Learning & Teaching 

LEARNING AND TEACHING NEWS- Vira Pirrotta

Scientist in Action 

This term, students were immersed in rich and engaging learning experiences, with a strong focus on Science as part of our Inquiry Unit. They explored the scientific process and investigated different types of chemical reactions through a range of hands-on activities and experiments. Students were encouraged to think like scientists—making predictions, conducting investigations, recording results, and drawing conclusions.

All year levels also participated in exciting incursions with Hands-on Science, where they had the opportunity to engage with interactive demonstrations and explore scientific concepts in fun and memorable ways. In addition, students worked closely with their classroom teachers to carry out a variety of experiments, sparking curiosity and strengthening their understanding of the world around them.

Science this term provided an engaging platform for students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, while nurturing their natural curiosity and love of discovery.

Parent Information Session: Supporting Your Child’s Speech and Language Development

We invite all parents to an upcoming session with our School Speech Pathologist, who will share practical tips on how to support your child’s speech and language development at home in simple, everyday ways.

You’ll also learn about what typical speech and language development looks like, and when it may be helpful to seek further support.

Date: Wednesday 15th October 

Time: 9 am - 10 am 

Location: St. Fidelis STEM and Library space 

This is a valuable opportunity to gain insights and strategies to help your child thrive. We look forward to seeing you there!

Footy Colours Day & Lunch Order Special

Get ready to show your team spirit! 

On Wednesday, 17th September, we’re celebrating Footy Colours Day. Students are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite team’s colours, scarves, or jumpers to show their support.

To make the day even better, we’ll have a special lunch order day featuring a sausage sizzle and delicious doughnuts!

It’s a great chance to enjoy some footy fun, tasty treats, and team pride. Don’t miss out!

LITERACY NEWS

NUMERACY NEWS - Colleen Monaghan

Our final Australasian Primary School Mathematics Olympiad will be run this Thursday. We wish all our students well.  

Our Junior students have recently completed their unit on Multiplication, and we are so proud of their efforts! They have worked hard on creating multiplication number sentences, using repeated addition, practising skip counting, building arrays, and solving worded problems. Here are some fantastic samples of their work.

Reminder: Maths Games Days  Term 4 

Our upcoming Maths Games Days will be fun and engaging opportunities for students to work in teams, solve problems, play strategy games, and take part in active maths challenges. These days are only possible with the support of our wonderful parent helpers. If you’re able to assist for one session (or more), your help would be greatly appreciated. The day will run across three sessions:

• 9:00–11:00
• 11:30–1:30
• 2:30–3:30

Further details will be shared soon, but for now, you may like to pop the dates into your calendar.

Thursday 16th October - Grade 5/6 

Thursday  23rd October - Grades 1/2

Tuesday 28th October - Foundation 

Tuesday 20th November - Grades 3/4

Parent tip for practice at home:  Little and often is best — 5 minutes a day playing games, cooking, shopping, or chatting about numbers is more effective than worksheets. Keeping up with a few basic maths skills over the holidays makes a big difference. Below are the key skills children need at each year level,  plus fun ways to practise at home.

• Play quick-fire games (times tables, “what’s the change from $1”, “guess the missing number”).
• Cook together (measuring ingredients, fractions).
• Use clocks, calendars, and timetables in daily conversations.
• Play board games or card games that use number skills.

Foundation - Continue with recall of reading numbers 0-20 and counting forward and backwards from 0-24. What number is one more? What number is one less? Count, write and order numbers to 20. Share objects equally (“fair share”). Recognise coins. Talk about time (morning, afternoon, night).

Fun practice:

• Count fruit, cars, and toys together.
• Share lollies or snacks equally.
• Play “What comes next?” in counting.
• Use coins when shopping.

Year 1 - Continue counting forwards in ones (0-120) and backwards, as well as 5’s, 10’s, and 2’s (0-120).  What number is one more? One less?   Read and write numbers 0-120. Count forwards/backwards to 120.  Understand tens and ones, Add/subtract numbers to 20. Tell time to the half-hour.

Fun practice:

• Roll the dice and add/subtract numbers.
• Count money when paying at shops.
• Read the clock together (e.g. “It’s half-past 3”).
• Play simple card games (e.g. “Make 10”).

Year 2 - Continue with counting forwards in ones 0-1000  forwards and backwards as well  as 5’s, 10’s and  2’s  0-1000 starting at any number .  What number is one more? One less?  Ten more/ ten less?  Read and write numbers 0-1000. Can they recall doubles 0-10 and say these as two times 5= 10, 2 times 9 makes 18, etc. Work with numbers to 1000, add/subtract with 2-digit numbers, Division as sharing or grouping, Tell time to quarter past/to Fractions: ½, ¼, ⅓

Fun practice:

• Skip count aloud while bouncing a ball.
• Cut pizza/fruit into halves and quarters.
• Play “Times Table Snap” with cards.
• Use clocks to practise quarter-past and quarter-to.

Year 3 - Reminders to continue with times table practice games and recall- Count forwards and backwards in any number starting at any given number, 4’s starting at 17  up to 57 etc..  backwards in 10’s from 1045…. 975  etc.. Numbers to 10,000, Times tables: 2, 3, 5, 10, Add/subtract with 3-digit numbers Fractions: ½, ⅓, ¼, ⅕, ⅒ Tell time to the minute Read simple timetables.

Fun practice:

• Quiz times tables in the car.
• Cook and measure ingredients.
• Use bus/train timetables for pretend trips.
• Measure things at home with a ruler or tape measure.

Year 4 - Numbers to 100,000. All times tables up to 10 × 10 Use written methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Equivalent fractions, Read 12- and 24-hour time.  Perimeter and area

Fun practice:

• Test times tables before bed.
• Work out the change when shopping.
• Measure rooms and work out the area using grid paper.
• Read the TV guide or sports timetable.

Year 5 - Read fractions, and decimals up to 3 decimal places. Count in fractions, ½, ⅓, ¼, Numbers to 1,000,000. Times tables to 10x10 (and related division). Add, subtract, multiply, and divide large numbers. Decimals and fractions, convert between mm, cm, m; g, kg; ml, L. Perimeter, area, volume.

Fun practice:

• Cook recipes with fractions and measuring.
• Compare weights at the supermarket.
• Time activities with a stopwatch.

Plan a “dream bedroom” and work out area.

Year 6 - Numbers beyond 1,000,000, Confident with decimals and fractions. Simplify, add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. Convert fractions, decimals, and percentages. Ratio and proportion, Area, perimeter, volume, Graphs and timetables

Fun practice:

• Plan a trip using bus/train timetables.
• Work out sale prices (percentages).
• Cook a meal — halve or double recipes.
• Compare petrol prices and calculate savings.

PE & SPORTS NEWS - Michael Jennings

INTERSCHOOL SPORT

The St Fidelis Girls Bat Tennis & Basketball Teams played  Coburg District Finals today.

Results in next week’s newsletter.

SSV COBURG DISTRICT ATHLETICS CARNIVAL 

Congratulations to the following students who came 1st or 2nd in their respective events at the recent Coburg District Athletics Carnival. These students will represent the Coburg District at the forthcoming Inner North/Merri-Bek Division Championships to be held at Meadowglen Athletics Track, Epping, on Friday 12 September 2025:

ST FIDELIS DIVISION ATHLETICS QUALIFIERS

ZITA M 11 GIRLS SHOT PUT 

ELIZABETH F 10 GIRLS SHOT PUT

TOMMY G 10 YEAR BOYS DISCUS

MAX L 12 BOYS 200M & HIGH JUMP

SKYLER F 11 BOYS 200M & SHOT PUT

HUNTER F 10 BOYS TRIPLE JUMP

RILEY L 10 GIRLS TRIPLE JUMP

MANCHESTER CITY SOCCER SHIELD

St Fidelis Primary School has been offered an opportunity for a selection of our Year 4 students to participate in the Manchester City Football (Soccer) Primary School Shield on Thursday, 9 October 2025. The event is conducted at Parade Secondary College, Bundoora Campus.  Parade College provides free transport to and from the college for this event, accommodating up to 15 students from St Fidelis Primary School, accompanied by a St Fidelis teacher in charge.

STUDENTS ATTENDING MANCHESTER CITY SHIELD ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Sebastian A, Tommy G, Giorgio I, Thomas K, Sebastian S, Zac H, Roderick P, Raf S, Isaac S, Carlo T, Ella S, Riley L, Priscilla M, Tess N & Florence M

YEAR 3/4 GALA DAY

Our Grade 3/4 students will be participating in a ‘Gala Day of Volleystars’  (modified volleyball) games on Friday, 19 September 2025, commencing at 11:45 am and concluding by 1:00 pm in the Benny Courts. The Year 3/4 students are to wear their sports uniforms on this day in preparation for this event. Parents are more than welcome to attend.

ST FIDELIS ATHLETICS/SPORTS DAY

The St Fidelis Annual Athletics/Sports Carnival for students from Foundation - Year 6 will be held on Friday, 31 October 2025. The venue will be Coburg Athletics Track.

PARENTS & FAMILIES ARE MOST WELCOME TO ATTEND TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEAMS

If possible, students can wear coloured socks, ribbons in their hair, on their hats, or on their t-shirts to help distinguish the teams. Students should wear sunscreen. Sunscreen can be in the colours of the teams.

Please note that in the event of extreme weather conditions, the Sports Carnival will be postponed. Back-up Day will be Friday, 7 November 2025.

We will be seeking parent assistance in conducting the Sports/Athletics Day events. If you can assist, please complete a form in the coming week/s. Please note that parent/carer assistants must have Working With Children Checks.

Please find the Sports Teams and their history in the links below:

ITALIAN NEWS - Rosa Fokianos

BUONGIORNO! 

 Salve a tutti! (Hello everyone)! 

Apologies…most of this article was supposed to have gone out last Monday, (2/9/25), some of the content may be a little outdated, but I have decided that it should still go out just the same. This article covers a number of celebrations that have taken place over this past term. Happy reading!

È Primavera! (It’s Springtime)!

It’s so nice to see the days getting slightly longer, il sole (the sun) rising earlier and going down a little later. Giving tutti (everyone), more time to do more outdoor activities. I know I will be trying to do so. 😀 Even though it is now springtime, this weekend that just passed seemed like it was still inverno (winter). Che freddo! 

I’d now like to re-cap some of the Italian events that have taken place over the last few weeks here in Melbourne, interstate and overseas… 

Ferragosto…in Italia

As most of you already know, il 15 agosto (15th August) was the L' Assunzione di Maria,

Assumption of Mary. L’Assunzione di Maria is also known as Ferragosto. This is a public holiday in Italia. Many towns hold processions and church services to commemorate the day. It's also a popular time for Italians to enjoy le vacanze estive, (the summer holidays), with many heading to la spiaggia (the beach) or le montagne, (the mountains).

Ferragosto…a Sydney

Three weekends ago, I had the pleasure of flying up to Sydney for a family event and la domenica (Sunday), of that weekend, there was a whole day Ferragosto celebration in an inner city suburb called Five Dock. This suburb is well known for its many Italian residents, negozi, (shops) e ristoranti, (restaurants). È stata una bellissima giornata! - It was such a lovely day, with il sole shining down and tanta gente (many people) everywhere! Media reports stated that more that 100,000 people attended the festivities this year, Mamma mia! The Ferragosto celebration took place down the main street, which was partially closed off for the day’s festivities. 

To start the day’s proceedings, there was a procession with a statue of la Madonna, at the front, with people following behind through the main street. There was a sea of verde, bianco e rosso throughout the day, including Italian food stalls, with of course, pasta, pizza e gelato in abundance, entertainment stages, Italian car displays, market stalls, craft stalls and also a section dedicated to children’s rides and games. Fantastico!!  👏

Italian Day Festival…a Preston Market

Domenica scorsa, (last Sunday), 31 agosto, Preston Market hosted an Italian Day celebration. I was unable to attend, but I did see quite a bit of advertising for it. I read that Radio Italiana 531 was broadcasting live from the market, there was going to be live entertainment, pop-up food stalls and a children’s craft making stall. 

I wonder if anyone in our St Fidelis school community went down and saw some of the events taking place. If so, I’d love to hear what you saw or did. 📷❤️

Festa del Papà - Father’s Day 7 settembre 2025

Finally, as we all know ieri, (yesterday) we celebrated la Festa del Papà, (Father’s Day). I would like to take this opportunity to send miei auguri a tutti i papà / nonni / zii, nella nostra comunità di St Fidelis, per una bella giornata, (well wishes to all the dads, grandfathers and uncles in our St Fidelis community for a lovely Father’s Day).

I hope that our children did something special for their papà, nonno or zio, no matter how big or small. 😍   

Stay tuned for more Italian events taking place soon. Until next time, buona settimana! (have a good week).🌷

Saluti da

Signora Rosa 🌹