling for their dagwood dog and hot chips expertise!                                                                                                                                                                Russell McWaters for his sheep raffle which was a great fundraiser too!                                                                         The bar tenders who kept the masses hydrated all night and our stall holders Aunty Ruby, Miss Janell and Miss Jen. 
To all the parents who also played a role in the evening selling glow stall, lucky ticket prizes and arm bands we thank you as well. 
To all of the students who represented their school with maturity, respect and enthusiasm, you all did such an amazing job. I am so looking forward to next year already!
NAPLAN RESULTS 
In March this year the Year 3 and 5 students sat their NAPLAN test. This test is a nation-wide test and the schools ultimately can use the test to moderate and reflect on the learnings their students are engaging with. Our results this year were outstanding. We will be holding a special morning tea for these students next Friday. Please note that our special assembly will begin at 10.20pm next Friday to accommodate for celebrating these students. An Invitation will come home on Monday. 
Remembrance Day Service
All students are to meet their teachers at the Bob Young Memorial park at 10.30am tomorrow morning. Formal school uniform is to be worn. Neat and tidy hair, best shirt, navy school pants (no cargo shorts), Above ankle clean white socks and clean black shoes, school badge and house captain and school leader badges. Teachers will be bringing the hats with them. 
Piano Lessons 
Mrs Lindy Sommerfield will be taking on 2 more students from year 4-6 next year for private piano lessons. The families are responsible for paying for these lessons. Students are also responsible for their practice sessions and Lindy has strict instructions to continue lessons you must be doing 15 mins practice a day and show commitment to your learning. If you are interested in your child taking part in this program, please call the school or email. We look forward to watching this years piano students performance at our Awards Evening.
Instrumental Music Lesson 
Mrs Leia Jensen will be in Quilpie on Tuesday in Week 8. She will be doing her last in person lesson with the students for the year and will be speaking to students in year 4-6 who might be interested in learning how to play a musical instrument in 2024. 
Prep Transition Days. 
Next Wednesday is our Second Prep Transition Day. Our students will continue to have a normal morning in their classrooms. We will have two visitors to the school from the office. Mrs Annette Murdoch our Learning Support Teacher Advisor and Mrs Alex Boreli our Speech Therapist. We are looking forward to the next three transition days. 
Mary Rutledge 
Mrs Rutledge is back again in Week 7 to help with releasing teachers off class and being an all-round asset to our school community. We thank her for all she does when she is here, we truly appreciate her work and professionalism!
2024 Leader Speeches 
I would like to let all parents in the 3-6 class know that we will be holding a special assembly for House Captain speeches next Wednesday 22nd November at 8.45am. Please come along to listen to your child’s speech. 

Upcoming Event Dates 

House Captain Speeches -8.45am  Wednesday 22nd November                                                                                Q&D Swim Carnival - Friday 24th November                                                                                                                               End of year Whole School Mass – 6pm Sunday 26th November 
Awards Evening – 6pm Wednesday 29th November
Nativity Play – 12pm Thursday 30th November
Pool Party – 11.30am-1pm Friday 1st December

Until next time

Kara Marsh

Gr 3-6 News

The countdown is on. Life in Grade 3-6 is busy, and we are all working hard to ensure we finish off the year well. In English, we have just wrapped up out personal projects and spent the week presenting them to the class. A range of interests were presented and lots of information was shared. It was interesting to see the topics chosen, from Ned Kelly, to the Dassault Mirage fighter jet, to the footwear; Crocs – diverse and interesting topics. 

The students have also begun to construct their end of year and house captain speeches, in preparation for the Award’s Night and the house captain assembly. Please keep Wednesday, 22nd November at 8:45am free to join us for our special house captain assembly. This assembly will allow the G3-5 students a chance to address the St. Finbarr’s community and pitch themselves as awesome house captain material.  

Within Maths, we have been focusing on allowing the students the opportunity to use all the knowledge and skills they have developed this year to solve a variety of math word problems. Additionally, students have just completed their end of year math review and it is pleasing to see the development of our students. 

Lastly, the students have been working up a sweat practising their end of year dance.  Students are developing an appreciation for the importance of keeping to the beat and moving in the same direction. We will be amazing by the Award’s Night. 

Student of the Week & Gotcha Winners Term 4

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'

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, this past fortnight to Indie 7yrs !

FETE 2023

Congratulations to Jenni Grimm/Teusner who was our lucky winner of this years Mystery holiday, she has decided to go to The Maldives!  And to Zac Tonkin who won The 2023 Crustacean Cup, not quiet the Maldives but nevertheless quiet a distinction.! 

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Remembrance Day Saturday 11th November

Students and families are  encouraged to attend . Please send students in full formal uniform this includes school badges, white socks, black shoes, please find your teacher who will also have your school hat. Please be at the park by 10.30am.

Bookfair in the Library

Ms Janell will have the Book fair  open  one more week, call in with your money if there's something you want before she closes shop.

Pics

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PPF Meeting 16th November

What another great success was this years Fete , on behalf of the PPF, I would like to thank all our parents  who helped with setting up on Thursday afternoon and packing up on Saturday morning and your help on the night. As much as we would all just love to just attend the Fete it  is the only fundraiser that the PPF holds for year so all hands on deck are expected. It is a fantastic fundrasier for the school and we do hope to have a new playground soon. 

An even bigger Thankyou to our Teachers who go above and beyond their teaching duties and work hours  on the day to make Side Show Alley a success.

Thankyou to all our Sponsors and those who lent a hand one way or another to help make our night a success 

There is always room for improvement and suggestions/ideas are most welcome while they are fresh in your mind at our last PPF meeting for the year, next Thursday  16th November 5pm. 

Hopefully next year we can make it even bigger and better 

Regards Kerri Thompson- Secretary 

Prep 2024 Enrolments

We are so excited to welcome all families who would like to attend our Prep Transition Mornings in Term  Term 4. 
We use these mornings to observe and get to know your children to take the pressure off you with preparing them for school. We are completely committed to ensuring we are prepared for your child in 2024.
A great opportunity for all Quilpie and surrounding areas children to experience a morning in the classroom.

Enrolment Application | St Finbarr’s School, Quilpie (twb.catholic.edu.au)

End of Year Awards Night Wednesday 29th 6pm

Your invited and any other family and friends you would like to bring 6pm Wednesday 29th November, our PPF will supply dinner which is to  follow the evening . See you there!! 

Whole School Nativity Play, Thursday 30th Midday

Please invite family and friends to come and watch the Whole School Nativity Play, in an effort to keep the Awards night finishing at a reasonable hour the Nativity Play has moved to Thursday 30th November, 12 midday.

We hope to see you there. 

Quilpie & District Carnival Dates 2023

Swimming – Friday 24th November

Aladdin and His Magic Smartwatch

Tuckshop Term 4, 2023

School Assembly

Every Friday is school assembly in the Mary Mac room, at 8.45am. When the school bell rings we head down to the Mary Mac room where student awards and other news is presented. Parents and friends are more than welcome to attend. 

School Absences

School Bell Times

Please don't send students to school before 8.30 unless prior arrangements have been made, playground supervision doesn't begin until 8.30am

Term Dates 2023

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.