Principal's Piece 

Term 3, Week 7

This week we say farewell to our school psychologist, Melissa Laing, as she begins her maternity leave and awaits the arrival of her 2nd child. We wish Melissa, Ben and Mia all the very best as their family grows. We hope this special time is filled with plenty of joy, excitement and precious moments as they welcome their newest family member. 

On Monday, we commenced our Book Week celebrations with our parade, which is one of the most enjoyable and creative times in our school year! It was fantastic to see the creativity, imagination and effort that went into each costume. A very big thank you to all our families for supporting their children in preparing their costumes and for helping make our Book Week Parade such a wonderful success. Book Week is a reminder of the importance of reading and the impact reading has on children’s imagination, creativity, curiosity and learning. 

Our Book Fair will also be open from Tuesday 25th to Monday 31st August, before and after school. There will be a range of books and other items to purchase and a chance to expand your home library. 

On Wednesday, our Year 1 students and their families enjoyed a very special Family Engagement Evening. The children were excited to share storytime together at school and it was wonderful to see so many families attending and joining in the experience. We thank our Year 1 teachers for organising such an engaging evening and our families for taking the time to be part of their child’s learning. Your presence makes such a positive difference and helps strengthen the partnership between home and school.

We are looking forward to our Father's Day morning activity next week. Our dads and special father figures are invited to spend time with their child in the classroom on Thursday 3rd September, from 7.45 am to 8.40 am. It is important that, if you are attending, you arrive on time, as our teachers and your child have something special planned for their dads. We are also asking for a cash donation as you arrive at the gate, and all proceeds will go toward the Prostate Cancer Foundation.  

Please note: the activity will be held in your youngest child’s classroom

Please enter via Bridgewater Road; Gate 5 

Our Father’s Day stall will be on Friday 4th September. All gifts will be $5.00. 

Our Year 6 students attended their retreat day on Tuesday as they prepare for their Confirmation on Sunday. Throughout the day, they listened to guest speaker Ezekiel Bartlett, who guided them through prayer, reflection and an understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

On Wednesday evening, our students attended our Family Faith Night with their parents and sponsors. 

This Sunday, our Confirmation candidates will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, a milestone in their faith journey. We hold them in our prayers as they open their hearts to the Holy Spirit and step forward in faith.

Prayer for Our Confirmation Candidates

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of our Year 6 students as they prepare to be sealed with Your gifts. Grant them wisdom to see the world through Your eyes, understanding to follow Your ways, courage to stand strong in their faith, knowledge to grow in truth, reverence to honour all that is holy, and wonder and awe in Your presence each day. Bless their families, sponsors, and teachers who guide them, and may this sacrament strengthen them to live as faithful witnesses of Christ. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Our annual end of term Footy Day will be on Friday 18 September.  We will be having a fundraiser footy day lunch consisting of a pie, drink and jelly cup. All profits will go towards our Year 6 Graduation. If you would like to order, please order via this link:  https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1636054?embed

Please note: orders will close on Monday 7th September @ 11 am.  NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

Each year, our school takes part in the MACSSIS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys). These surveys provide an important opportunity for us to hear the voices of our students, staff and families. The feedback we receive helps us to celebrate what we are doing well and identify areas where we can continue to grow and improve together as a school community. We warmly encourage all families to take part in this year’s survey. As the MACSSIS survey is conducted annually, we ask that your responses reflect your experiences of our school during the current school year, rather than experiences from previous years. This will ensure that the data we receive is as accurate and meaningful as possible and provides us with a clear picture of our school community’s current experiences. Your feedback is highly valued and makes a genuine difference in helping us shape the learning environment and experiences we provide for our students. Further details on how to access and complete the survey will be shared soon via COMPASS. Thank you in advance for your time, support and valuable feedback as we continue to work together to provide the best possible learning community for our children.

I would like to invite all families to attend an important Cybersafety Information Evening featuring Susan McLean. Susan was the first Victorian Police Officer appointed to a position specifically involving cybersafety and young people. She is a highly respected presenter who provides practical advice and guidance to parents about the online world and the challenges our children face. As our children spend increasing amounts of time online, it is more important than ever that we understand the risks they may encounter and know how we can support, guide and protect them.

When: Thursday 10 September @ 7.00 pm

Where: St Fidelis Primary School Hall, Hawthorn Street, Coburg. 

Cost: $10.00

I encourage parents and carers to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to learn more about cybersafety, online behaviours, social media and keeping our children safe in the digital world.

For further information and details about how to purchase tickets, please click on the link: 

BOOK VIA HTTPS://WWW.TRYBOOKING.COM/DPAGB

School closure days this semester:  Monday, 2nd November; Friday, 27th November. 

School Calendar: Please check the School Community Calendar Page for important upcoming events. 

God Bless

Cinzia Mancuso

Principal