Leadership & Management

When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they ended their message by saying, 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach  the end of the  school year, I am reminded of how much has been accomplished and how quickly the months have passed. Each term has brought its own joys, challenges, and moments of growth for our children and our community.

This week, as we enter the Second Week of Advent and light the candle of peace, we are invited to pause amid the busyness that December brings. Advent encourages us to slow down, to breathe, and to make room for peace in our hearts and in our homes as we prepare for the coming of Christ.

The Gospel reminds us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). These words carry a renewed relevance today. Our children learn the meaning of peace not just through lessons, but through the example we set through forgiveness, patience, and the way we care for one another.

My hope is that this week, and the weeks leading into Christmas, offer you moments of stillness, gratitude, and opportunities to share kindness in simple and meaningful ways.

Thank you for your ongoing trust in me, our leadership team, and the dedicated staff of St Fidelis. It is a privilege to journey with you in supporting the learning, wellbeing, and growth of your children.

Wishing you and your families a peaceful Advent and a Christmas season filled with joy, hope, and the warmth of loved ones.

Warm regards,

Manuela

BMCC Christmas Mass Timetable

Christmas Eve – Wednesday 24 December (Vigil Masses)

Our Lady Help of Christians: 5:00 pm

St Fidelis: 6:00 pm

St Joseph’s: 7:00 pm

St Ambrose: 10:00 pm

Christmas Day – Thursday 25 December

Our Lady Help of Christians: 9:00 am

St Joseph’s: 9:00 am

St Ambrose: 10:30 am

St Fidelis: 11:00 am

 In the Principal's Message section today there is information regarding:

• Thank you Messages
• Year 6 Graduation Celebrations
• Whole School Transition Information
• 2026 Student School Leaders
• End of Year Mass and Assembly information
• Family Farewells 
• A word of thanks to the Infantino Family - FAM
• Carols evening - St Vinnies Christmas Appeal 
• Under 16 Social Media Ban Information

Thank you-St Fidelis Staff

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all our staff and the Leadership Team for their  dedication to the children and families of St Fidelis. Each day, our teachers, administration team and educational support officers give so much of themselves, often well beyond the school day, to provide rich learning experiences and genuine care for our students. Their commitment, professionalism and generosity of spirit are at the heart of what makes our community so strong. I am very grateful for all they have contributed throughout the year and wish each of them a well-earned, restful break to refresh and restore.

Year 6 Graduation Celebrations

On Friday night, we gathered as a community to celebrate the Year 6 Graduation Mass and Awards Evening. A special thank you to Father Brendan and Fr Tien for leading such a meaningful ceremony. It was a beautiful way to mark the end of our Year 6 students’ primary school journey and celebrate their achievements.

The celebrations continued on Saturday night with a wonderful event at Ferraro Receptions, where Year 6 students and their families came together for an evening filled with joy, laughter, and cherished memories. A special thank you to the parents who organised this fantastic evening. It was truly a night to remember!

A big thank you to the Year 6 teachers: Ms Maddie, Ms Zorzut, Ms karalis & Mr Nick and  Mrs Gasbarro for their dedication in preparing the students for this significant milestone and for organising the beautiful liturgy. We also extend our gratitude to all the staff who supported the event in countless ways, ensuring its success.

These moments of celebration and togetherness are a testament to the strong partnership between our school and families. We are so proud of our Year 6 graduates and wish them every success as they begin the next exciting chapter of their education journey.

Whole School Transition-Monday  December 8th Looking Ahead to 2026

Today was an exciting and memorable day as students met their new teachers and classmates for 2026.   This special occasion is always filled with anticipation and enthusiasm as children step into new learning spaces, connect with friends, and begin to build new relationships.

Our dedicated teachers spent time getting to know your child, listening to their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the year ahead. These meaningful conversations set the stage for a year of growth, discovery, and success.

We are thrilled to start on this journey together and look forward to supporting your child as they thrive in 2026.

Congratulations Student  School Leaders for 2026

We are thrilled to announce our 2026 student leaders! Congratulations on being chosen to represent our school community. Your dedication, enthusiasm and leadership qualities will inspire your peers and contribute to making St. Fidelis an even better place to learn and grow.

We look forward to supporting you on this exciting journey in 2026.  Well done!

SCHOOL CAPTAIN - Skyler & Elizabeth

SCHOOL VICE CAPTAIN-Jeevan & Nefeli

BLUE LEADERS-(MACKILLOP) - Akira & Jasmine

GOLD LEADERS-(LEE) -Clara & Hazel

GREEN LEADERS-(MANNIX) -Darius & Madalen

RED LEADERS- (DALY) -Juliano & Felix

SOCIAL JUSTICE & COMMUNITY LEADERS -Gus & Maddie

END OF YEAR MASS AND ASSEMBLY-Friday December 12th

We warmly invite all parents and carers to join us for our End of Year Mass of Thanksgiving at St Fidelis Church, beginning at 9:15am. This special celebration is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community and give thanks for the many blessings of the year.

Following the Mass, we will gather in the school hall for our final assembly, where we will farewell some staff and students. We are also pleased to welcome Anthony Cianflone, who will present prizes to students who participated in the Christmas card competition.  We hope to see you all there.

Family Farewells

As we near the end of another wonderful school year, we extend our sincere gratitude and best wishes to the families whose youngest child will complete their journey at St Fidelis in 2025. While their time with us may be coming to a close, we hope they will always feel a strong connection to the St Fidelis community and continue to join us for future events and celebrations.

To our amazing St Fidelis students: You are the heart of our school and the reason your teachers come to work each day with joy and purpose. Your kindness, enthusiasm, and dedication inspire us all. It has been a true privilege to be your Principal, and I am incredibly proud of everything you have achieved this year.

As the holiday season approaches, I wish each of you and your families a safe, peaceful, and joy filled Christmas. May this time be filled with togetherness, gratitude, and cherished memories.

On behalf of all the staff, thank you for your unwavering support throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 for another exciting and rewarding chapter in our shared journey.

A Huge Thank You to the Infantino Family

We are thrilled to announce an extraordinary contribution to our school community. Arrow Infantino and his parents, Patrick and Linda, from FAM, have generously gifted St Fidelis Catholic Primary School two state-of-the-art 3D printers—a donation that will elevate our STEM program to new heights.

We proudly acknowledge Patrick Infantino, owner of Innovative Precision Engineering (IPE) - a leading engineering company dedicated to solving problems through creativity, expertise, and cutting-edge technology. At IPE, you bring the idea, and they help bring it to life, drawing on their extensive knowledge across all areas of manufacturing and design. Their commitment to innovation aligns beautifully with our mission to inspire students to think boldly and imaginatively.

These new 3D printers will open exciting pathways for our students, empowering them to explore design thinking, build prototypes, and transform their ideas into real, tangible creations. This generous gift will spark curiosity, drive innovation, and greatly enrich learning experiences for years to come.

On behalf of the entire St Fidelis community, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the Infantino family for their outstanding support and belief in our vision for STEM education. Their generosity is helping shape the inventors, creators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow.

Carols Night Information – Thursday December 11th

A reminder that our Carols Night is this Thursday night at Mercy College Coburg. All students and families are asked to arrive by 6:30pm, with parents entering the venue at 7:00pm.

We kindly ask families to support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal by bringing a gold coin donation or notes to place in the donation box before the Carols begin.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTION FOR UNDER 16

 How to support your child under 16 with the new social media age restrictions

From 10 December 2025, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will require social media platforms to:

·       prevent children and young people under 16 from having a social media account

·       Deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

Delaying access to social media protects the health and wellbeing of young people and gives them extra time to build real world connections and digital literacy skills.

The responsibility will be on the social media platforms, not parents, carers, children or schools, to implement these new restrictions.

Most popular social media platforms will be age restricted. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and YouTube.

Messaging services and online games, as well as apps and platforms that support health and education, can still be used.

How to help under 16s prepare for the change

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online.

To help get under 16s ready for the social media minimum age requirements, you can go to the eSafety website to learn more about the social media age restrictions and find tips on how to talk about social media age restrictions with young people.

What the change means for our school

 At our school, all age-restricted social media platforms are blocked for student use on the school network.

To keep up to date about the new social media age restrictions, visit the eSafety website and subscribe to their newsletter.

School Concludes on Tuesday December 16th at 1:00pm

STAFFING FOR 2026

We welcome the following New Staff to the Community of St Fidelis for 2026

Ms Denise Goniadis -Year 3 Teacher

Ms Jodie Wishart-Administration Officer

SACRAMENT DATES 2026