Learning & Teaching 

LITERACY NEWS - Bernadette Parnis

Oh, how I love the sky….

And moving through

The marvellous BLUE

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime will occur on Wednesday, 22 May 2024, at 12:00pm AEST.

What is National Simultaneous Storytime?

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is an important yearly campaign by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) that aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books. 

​https://alia.org.au/Web/Web/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=NSS2024

This free, fun, online event promotes the value of reading and literacy. Each year, an Australian children’s book is chosen to be read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, homes and bookshops all over Australia. 

In 2023, NSS saw over 2 million children participate. The time has been adjusted for 2024 so more libraries and schools across Australia, New Zealand, and around the world can read together.

This year’s chosen book is Bowerbird Blues by Aurora Parker. Bowerbird Blues is about a beautiful bowerbird in the search for blue.  The bowerbird’s search sends him across the sea, sky and city. He swoops and collects treasures for his collection, and soon his bower attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined.’ https://www.alia.org.au/nss

I have registered St. Fidelis' School to participate in this exciting Australia-wide group reading literacy event. They will read Bowerbird Blues together with other schools, libraries, and institutions.

Literacy Parent Session 

Please keep Wednesday 29th of May free. I will run a short information session on supporting reading at home. More information will be available soon. 

Bernadette Parnis

Literacy Leader

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT - Leanne Wenckowski

Storytime at St Fidelis

Each Monday afternoon during the school term, you are invited to Storytime. Come and listen to a story, enjoy completing a craft activity and have a play with some friends. Toddlers and pre-schoolers are welcome. Please enter via the Saunders Street gate.  Parents/carers are required to stay for the Storytime session. For further details, please contact me via my email lwenckowski@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au

RSVP: Please email me if you are attending so I can prepare resources etc.

Leanne Wenckowski

Family Engagement Leader

NUMERACY NEWS - Colleen Monaghan 

Congratulations to Caleb, Mia, and Felix on their top results in our first Maths Olympiad. They have started extremely well and are strong. Congratulations, guys.

I am often asked about how to help at home, and therefore because the children are learning strategies for addiction and will soon be moving to subtraction, I thought I would add this link for you to look at.  The Progression of Addition and Subtraction HD

This link shows how the progression of addition and subtraction moves from Kindergarten (Foundation) to the upper grades, with models of materials, and representations that are important for children in building their understanding.

I have shown this to the teachers and we discussed the importance of place value being strong in order to move to addition and subtraction. 

Recently I mentioned to a parent, that a pack of cards is great for flipping and adding two numbers, saying one more/ten more etc. And the use of cards in practising and building fluency with facts is excellent. He did ask,"Are cards the swiss army knives of Maths?” and I guess they are!  They have so many uses for all levels of learning.

The big Tip I give parents is "Little often!"   We want to help them gain confidence with their maths and so following up and consolidating the learning happening at school is one way to do this.

If your child is a reluctant learner, try bringing in contexts to the maths that interests your child. For example, if they are into AFL, then use the football scores to add or find the difference between.

If they are interested in pop stars, look at the number of people at various concerts and work out the number who attended in each state. "I know Taylor Swift had 96,000 at each of her Melourne concerts, so if I add that three times, I can work out the total number of people who attended in Melbourne".

If they love shopping, then ask them to think about and then work out the cost of some new clothes, toys, bedroom accessories etc.?

I know the senior students have been loving their Block Challenge - they are shopping for their home renovations and working out the cost of various rooms, calculating the total cost and keeping within a budget too.

This may be a way to engage your child back into the maths in their world. See the purpose behind knowing how to add, subtract and multiply etc.

Have a great week

Colleen Monaghan

Maths Leader 

SPORTS NEWS - Michael Jennings

SSV Coburg District Cross Country Championships 2024

St Fidelis Primary School entered a cross country team represented by Years 3-6 students to compete in the SSV Coburg District Cross Country Championships held at Jackson Reserve, Coburg (Coburg Athletics Track) on Wednesday 15 May 2024. Events were conducted for boys and girls in the 10, 11 and 12/13 year age groups. The 10-year-old boys and girls ran 2km. The 11 and 12/13 year old boys and girls ran 3km.

Thanks to Ms Maddie & Ms Sophie for organising and accompanying our competitors to this event. Thanks to the parents who were able to assist with supervision and marshalling on the day.

There were many fine performances by our students. Congratulations to all our competitors on their efforts at competing and completing such a  difficult event. In particular, special mention to Mia (5th), Scarlett  (6th) & Violet (7th).

By finishing in the top ten competitors in their respective events, these girls have qualified to compete at the Inner North/Merri-bek Division Cross Country Championships to be held on Wednesday 29 May at Banyule Flats.

St Fidelis Cross Country Team 2024

10 Year Girls

ELLA  ZITA  CLARA ELIZABETH MARIA TESS ARIANA 

10 Year Boys

DANNTE HUNTER  RAFAEL  SKYLER CALEB  HARRISON  JULIANO 

11 Year Girls

MIA VIOLET 

11 Year Boys

PIERRE SAM  CHRISTIAN  FELIX  

12 Year Girls

SCARLETT SAVANNAH  KATERINA  ELIANA  

SSV Interschool Sport Competition

SSV Coburg District Interschool Sport games were played on Friday 17 May against St Olivers. Once again, thank you to all staff and students involved. Unfortunately our teams were outplayed against very strong opposition in most of the games. However, it was pleasing to see our students trying their best and never giving up. Please note that there are no games on Friday 22 May due to a scheduled BYE.

Year 3/4 Sport

Through Sporting Schools Government Funding, our Year 3/4 students will be participating in 4 x soccer clinics on Fridays at the end of this Term (2). The program is designed by Football Australia’s technical and youth development teams to use Football as the vehicle for fun, engagement and physical activity with learning principles that can be then applied back into the classroom environment.

With a focus on learning movement skills, teamwork, coordination and fun, the program encourages children to participate in game-based activities that reflect the Football Australia ‘Play for Life’ philosophy and the Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education syllabus. The foundation of the Football Schools Program is based on the junior program: MiniRoos. The programs are tailored to the needs of each school, ranging in duration and are inclusive and available to students of all abilities.

ITALIAN NEWS - Rosa Fokianos

BUONGIORNO! 

  UPCOMING ITALIAN SCHOOL EVENT!

Salve! (Hello!)  I’m excited to announce that we will be having our St Fidelis' Italian Cultural Day very shortly this term!

Quando? (When): giovedì 20 giugno 2024 (Thursday 20th June 2024)

Dove? (Where): Scuola Elementare di St Fidelis

L’orario (Time): 9:00am - 3:30pm (TBC)

As part of the festivities, we will be having our usual sfilata di costumi italiani (Italian dress up parade), which means mamma / papà / sorella / fratello, get those creative juices flowing and start thinking about what Italian costume you could wear? Perhaps…a famous Italian, an Italian landmark, a fashion label, an Italian vehicle, Italian food? 

You could make it together or perhaps you already have something made / bought that your child/ren could wear. I’m looking forward to seeing how creative our St Fidelis school community is this year! 😊 

More about this day as we get closer to the date…stay tuned! 

Leonardo da Vinci:  Part 2

As stated last week, I did say that due to the numerous photos taken during the Leonardo da Vinci experience at the LUME gallery, I was going to include some more photos in today’s newsletter. So here they are…

Below are some fun facts about Leonardo da Vinci himself and comments about the experience that the grade 5/6 ‘s have come up with in class. Hopefully you will find out something new too about this famous Italian man! 

Lo sai che? (Do you know that?/ Some Fun Facts) 

• Leonardo was born near a town called Vinci, during the Renaissance time. The Mona Lisa is also called “La Gioconda..” (Scarlett)
• Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, engineer, sculptor, genius and architect. He died at the age of 67 years old. (Makayla)
• Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 and died in 1519. (Caleb)   
• Leonardo da Vinci wrote right to left (backwards), so he did not smudge his work and so people did not copy him. (Monte)
• He wrote right to left except when he wrote a letter to a Duke - of Milan - (which was his resume for a job). (Erica)
• Leonardo wasn’t proud of the Mona Lisa because he hadn’t finished it by the time he died. (wasn’t satisfied with the finished product) (Joseph F)
• Leonardo da Vinci drew the bicycle but didn’t make it. (Jacob)
• Leonardo da Vinci made (designed some) instruments and the helicopter. (Cristian)
• Leonardo da Vinci put eyebrows and eyelashes on the Mona Lisa but it faded (over time). (Thomas)
• Leonardo da Vinci wanted to fly but never got to. He was also known as a genius ahead of his time. (Caleb)
• Leonardo da Vinci liked anatomy (the study) of the human body. (Xena)
• That the Vetruvian Man is perfect (human proportions) and that the Mona Lisa is so good. (Monte)....personal opinion.

The Leonardo da Vinci Experience… (reflection)

• Made me think how ahead of his time (Leonardo da Vinci) was. Made me think how much the Renaissance changed art. (Gemma)
• Made me think about how smart he was, designing a tank and a scuba diving suit. (Jacob)
• Made me think how fascinating (Leonardo da Vinci) was and how he did a lot. (Monte)
• Made me think that everyone has a different talent and that there weren’t many supplies when he (Leonardo da Vinci) was alive. (Scarlett)
• I found the projection of paintings interesting on all the walls (In the LUME auditorium). (Xena)

I hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s Italian news articles. It may have even inspired you to go and visit this exhibition that is still showing down in Southbank.

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

Signora Rosa 🌹

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