Learning & Teaching 

LEARNING AND TEACHING NEWS- Vira Pirrotta 

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

Term 3 promises to be full of exciting opportunities across all areas of the curriculum. Curriculum newsletters have been attached to provide you with an overview of what’s happening in each learning area. We encourage you to take a moment to read through them to discover the wonderful experiences planned for your child.

The Curriculum Overviews are designed to give you an insight into what your children will be learning this term. We aim to keep you well-informed and engaged in your child's academic journey. By providing this overview, we hope to give you a clearer understanding of our educational goals and the exciting learning experiences your children will be participating in. 

Please remember to read your child’s year level page in the newsletter, as this is also an excellent opportunity to read about what they have been learning for the week. Colleen and Bernadette also include great activities and support for you to help your child at home. 

We look forward to a fantastic term of learning, exploration, and discovery!

LITERACY NEWS - Bernadette Parnis

That’s a wrap on the Scholastic Book Fair!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Scholastic Book Fair. Your support helps our school earn free books for classrooms and the library. We appreciate your contribution.

Upcoming event: SMART Spelling Information Session 

• SMART Spelling Parent Information Morning Tuesday, 5 August, 9am– 10am
• Join us for an informative session about the SMART Spelling approach used in our classrooms. This is a great opportunity for parents to gain insights into how spelling is taught and how you can support your child’s learning at home.
• We hope to see you there!

Students in Years 3 to 6 using the Shortlisted Book Week books 

All students in Years 3 to 6 have been placed into five groups and take part in a weekly rotation focused on the Book Week books. Each teacher reads their chosen book aloud to a group, guiding students through discussions and activities linked to the text. This approach allows all students to engage deeply with each of the five featured books over time.

CBCA Book Week 2025 – 80 Years of Celebrating Stories

Since 1945, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has been bringing children and books together through CBCA Book Week. This year marks a special milestone, 80 years of celebrating Australian stories, authors, and illustrators.

Each year, schools and libraries across the country take part by creating displays, hosting storytimes, running competitions, and sharing the joy of reading. It’s a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of books in children’s lives.

This year’s theme is Book an Adventure,a celebration of the incredible journeys we take through reading. Following are the shortlisted books in each category.

Book of the Year - Younger Readers shortlist

• Aggie Flea Steals the Show by Tania Ingram, illustrated by A. Yi 
• Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton, illustrated by Matt Stanton 
• Laughter is the Best Ending by Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks 
• Saskia Spark-Lee: Fundraiser Fail by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg, illustrated by Sofya Karmazina 
• Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by Jackie French 
• To and Fro by Anton Clifford-Motopi 

Book of the Year - Early Childhood shortlist

• Don’t Worry, Felix by Yohann Devezy & Katharine Alice, illustrated by Zoe Bennett 
• Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t) by Briony Stewart 
• How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Owen Swan
• One Little Dung Beetle by Rhiân Williams, illustrated by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson
• Spiro by Anna McGregor 
• The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum, illustrated by Craig Smith 

Book of the Year - Picture Book of the Year shortlist

• Afloat by Freya Blackwood, text by Kirli Saunders 
• The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood 
• A Leaf Called Greaf by Kelly Canby 
• These Long-Loved Things by Ronojoy Ghosh, text by Josh Pyke
• The Truck Cat by Danny Snell, text by Deborah Frenkel 
• We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold

Book of the Year - Eve Pownall Award shortlist

• Always Was, Always Will Be by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson 
• Design & Building on Country by Alison Page & Paul Memmott, illustrated by Blak Douglas 
• Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants by Tania McCartney 
• I am a Magpie, I am a Currawong by Bridget Farmer
• Making the Shrine: Stories From Victoria’s War Memorial by Laura J Carroll 
• South With the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin 

Book of the Year - New Illustrator shortlist

• A Teaspoon of Light, Nisaluk Chantanakom 
• Digger Digs Down, Huni Melissa Bolliger 
• Grow Big, Little Seed, Sarah Capon 
• Peek-a-Boo Lottie, Kristen Willis 
• Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu, When I was a little girl, Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr 
• The Land Recalls You, David Cragg & Noni Cragg 

Book Week Assembly & Parade

We’ll be holding our Book Week Assembly and Parade on Friday, 23 August at 9 am. Start planning your costume, students are encouraged to come dressed as a favourite book character or something inspired by this year’s adventurous theme.

Have a great week. 

Bernadette Parnis

bparnis@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au 

NUMERACY NEWS - Colleen Monaghan

Helping Your Child Build Confidence and Success in Maths Through Fluency

When we talk about fluency in maths, we simply mean being able to answer questions quickly and easily - without getting stuck. This might be knowing basic number facts (like 5 + 6 = 11), being able to read large numbers, or working out problems using the right steps with confidence.

We want students to be able to work with numbers accurately, and to do so smoothly and confidently. It's not just about speed - it's about understanding what they’re doing and becoming more flexible in how they solve problems.

At school, we aim to give students regular and targeted practice so that these maths skills become second nature. Think of it like learning to ride a bike or play a sport - the more you practice, the more natural it becomes. And with that comes some fantastic benefits:

What happens when students become fluent in maths?

1. Their confidence grows. When students feel they can keep up and know the answers, they believe in themselves more. They feel “good at maths,” and that boosts their willingness to try new things.

2. They feel less anxious about maths. Sometimes students feel nervous or stressed about maths because it’s hard. But when we help them build fluency through practice, they feel more in control - and that can reduce anxiety and make maths feel much more manageable.

3. They understand numbers better. Once the basics are automatic, students can start to see patterns and connections. They don’t just learn facts - they begin to understand why the maths works.

4. They can focus on harder concepts. When the basics are fluent, students don’t have to use all their brainpower just to remember simple steps. That leaves more mental energy to tackle deeper, more complex maths ideas.

5. They enjoy maths more. Feeling successful in class gives students a sense of achievement. They’re more engaged, more willing to participate, and often end up enjoying maths - something we all want for them!

Just like practice makes perfect, building fluency in maths helps our brains work better and makes learning easier. A few minutes of regular practice can make a big difference. At school, we’re working on building in these short, consistent fluency routines so that students can experience all these benefits - and feel proud of their progress.

If you’re wondering how to support your child at home, even something as simple as a few minutes of number facts or skip counting together can go a long way. Consistency is key and every bit helps.

Celebrating 100 Days of Learning in Foundation!

Last week, our Foundation students reached a major milestone – 100 days of school! To celebrate all the amazing learning and growth over the past 100 days, our students enjoyed a day filled with fun activities, including making delicious cupcakes.

From counting collections of 100 to dressing up as 100-year-olds,  the excitement and joy in the classroom were contagious. A big thank you to the staff and families who helped make this day so special. We’re so proud of how far our youngest learners have come – here’s to the next 100 days of learning!

Congratulations to our Australasian Mathematical Olympiads, they sat their thIrd test on Wednesday and all students should be proud of their efforts and achievements, it is never easy, but none gave up. Well done guys.

We have enrolled our Year 3- 6 students in the Matific Olympiad that runs from 11th August until the 15th August.  It is a fun filled online maths  competition. It aims to ignite a love of learning in all participants.  

All students will be rewarded a certificate and get entry into the draw based on the achievement of their target of 150 stars. Encourage your child to complete activities in the Adventure Island and earn stars. 3x Samsung tablets are up for grabs in the draw! The top class from each grade will get the Matific Maths Olympiad Champion Trophy! Free Matific license for a year.

VISUAL ART - Joe Frazzetto

MONSTER WALKERS - Foundation

In this art project, Foundation students followed the design process to create their very own moving monsters. They began by planning their ideas through drawing and colouring, carefully considering features like eyes, arms, and unique monster details.

Using their designs as a guide, students then used Magiclay to sculpt and build a 3D model of their monster. They focused on shaping key parts of their creatures and incorporated a simple mechanism to bring their monsters to life with movement.

Once their models were built, students used textas to thoughtfully colour their monsters, selecting colours that matched their original designs. Throughout the process, they reflected on their choices, described the materials they used, and explained how they brought their monster to life.

This project highlights each student’s ability to plan, create, and reflect, while showing responsibility with materials and pride in their work.

Don’t forget to check out the YouTube video of the Foundation Monsters in action!

https://youtu.be/H5GKUsiHYYU 

STEM NEWS - Joe Frazzetto

Foundation Students Become LEGO Masters in STEM Challenge!

During their recent STEM sessions, our amazing Foundation students took on the exciting LEGO Towers STEM Challenge - and what a fantastic effort it was!

Working like true engineers and mathematicians, students were challenged to build the tallest LEGO tower possible in just 30 minutes. They had two attempts to improve their designs, using trial and error, creativity, and teamwork. The big question was: "How can you build a taller LEGO tower?"

It was inspiring to see our young learners collaborate, problem-solve, and show incredible resilience - especially when their towers collapsed. Rather than giving up, they got right back to building, learning from each attempt and showing great perseverance.

This annual challenge has a long-standing record - until now! In 2023, the tallest tower stood at 101cm. But this year, three Foundation students from FLW broke the record with an incredible tower measuring 103cm!

Even more exciting - FAM students teamed up with their Year 5 buddies, and one team built a tower that reached an astonishing 137cm! It was truly amazing to see what collaboration and persistence can achieve.

By the end of the session, every Foundation student had earned the title of LEGO Master, and their excitement was a joy to watch. Be sure to check out the photos of our students and their impressive towers on display!

Well done to all our Foundation LEGO Masters - we are so proud of your efforts and your learning!

Year 1/2 Students Race Ahead with LEGO WeDo 2.0!

Our Year 1/2 students became mechanical engineers during an exciting STEM sessions using the LEGO WeDo 2.0 kits!

Students worked in teams to build and program racing cars equipped with motion sensors. As part of their coding challenge, the cars were programmed to start only after detecting movement - when students placed their hand in front of the sensor and then moved it away, the race began!

The project sparked fantastic discussions around gear ratios, wheel size, and car shape. Students explored which gear combinations would make their cars move faster and how the size and weight of the car could affect speed, friction, and overall performance.

Throughout the challenge, students showed outstanding collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking - just like real engineers, mathematicians, and scientists! After several heats, the fastest cars advanced to the finals, where the races were thrilling and incredibly close.

It was a fantastic learning experience full of creativity, curiosity, and fun. The students were so proud of their work - and rightly so!

Don’t forget to check out the photos of our young engineers in action!

You're Invited to 

the Merri-bek STEM MAD Showcase!

We’re excited to invite our school community to 

the Merri-bek STEM MAD Showcase, 

where our talented Year 5/6 students 

will be presenting their amazing STEM projects!

The STEM MAD Showcase is a celebration of 

student innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. 

"MAD" stands for "Make A Difference" 

and that’s exactly what our students are aiming to do

 through their thoughtful, real-world solutions.

Come along to see the brilliant ideas our students 

have brought to life, support their hard work, 

and be inspired by the future of STEM in our community!

We hope to see you there!

SPORT & PE NEWS - Michael Jennings

INTERSCHOOL SPORT

The SSV Coburg District Athletics Carnival is to be held at Coburg Athletics Track on Thursday 21 August. Students from Years 3 - 6 will be selected to participate in events such as 100m, 200m, 800m, 4 x 100m relay, long jump, triple jump, high jump, discus & shot put.

MANCHESTER CITY SOCCER CLINICS

St Fidelis Primary School has accepted an opportunity for a selection of our Year 4 students to participate in the Manchester City Football (Soccer) Primary School Program conducted at Parade Secondary College, Preston Campus. 

The Manchester City Football Program has been developed to give primary school students an opportunity to build on their soccer skills and sportsmanship by participating in a series of workshops and drills led by the Manchester City Football School coach, Mick Bennett and their Sport Academy students.

The program commenced on Wednesday 30 July and will continue to be held on the following dates during Term 3 commencing around 9.30am and concluding at 10.30am:

Wednesday 6 August 

Wednesday 13 August

Wednesday 20 August

Wednesday 27 August

Wednesday 3 September