What We Offer

Life-Long Learning

At St Finbar's Primary we are proud of our Catholic primary learning program. We offer a contemporary, balanced, rigorous and diverse curriculum that caters for the individual needs of all students. We want our students to become lifelong learners, and we actively encourage creative learning and critical thinking.

Teachers with a passion to help young people succeed

Whether teaching or in the office St Finbar's Primary Glenbrook staff are part of a system committed to transforming the lives of every student, every day. Our teachers are passionate and creative, inspiring a love of learning in students every day. Professional learning for teachers is a high priority at St Finbar's Primary School so that we can respond to the needs of the students in a strategic and productive way.

A modern learning environment

St Finbar's is set in the beautiful surroundings of the Lower Blue Mountains with panoramic views to the south and south-west. We are well-resourced, with flexible classroom spaces and technology used across the curriculum. Our facilities provide an enriching modern learning environment to ensure that every child reaches their potential each year.

Supporting student wellbeing

St Finbar’s has a very strong sense of mission as a community founded in the Gospel values. This is actively lived through our care of one another. At St Finbar’s we offer a range of programs to support student learning and wellbeing, including:

• specialist teachers working alongside classroom teachers to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities
• a Student Relationship Policy supporting students, parents and staff, in developing and maintaining positive school and home relationships
• a School Counsellor who is available to support students
• a strong parent network that undertakes pastoral care, such as visiting the sick and providing emotional and practical support
• the Seasons for Growth program to support those experiencing grief and loss within our student community.

Pursuing our passions

Our classrooms are filled with budding sportsmen and women as well as public speakers and performing artists. In addition to our academic program, we offer comprehensive extra curricular opportunities to enhance and develop students’ passions whether through music tuition, public speaking, Dance Fever, coding, exploring Japanese culture or gardening. There's something for everyone!

Proud sporting tradition

Our proud sporting tradition at St Finbar’s encourages all students to participate in our sporting activities and also helps students to develop their potential to play in representative sports from school level through to national level. There’s a sport to match every child’s passion and talent, including:

Celebrating our faith

Our school motto is ‘Faith, Truth and Knowledge,’ and we support our students to live out their faith every day, to seek truth in their relationships, and to build on their knowledge of Catholic teaching. Students are encouraged to discover and grow in faith through liturgy and prayer. The daily Gospel readings are read by our Year 6 Religious Education Captains with each class. This provides further leadership and learning opportunities for students and contributes to their discovery and growth.

Religious Education

Our school followed the Diocesan Religious Education syllabus, Sharing Our Story. Students learn through developmentally sequenced units of work which built their understanding of the key concepts of God, Jesus, church, Sacraments, Scripture, Christian life and prayer.

Nurturing social awareness

St Finbar's Primary School fosters in its community members an emphasis on being active citizens through social justice. The learning experiences are not merely fundraising experiences but rather opportunities for all members of the community to deepen their awareness of the need for social justice by responding in a spirit of service. We encourage our students to live out their faith through outreach projects such as:

• Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets
• the annual St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper and Winter appeal
• Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion
• Catholic Mission appeals.

An active partnership with our community

St Finbar's invite each parent to consider themselves an essential member of the school community. You will always know hospitality and friendliness within this Church community. We have many people who volunteer their time to help children. This help is invaluable to school and an extremely important part of the school’s culture.

Before and after school care

Catholic Out of School Hours Care (COSHC) at St Finbar's is one of many services available at selected schools in the Diocese of Parramatta offering before and after school care during school terms. Various activities are available for the children at our centres ranging from craft, games, puzzles, cooking, dramatic play, construction and outdoor play.