St Finbarr's School

## 1. Overview St Finbarr's Primary School Quilpie is a Catholic, co-educational primary school serving families in Quilpie and surrounding rural communities. As a small, community-focused school, it emphasises faith-based values, close relationships, and personalised learning within the Australian curriculum. With a small to medium student body and class sizes that foster strong teacher–student relationships, the school provides a warm, inclusive atmosphere where students are known and supported. The environment prioritises nurturing care, community involvement, and opportunities for students to grow academically, spiritually, and socially. --- ## 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: Strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy within the Australian Curriculum, with a focus on reading, writing, and numeracy mastery. The school aims to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and resilient learners. - Special programs: Differentiated learning within classrooms; opportunities for extension or targeted support; faith formation and community service integrated into the learning experience. - NAPLAN / trends: Steady progress typical of a rural primary setting, with focus on improving literacy and numeracy outcomes year over year through targeted teaching approaches and small-group support. - Student-teacher ratios: Small class sizes enable frequent, personalised interaction; typical ratios are structured to ensure close teacher attention and timely feedback. - Support for diverse learners: Inclusive education approach with learning support staff, targeted interventions, and assistance for students requiring additional help; EAL and students with learning needs are accommodated within the school’s supports. --- ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: Broad participation in core primary-school sports, including athletics, cricket, football (soccer), netball, and rugby league/youth-oriented activities; emphasis on participation, teamwork, and personal bests. - Strong teams or achievements: Active involvement in local inter-school sports events and regional competitions; a culture of encouragement and friendly competition. - Music, arts, drama programs: Opportunities for music participation, performing arts activities, and school-based performances to foster creativity and confidence. - Clubs: After-school options such as robotics, coding, chess, and debating may be available depending on staffing and term, with a focus on practical problem-solving and critical thinking. - Partnerships: Engagement with local community and regional educational networks for events, inter-school activities, and emerging opportunities in sport and the arts. --- ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: Positive behaviour expectations, respectful relationships education, and proactive pastoral care to promote a safe and inclusive environment. - House system: A house structure encourages belonging, teamwork, and healthy competition across activities and events. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to school-based wellbeing support and guidance, with regular check-ins and pathways to external support when needed. - Transition support for new students: Buddy programs, orientation activities, and welcoming processes to ease transitions for new families and students. --- ## 5. Facilities - Sports grounds: Dedicated play and sports spaces for outdoor activities and physical education. - Libraries: Library resources supporting reading development and research skills. - Science labs: Facilities to support hands-on science learning and investigative activities. - Music/performing arts centers: Space for music education and school productions. - Tech/innovation labs: Tech-enabled learning environments to support digital literacy and STEM activities. - Cafeteria: On-site or nearby catering arrangements for student meals and breaks. - Updated playgrounds: Safe, modern play spaces for daily recreation and social interaction. --- ## 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: Faith-based education grounded in Catholic values such as respect, compassion, responsibility, and service to others. - Leadership style: Collaborative leadership with emphasis on student voice, teacher facilitation, and strong partnerships with families and parish communities. - Behaviour expectations: Clear guidelines and routines that promote respectful conduct, responsibility, and a positive learning environment. - Community reputation: A close-knit, welcoming school community known for caring staff, active parent involvement, and parish connections. - Diversity & inclusion: Commitment to inclusive education practices and welcoming families from diverse backgrounds. --- ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: Typically 9:00 am–3:00 pm for primary students, with potential after-school care or activities available. - Before/after school care: Options may be available through school or local providers to support families. - Uniform requirements: Standard Catholic school uniform with seasonal variants; sports uniform on designated days. - Transport (bus routes): Local transport arrangements or school-run transport may be available to support regional families. - Canteen availability: Canteen services or lunch arrangements on certain days; snacks and recess options as part of daily routine. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Fees are generally moderate, reflecting the rural school context; exact costs depend on grade level, family circumstances, and inclusions (books, excursions, uniforms). --- ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions - 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Submit an enrolment application with required documents, such as birth certificate and immunisation history. - Schools typically review applications and confirm placement within a defined processing period; enrolment decisions are communicated to families, often ahead of the new school year. - There may be information evenings or interviews as part of the process, particularly for transitions from other schools. - 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - A waiting list may be used when vacancies are limited. Offers are made as spaces become available, with priority typically given to siblings and Catholic families where applicable. - 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Entry requirements are usually administrative. Some situations may involve an interview or discussion about individual learning needs to ensure appropriate placement and supports. - 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Mid-year transfers are possible if there is capacity, subject to meeting enrolment criteria and completing any required transition steps and documentation. --- ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - Because of the close-knit community, faith-based values, personalised attention, and a safe, nurturing environment where every child is known and supported. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who value community, strong relationships, and a balanced, hands-on approach to learning, including faith-informed education and collaborative activities. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - Extended literacy and numeracy activities, STEM and coding opportunities, music and performing arts programs, sports teams, and participation in local inter-school events. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Through newsletters, emails, parent-portals, phone calls, and scheduled parent-teacher interviews; information is shared regularly to keep families informed. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - A grounded approach in the Australian Curriculum with differentiation to meet diverse needs, strong literacy and numeracy focus, and a values-based framework supported by faith formation. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Targeted learning support within the classroom, small-group interventions, and access to learning support staff to develop individual plans as needed. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Individual and small-group help, progress monitoring, and connections to external specialists if required, all aimed at helping students reach their potential. - How does the school communicate with parents? (Repeated) - See above: newsletters, portals, emails, and parent-teacher discussions. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are small, enabling frequent individual feedback and close teacher attention to each student. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A range of sports and inter-school activities, plus possible clubs in robotics, coding, chess, and debating depending on staffing; arts and music programs are also available. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Sports grounds, library, science labs, performing arts spaces, tech/innovation labs, and a canteen or meal arrangements. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Integrated ICT across the curriculum with opportunities for hands-on tech learning and digital literacy development. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Local transport or school-supported options to assist families; routes and accessibility are tailored to the regional context. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees are generally moderate, covering essential resources, with additional costs for uniforms, excursions, and some activities. --- ## 10. Short Pros & Cons - Pros - Close-knit, welcoming community with strong pastoral care - Small class sizes and personalised attention - Catholic values integrated with learning and community service - Supportive environment for diverse learners - Broad not-for-profit atmosphere with local connections - Cons - Rural location may limit some elective offerings compared with urban schools - Fewer on-site facilities or after-school programs than larger urban schools - Availability of certain clubs or advanced programs may depend on staffing and funding - Travel considerations for families outside the immediate area