Learning & Teaching 

LEARNING & TEACHING - Vira Pirrotta

Exciting News: Dance Concert

We are thrilled to announce that our Dance Program has commenced, and students across the school are already enjoying learning the routines they will perform at our upcoming Dance Performance! Each year level will perform a unique dance, and the excitement builds as they prepare to showcase their creativity and energy on stage.

To ensure all families have the opportunity to enjoy the performances, there will be two concert sessions:

Date: Thursday, 7th August 

Concert 1: 6 pm 

Concert 2: 7:30 pm 

Location:  School Hall - Hawthorn Street

Please add the date to your diary. This will be a wonderful celebration of student learning, confidence, and artistic expression. Your child's classroom teacher will send home further information about costumes and other event details, so please look for those notes.

Thank you for your continued support – we can’t wait to share this special event with you!

Parent Helpers – Join Us in Supporting Our Students!

We are excited to welcome parents back into our learning spaces in 2025! Being a Parent Helper is a fantastic way to engage in your child’s education and contribute to our vibrant school community.

Parent Helpers play an essential role across the school, assisting in classroom support, excursions, incursions, fundraising, stalls, working bees, and more. 

We shared information about how you can get involved last term, and we’re pleased to confirm that the Parent Helper Child Safety Induction session is scheduled for Wednesday, 21st May, at 9a.m. 

All volunteers must:

• Hold a current Working with Children Check
• Complete the Child Safety Volunteer Code of Conduct, available at the school office when parents sign in.
• Attend a Child Safety Induction (unless previously completed)

Your time and support make a real difference - we are so grateful for any help you can offer! If you are unable to attend or have questions or require further information, please contact Ms Vira Pirrotta atvpirrotta@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au

LITERACY NEWS - Bernadette Parnis

Thank you to all the parents who joined us for the InitiaLit information session last Tuesday. We were pleased to welcome so many of you and truly appreciate you taking the time, especially during a busy weekday, to attend. We understand it can mean rearranging schedules or taking time away from work. We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to visit the classrooms and gained an insight into how InitiaLit is being implemented. 

I’d like to extend sincere thanks to Leanne, Alycia, and Olivia for welcoming the parent visitors into their classroom and doing such a fantastic job. Thank you for showcasing the amazing work you do each and every day.

Following is the information I shared in the digital presentation.

What is InitiaLit?

InitiaLit is a whole-class, evidence-based literacy program designed to build a strong foundation in reading and writing.  It is a comprehensive whole-class program that includes two components: systematic synthetic phonics and rich literature. 

• The phonic component teaches children the alphabetic code for reading and spelling. Phonics: The program systematically and explicitly teaches letter-sound relationships, progressing from basic to more advanced phonics concepts. Children also learn common morphemes and simple grammar concepts.
• The literature component is intended to develop children’s vocabulary, listening comprehension and oral language skills. Vocabulary, oral language, and listening comprehension: Through high-quality children’s literature, the program develops vocabulary and comprehension, helping children build oral language skills. Storybooks are used to inspire writing and creative activities.

Who is InitiaLit–F for?

InitiaLit-F is specifically designed for Foundation students, focusing on providing them with the essential literacy skills they need for their first year of school.

About InitiaLit–F

InitiaLit–F addresses the five key components necessary for effective instruction in reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Program structure and implementation

InitiaLit–F is taught across the four terms of the school year. 

The program is designed to be delivered in a 90-minute instruction block. It includes:

• Whole-class teaching: 25 minutes, four times a week with a detailed lesson plan.
• Spelling: 10 minutes, as directed by the lesson.
• Small group and independent work: 30-40 minutes of differentiated activities to reinforce learning.
• Storybook session: 15-20 minutes, using one storybook for four sessions over two weeks.
• Assessments: Regular progress monitoring through curriculum-based assessments to identify and address any student needs.

Classroom implementation 

• It is a scripted program. 
• Teachers are required to read the prompts as they teach. 
• They need to follow the approach precisely to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of the entire program model. 

Reading with your child

• As a parent/caregiver, you play an important role in helping your child establish the skills and knowledge to become a successful reader. Reading together each day will nurture an interest in books and stories, while building several key literacy skills.
• One of the most effective ways that you can offer additional support at home is by spending as little as 10 minutes each day on supported book reading.
• Along with reading the daily reader, sharing a variety of books will help build your child's vocabulary and develop their reading skills.

Decodable readers

Soon, students will begin bringing home decodable readers. These books are designed to give students the chance to practise the skills they have learnt at school and support their growing knowledge of letter-sound relationships. They also help children sound out words, read tricky words, and build vocabulary with confidence.

Tips for reading together

• Set a Routine

  Create a calm, regular time each day for reading - after dinner, before bed, or after school.

• Look at the cover together

  Talk about the pictures, and make predictions about the story before starting. Read the title aloud. Ask your child questions.

• Encourage Finger Pointing

  For early readers, pointing to each word helps with one-to-one correspondence.

• Let Them Try First

  Give your child time to sound out words before jumping in. Prompt gently if needed (e.g., “What sound does that letter make?”).

• Use the Pictures for Support

  Teach them to look at the illustrations to help figure out tricky words or understand the story better.

• Reread Familiar Books

  Repetition builds fluency and confidence. Encourage rereading books they’ve already read. Rereading helps your child develop fluency and read with better expression.

• Celebrate Small Successes

  Praise effort, not just correctness. Say things like, “I love how you tried to sound that out.”

• Talk About the Book

  After reading, ask simple questions: “What happened?” “What was your favorite part?” “Why do you think the character did that?” This helps with comprehension and makes sure they understand what they’ve read.

• Model Reading Aloud

  Occasionally, read a page to demonstrate expression, tone, and fluency.

• Avoid Over-Correcting

  If the error doesn’t change the meaning, it’s okay to let it go sometimes. Focus on overall comprehension and enjoyment. Don’t jump in too quickly to correct them; this can help build their confidence. If they need a little help, encourage them to have a go at solving the word, and if they’re still having trouble, you can demonstrate the word for them. If it’s a tough word, you can say it for them.

• Keep It Fun

  Use different voices, act out parts, or let your child read to a pet or stuffed animal.

Lastly, during the information session, a couple of questions were raised:

• One question was about resources to support sound recognition at home. In class, the Foundation teachers use a Cued Articulation Song. This may be helpful for reinforcing these skills at home. You can access it here: Cued Articulation Song Ants in the Apple.
• Another question was about staying informed on the letters and sounds being covered in class. The Foundation teachers will continue to keep you updated through the newsletter or email, as usual. Sounds covered so far: m, s, t, a, p, i, f, r.

Have a great week.

Bernadette Parnis

Literacy Leader

bparnis@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au

NUMERACY NEWS - Colleen Monaghan

We had our First Maths Olympiad last week, and were extremely proud of these students who received the perfect score.  Congratulations to you all.

1. Felix C Year 5
2. Estelle K  Year 6                                      
3. Jacob P  Year 6 
4. Benjamin Y   Year 6 
5. Caleb P  Year 6 
6. Erica D Year 6 
7. Samuel L. Year 6 
8. Gemma P  Year 6 

And to our two Year 3 students, Elliot and Patrick M., Congratulations on an amazing start, you persisted and gave it your best. Well done 

Developing Problem Solvers: A Key Focus in Mathematics Learning

At our school, we're passionate about developing confident, curious, and capable problem solvers - students who can think critically, work flexibly, and apply their maths skills to real-life situations. This aligns closely with the Victorian Curriculum, which highlights problem solving as one of the key proficiencies in Mathematics.

Why is problem-solving so important?

Problem solving helps children make sense of the maths they are learning. It's not just about getting the "right answer" - it's about thinking through a challenge, trying out different strategies, and learning from mistakes. These are life skills that go beyond the classroom and are valuable in every aspect of daily life.

What does this look like in the classroom?

Across all year levels, our students engage in rich, open-ended tasks that allow for multiple entry points and solutions. For example:

• Younger students might be asked to find all the different ways to make a number using addition or subtraction.
• Older students might be exploring how to measure and compare areas using everyday objects or solve real-world maths investigations.

Teachers encourage students to explain their thinking, try different strategies, and collaborate with others. This helps deepen understanding and build resilience when faced with challenging tasks.

The strategies we use are these:

With worded problems we are also teaching the CUBES Strategy.

The CUBES strategy is a method that children can use to work through word problems in Maths. CUBES is the acronym, and it stands for ‘Circle’, ‘Underline’, ‘Box’, ‘Evaluate and Draw’, and ‘Solve and Check’. 

How can parents support problem solving at home? There are many everyday opportunities to build your child’s problem-solving skills:

• Cooking together – Ask your child to halve a recipe or measure ingredients.
• Shopping trips – Let them estimate costs or work out change.
• Games and puzzles – Play logic or strategy games like Sudoku, Uno, or chess.
• Talk through challenges – Ask, “What do you think we should do?” or “How could we solve this?”

When children are encouraged to think, explore, and reason, they become more than just good mathematicians - they become confident, capable problem solvers ready to tackle the world around them.

PE & SPORT NEWS - Michael Jennings

INTERSCHOOL SPORT

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA

St Fidelis Primary School is an affiliated member of School Sport Victoria and competes in various sports within the Coburg District. The Coburg District aims to provide the children with the opportunity to participate in well-organised and enjoyable sporting events that are an extension of school based Sport & Physical Education programs. It is our school’s belief that children benefit greatly from visiting and competing with other schools within the Coburg District.

SSV Coburg District Events Program Outline

TERM 2 EVENTS

SSV COBURG DISTRICT WINTER SPORT COMPETITION

Winter Sport Fixture

Friday May 2 - Friday June 27

ELIGIBILITY

Grade 6 (priority) and Grade 5 students

SPORTS:

Boys/Mixed AFL 9s Football, Girls AFL 9s Football, 

Boys/Mixed Soccer, Girls Soccer, 

Boys/Mixed Netball & Girls Netball.

. 

SSV COBURG DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Annual SSV Coburg District Cross Country Championships is to be held at Jackson Reserve, Coburg (Coburg Athletics Track) on Monday 19 May 2025, commencing at 9:45 a.m. and concluding by 12.15 pm (Back-up day: Wednesday 21 May 2025). Events will be conducted for boys and girls in the 10, 11 and 12/13 year age groups.  The 10-year-old boys and girls run 2km. Students turning 9 this year can compete in the 10-year age group. Students younger than this cannot compete.  The 11 and 12/13 year old boys and girls run 3km. Age groups are determined as of 31st December in the year of competition. Therefore, whatever age the student is turning this year or has turned this year, will be the age he/she compete. Each event commences at the track, continues into nearby parkland and concludes back at the track.

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified to compete at this event

(Please note that emergencies will only compete in the absence of a St Fidelis competitor)

10 Year Girls

TESS N

ISABEL A

RILEY L

HANNAH F

FLORENCE M

ELLA S

MARIA S

ARIANA K emergency

EVA M emergency

10 Year Boys

ZAC H

HUNTER F

RAFAEL S

OSCAR A

ELLIOT C

ORLANDO B

RODERICK P

DAMIEN S emergency

TOMMY G emergency

CARLO T emergency

11 Year Girls

CLARA P

11 Year Boys

SKYLER F

CALEB P

JULIANO C

HARRISON M

12 Year Boys

FELIX C

PIERRE M

CHRISTIAN L

ANDERSON S

ITALIAN NEWS - Rosa Fokianos

   BUONGIORNO! 

Salve a tutti! (Hello to everyone), 

Festa della Mamma! (Mother’s Day)

Auguri per tutte le mamme, nonne, zie, e donne nella famiglia, (mums, grandmas, aunties and female family members). Hope all these women in your famiglia (family), had a special day domenica (Sunday) and were shown how much their family loves and appreciates them. Hope you also enjoyed your gifts and cards and were able to understand what your child wrote in Italian.

Papa Leonardo XIV

Auguri to Papa Leo XIV, for being chosen to lead the Roman Catholic church. Papa Leo XIV, was the first American pope to be elected. He will be living inside the Vatican city. We wish him all the best in his new role.

Giro d’Italia

Well it’s that time of the year again…the Giro d’Italia. This Italian 3 week men’s cycling race, began last venerdì 9 maggio, and will end domenica 1 giugno (in Roma). As usual there will be 21 stages, including rest days, covering places throughout Italia, even though the first 3 stages were in Albania this year. Even though it is televised on tv fairly late, I will certainly be watching the race again. I may have to watch some of the highlights later on the internet the following day. You may like to watch the highlights too, or see the various towns that they race through. I wonder if you can follow the route the cyclists will be riding? I’ll sign off now.

Until next time…buona settimana! (Have a good week).

Signora Rosa 🌹