What's happeing in our learning spaces?
STUDENTS OF THE WEEK
| SOW WEEK 6 | |
| FLW | Frank -For being a focused learner throughout the week during your independent learning. You have listened to the speaker and followed directions when completing your written tasks. Great effort, Frank! |
| FOS | Phoebe -For always being respectful of others, giving everything her best effort and demonstrating incredible manners when engaging with members of our school community. You are a superstar Phoebe! |
| FAM | Emilia -For being a focused learner and giving everything a go with a smile on your face. Excellent Emilia! |
| 1/2VS | Stella -For giving new things a go with a positive attitude and always trying your best! You are a superstar Stella, keep it up! |
| 1/2VB | Matilda -For the confidence you have shown this week to share your ideas in front of the class. Don’t stop believing in yourself! Magnificent Matilda! |
| 1/2NA | Angelica L - For always contributing your ideas to class discussions and sharing your learning with your peers. You are a role model for all! |
| 3/4BP | Giorgio -For being a super learner, staying on task, and consistently helping others, making him an outstanding role model in Year 3/4! |
| 3/4SH | Sienna -For her imaginative and descriptive storytelling. Your narrative writing has been magical. Stellar Sienna! Isabel -For being a superstar speller and always approaching her work with care and dedication. You shine every day. Incredible Isabel! |
| 5/6ZK | Nefeli -For her determination when creating decimal numbers using playdough, not only were you able to say the decimal number but you were able to create it. Terrific maths skills Nefeli! |
| 5/6MC | Makayla -For being a responsible, helpful and kind member of 5/6MC. Your initiative to go above and beyond day after day is amazing. You’re a lifesaver, Makayla! |
| 5/6NT | Zara -For her friendly nature, leadership, and initiative, always willing to help others and give her best in everything she does! |
| SOW WEEK 7 | |
| FLW | Julius -For the effort you are putting into revising your letters and sounds both at school and at home. You are a super star, Julius. Keep up the positive attitude with your learning! |
| FOS | Charlie -For showing courage in making new friendships, playing kindly with others outside, and always giving his best in the classroom—congratulations, Charlie! |
| FAM | Harry -For being a respectful and responsible member of Foundation AM. You always go out of your way to help in the learning space and show kindness to everyone. You are amazing Harry! |
| 1/2VS | Francesca -For writing a wonderful recount with lots of detail about your sauce making day. You are a superstar! |
| 1/2VB | Xavier -For challenging yourself in writing by using adjectives and adding more detail to your recount. Keep up the hard work! |
| 1/2NA | Archie -For being a risk taker with your learning and always seeking challenges! Keep kicking goals, champion! |
| 1/2CW | Georgia -This award is for being an enthusiastic learner who takes initiative in her learning and actively contributes to class discussions. Well done, Georgia! |
| 3/4BP | Lilly -For always approaching her learning with a positive attitude, enthusiasm, and a willingness to do her best. Keep shining Lilly! |
| 3/4SH | Daniel -For his commitment to learning and efforts to make great choices. You’ve shown fantastic self-management and always try your hardest. Determined Daniel! Ella -For her incredible drive and determination in writing her narrative and persuasive pieces this week. Your kindness, responsibility, and positivity shine through, making you a wonderful role model. Exceptional Ella! |
| 5/6ZK | Sam -For demonstrating enthusiasm and positivity towards your learning, especially in your Four Operations assessment. You were determined to attempt all questions, no matter how difficult. Well done, determined Sam! |
| 5/6MC | Gus -For consistently demonstrating a positive attitude in our classroom throughout all aspects of our day, you bring a smile to everyone’s faces! We hope you know how much we appreciate your ZEST-ful self! Well done Gus! |
| 5/6NT | Isaac -For bravely stepping up to read our class novel aloud with confidence—your classmates and teacher were so proud of you! |
FOUNDATION NEWS
We have continued to have lots of fun in Foundation and participate in all areas of learning that have taken place over the past couple of weeks. Today is Day 27 as we count towards 100 Days of School!
As members of a Faith Community, we have been exploring the significance of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday as the season of Lent begins in the Catholic Church. On Shrove Tuesday, we were lucky enough to make pancakes with Mrs Monaghan, who was assisted by Maria Pasceri. As mathematicians, we measured and mixed the ingredients to make delicious pancakes, watched as they were cooked, and then applied delicious toppings before eating the pancakes. We learnt that in the past, pantry items were used up in preparation for fasting during Lent.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and we participated in a prayer liturgy where we received the ashes on our foreheads. explored the significance of Ash Wednesday and viewed pictures and slides that have explained the importance of this special day. Did you know that Lent lasts for 40 Days and the colour purple will be evident in the church and in the clothing that the priest wears?
This week, we will be learning about…
- Numeracy: counting, place value and forming numbers correctly
- Reading: syllables, onset and rime and identifying key characters and events in a story
- Writing: writing about our experiences- drawing detailed pictures and recording initial sounds
- Inquiry: Discovery Time and presentation of the ‘Me Bags’
- Religion: exploring the story “The Prodigal Son” and Forgiveness
- The Resilience Project: continuing to explore feelings and emotions
As we enter Week 8 of Term 1, we kindly encourage you as parents to allow your child to walk into their learning spaces independently. Our focus this term is on becoming a self-manager and building the confidence and resilience to follow the morning routines.
A friendly reminder that Tuesday, 18th March, is School Photo Day and our very first school photos!
Have a great week,
Foundation Team,
Alycia Marsico, Leanne Wenckowski and Olivia Sargent
YEAR 1/2 NEWS
As members of a Catholic faith community, we have been deepening our understanding of the Season of Lent. Our journey began with making pancakes to learn about Shrove Tuesday, and we are especially grateful to Mrs. Monaghan and Maria Cassar for her help with this experience! We also participated in the Ash Wednesday liturgy, which was held in our learning spaces. This provided us with a meaningful opportunity for self-reflection and to consider how we can strengthen our relationship with God. As thoughtful learners, we are continuing to explore the colours, symbols, and stories associated with Lent.
Grade 1/2NA attended their first class mass, led by Father Tien. We had the opportunity to listen to the Gospel and reflect on the message of having and practising gratitude. Father Tien asked what we were grateful for and we answered with: family, a house, clean water, and friends. We also had the opportunity to read our own Prayers of the Faithful which we had written earlier in the term, and Father Tien thanked us for such wonderful words.
As inquirers, we have been embracing numerous opportunities to deepen our understanding of what it means to be responsible learners. One of these opportunities was a visit from the Responsible Pet Ownership Education Program. The session involved lots of listening, singing, and role-playing, making it both fun and educational. We discovered the safest way to approach and interact with dogs, and some of us even had the chance to pet one!
As writers, we’ve had the opportunity to revisit the spelling rules we’ve learned this term. It’s been fantastic to see students practicing their selected words each day. This week, we are learning the letter ‘e’ making the sound /e/ as in bed. We are continuing to use sound circles to learn our spelling words. This approach will help improve our confidence when writing.
As mathematicians, we are continuing to focus on place value. We have been using materials to rename two and three digit numbers. For example:
- 32 is the same as 3 tens and 2 ones OR 32 ones.
- 456 is the same as 4 hundreds, 5 tens and 6 ones or 45 tens and 6 ones.
We have also been practicing counting patterns and encourage students to engage in the following at home:
- Year 1 students: Count by 2, 5 and 10 starting from 0.
- Year 2 students: Count by 2, 5 and 10 starting from different numbers.
Vania Sparano, Vivian Boggis, Nadia Ascenzo & Chloe Wang
1/2 Team
YEAR 3/4 NEWS
As members of a faith community, we learned about the history of Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, when people traditionally used up rich ingredients like eggs, sugar, and butter to prepare pancakes. After learning about the tradition, our class enjoyed a delicious pikelet with butter.
On Ash Wednesday, we gathered together in the SLA to participate in a special liturgy. The students learned about the significance of Ash Wednesday, a time for self-reflection, repentance, and preparing for Lent. In class, we discussed the importance of the ashes as a symbol of humility and the opportunity to make positive changes. It was a thoughtful day of learning, where students shared their Lenten reflections on how they can grow and make a difference during this special season.
As writers, we have been exploring the art of storytelling! We have been learning how to create captivating characters, build exciting plots, and develop our own unique voices in writing. We’ve been focusing on the three key elements of a strong narrative: setting, character development, and conflict. Our young writers have been busy bringing their imagination to life, whether it’s creating magical worlds, inventing brave heroes, or developing interesting problems for their characters to solve. We can’t wait to share some of their stories with you soon!
Well done to 3/4SH for their assembly on Friday. You all spoke beautifully and did an excellent job, congratulations!
Thank you Year 3 families for attending Maria Forde’s online Reconciliation workshop. We are looking forward to celebrating the sacrament on Thursday 20th March at 6pm.
Year 3/4 Teachers
Belinda Panzarino & Sarah Hogan
YEAR 5/6 NEWS
Leadership Incursion: Character Builders
We had a wonderful time during our Character Builders incursion, we greeted Lucy and Josh who came all the way from Brisbane to engage with our school! We engaged in so many amazing and fun experiences and activities that supported us in developing skills in communication and working with others who we normally wouldn’t.
Dominos Theory Challenge! We then participated in a Domino’s challenge where we were required to make a 2500 domino line. This is where we had to use all the dominos to work together to create a line of dominos. This was hard work and we didn't quite get there, but all 53 of us worked together to build a long dominos line.
Another activity we engaged in was the Conversation Circles, this is where we were encouraged to maintain a conversation for two minutes with someone we don't normally talk to. We would then rotate around the circle and talk to another person.
The Amazing Race was a highlight for many of us, we got to engage in heaps of amazing different physical opportunities. Even the teachers got to have a go! The games included: Ping Pong PipeLine, Hoopla, Pyramid Stack, Bucket Head, Keep it up and Peas and Carrots. This was where we worked in our small groups to participate in each of the activities. The activities promoted collaboration, communication and leadership.
We also received some feedback from Character Builders about our day, especially highlighting some of the children who showed some amazing leadership skills. Here is it below:
Recap:
Thank you St Fidelis Catholic Primary School for having Character Builders to help your Year 5-6 students develop their leadership skills and make connections with different students.
From the first interaction, Lucy and I felt so welcomed by friendly greetings from your admin team, teachers and multiple courageous Year 5 and 6 students who came and spoke to us. They did an amazing job at learning about S.E.R.V.E Leadership and it was awesome to see them put these traits into action straight away, encouraging each other in a Scissors Paper Rock Tournament and embracing new connections in Conversation Circles. Students then completed Domino Theory and embraced the challenges they faced working together to create a long snake of dominos.
The Amazing Race was an amazing success starting off with the teachers showcasing their incredible expertise in the demonstration followed by everyone’s willingness to work with new people and ideas. All teams swiftly completed the activities, but they were truly tested when tasked with creating a motivational speech or chant for their group! Throughout The Amazing Race, many leaders emerged in different forms - some stepped up to encourage, while others led by stepping back. Resilience was certainly put to the test, but what stood out was the remarkable patience many students showed as they supported their teammates. It was a great reminder that leadership doesn’t require badges or titles, but rather we are all leaders!
It was a special moment listening to your courageous students ‘Big Up’ their peers in the final session and seeing those who usually step back, step up in this activity. What an awesome demonstration and reminder of how powerful positive words can be! We finished our day with ‘X Marks the Spot’ and it was heartwarming to hear the students vision for the year ahead being the leaders of the school. All the best for the remainder of 2025 and we hope you all shine showing S.E.R.V.E Leadership!
The standouts:
Lizzie, Darius & Zara welcomed us warmly and had such infectious enthusiasm to start the day.
Sam, Ava & Zac had such a great balance of stepping up to lead and stepping back to let others have an opportunity.
Erica, Lennix & Monte brought an infectious energy to every challenge today. It was amazing to see their positivity inspire others to be more positive.
Madeleine & Caleb participated with purpose today. It was so rewarding to see growth as a direct result of their willingness to get involved.
Harry & Chrysi displayed courage in many moments today. Their courage inspired others to also get out of their comfort zones and have patience and perseverance when things get tough.
Juliano, Olivia S and Alexander M modelled amazing respect no matter who they interacted with throughout the day. They showed their high level of maturity knowing when to step up and back with every activity.
The day would have been so different without Max & Angelina! They both immersed themselves in every experience whilst showing fairness towards others and an open mind to ideas and opportunities.
Julius, Olivia M and Alexander H were consistently displaying the Respect part of S.E.R.V.E Leadership and created a positive environment for others as a result.
We completely admire the way Dom & Makayla showed resilience in moments where they had to adapt to changes or difficult situations.
What a pleasure it was working alongside the Parents and Teachers of St Fidelis. It is clear how invested Bianka, Maddie, Nick & Vicky are in their students but we must personally acknowledge the passion Bianka shows for her job and community.
Stay tuned in next week's newsletter for the children's reflections about their experience.
Interschool Sports
Well done again, for the amazing sportsmanship from the year 5/6 students. We had another fantastic day on Friday versing Pascoe Vale South Primary School. Congratulations to all the teams on your amazing games.
NAPLAN
Congratulations to the Year 5 students who are halfway through their NAPLAN, they will continue to complete these at the start of next week. Make up sessions will begin after the
Monday 17th March | Tuesday 18th March | Wednesday 19th March | Thursday 20th March | Friday 21st March |
NAPLAN 9am Language Conventions | NAPLAN 9am Numeracy School Photo Day | NAPLAN | NAPLAN
| NAPLAN 5/6NT Assembly St Patrick's Day Mass Harmony Day |
Important Dates:
MARCH
- Tuesday March 18th School Photo Day
- Friday 21st March 5/6NT Assembly
- Tuesday March 25th 5/6ZK The Huddle Game Day Excursion
- Thursday March 27th 5/6NT The Huddle Game Day Excursion
- Monday March 31st 5/6MC The Huddle Game Day Excursion
APRIL
- Tuesday 1st April ZK Class Mass
AUGUST
- Sunday 10th August 3pm Confirmation
Have a wonderful week,
5/6 Team,
Bianka Zorzut, Vicky Karalis, Maddie Comrie and Nick Tresize