ST FIDELIS NEWSLETTER

School Advisory Council News

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWS

 

Advisory Council -Update

The School Advisory Council has met three times this year to discuss key priorities and developments at St Fidelis. Please find a summary of the discussion points and actions.

Principal’s Report Highlights:

 Term One -Meeting 1

  • A positive start to the school year, with Years 3/4 settling into the new SLA space.
  • Launch of new literacy initiatives: Initial Lit (Foundation), MiniLit (Years 1/2), and SMART Spelling (Years 1–6).
  • Two Wellbeing Leaders now support student wellbeing across Foundation to Year 6.
  • St Fidelis is a pilot school for the MACS Vision for Engagement strategy, with staff training scheduled for 9 May (a pupil-free day).
  • School tours for 2026 are underway, and preparations for the Fete (23 March) are in full swing.

Key Discussion Areas:

  • Home Learning: Homework will remain focused on revision. The school is exploring ways to support parents with helpful resources.
  • Cyber Safety: While no MACS policy currently exists, the school is considering clear guidelines and continued education for students and families.
  • Behaviour Management: Continued emphasis on positive behaviour and restorative practices, with most concerns linked to friendships.
  • Complaints & Feedback: The School responds promptly to concerns and is exploring better ways for families to provide feedback.
  • Communication: Work is underway to improve clarity and consistency in how the school communicates with families.

Term Two Meeting 2

  • 49 school tours completed; St Fidelis featured at The Grove childcare.
  • Staff training in emergency management and leadership.
  • Ongoing involvement in MACS Vision for Instruction and Vision for Engagement.
  • Successful Community Fete and upcoming Year 6 Buddy Mass.
  • Focus on literacy, spelling, and daily reviews across the school.

Key Discussions:

  • Home Learning: Updating the policy to better support families with clearer expectations and helpful guides.
  • Mobile Phone Policy: Endorsed and will be shared with families soon.

Term Two Meeting 3 

  • 2026 Enrolments: We are pleased to confirm 40 Foundation students already enrolled for 2026.
  • Staff Training & Safety: All staff have completed CPR compliance training. A MACS infrastructure officer visited to support our ongoing safety improvements.
  • Maintenance: We now have a regular maintenance person on site every fortnight. Mulch and sand top-ups are scheduled for the holidays and Term 4.
  • Tiered School Fees: All MACS schools, including ours, will move to a tiered school fee structure as part of a system-wide change in the following year. More information will be provided in the coming months.

Learning & Wellbeing

  • Collaborative Planning: Our leadership team (Manuela, Vira, Bernadette, and Colleen) are actively supporting staff in planning, professional learning, and reflection.
  • Leadership & Staff Development: Coaching is underway for senior and emerging leaders. Staff have also completed TEAM TEACH training focused on behaviour support strategies.
  • Student Wellbeing: GEM Leaders and the SRC are working to support positive student behaviour and wellbeing.

Parent Engagement

  • Learning Walks will continue, including a focus on SMART Spelling in Term 3.
  • Numeracy info sessions for parents are planned, covering how to help children with multiplication, addition and subtraction.
  • Classroom helpers and support for excursions/STEM are also welcome.

Education in Faith

  • Online sessions and retreat days are supporting students preparing for their sacraments.
  • A successful inaugural Parent Child Faith Formation night was held.
  • Ongoing learning and teaching is supported through planning with our RE Leader.

Teaching & Learning

  • Our Vision for Instruction is coming to life in classrooms, including a focus on Daily Reviews. Staff have also begun sharing videos to support consistency in teaching practice.

Focus Areas Discussed

Home Learning Policy (2025)

  • The updated policy includes clearer expectations by year level. Staff are on board, and families are encouraged to support students in completing homework. An answer sheet for parents is being considered as a support tool.

Artificial Intelligence at School

  • While MACS has approved platforms like ChatGPT, student access to these platforms is currently blocked at our school. Discussions are ongoing around the appropriate and responsible use of AI.

Communication & Complaints Procedure

  • The Council reviewed the current processes, with steps underway to ensure the procedure is clear and accessible for all families.

Next Meeting August 19th 7:00 pm