Leadership & Management

Week 9 Term 1

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is the last week of Term One and it has gone by so quickly. 

Thank you

Thank you to my dedicated staff, who are continuously seeking improvement in all areas of school life, especially caring and supporting your children with their learning to be the best people they can be.

Thank you to all the parents, who support St Fidelis in many ways. Thank you to the students, who bring St Fidelis' School alive.

A very happy and Holy Easter to you and all your families and I look forward to a productive term of learning in Term Two.

Year 3 Reconciliation

Congratulations to our Year 3 students, who last Thursday night gathered with their families to celebrate their first Reconciliation (the Sacrament of Penance). Thank you to Annette Gasbarro and the Year 3/4 students, for preparing the children and to Fr Tran and Fr Trac, for celebrating this Sacrament and making it a memorable occasion for all. 

Holy Week Events' Paraliturgies

This year, Holy Week begins on Monday March 25.  Each class has been allocated day to re-enact the events of Holy Week for the rest of the school and the families, if they are able to attend. These re-enactments will be all held at St Fidelis' Church on the following days.

St Fidelis School Review 2024- Continuous Improvement Process

It's been four years since our last School review. St Fidelis will undergo a formal School Review Process in Term 2.  We are in Year 4 (as shown in the above image) of the School Improvement cycle. 

School reviews occur every four years and have two dimensions: Improvement and Compliance. Last Friday, at our School Closure Day, all staff engaged in a dialogue session providing evidence around the five spheres of: 

• Education In Faith
• Learning and teaching
• Leadership and Management
• Student Wellbeing
• School Community

The five spheres in the School Improvement Framework (SIF), are the core drivers that support student growth and development and therefore, continuous school improvement. Each sphere can independently enhance school improvement however, it is when these spheres of improvement are integrated that we see the flourishing of each student within an effective school. 

• Improvement: supports self-reflection and assessment of performance and growth in school improvement across the life of the School Improvement Cycle and informs planning for future growth. Post review, St Fidelis will work closely with our Regional Learning Consultant to set future improvement agenda, grounded in the schools next School Improvement Plan. 
• Compliance: an audit/verification process of the Minimum Standards for School Registration and other State and Commonwealth Requirements is also conducted whilst engaging in the process for school review. 

Ms Mary Lovelock, an external reviewer and Mrs Sandra Ritchie (Regional Leadership Consultant) from MACS will facilitate the review process. As Principal, I look forward to the many learning opportunities and successes that will evolve throughout this process.  

Great News

Last year, I applied for the “Saluting Their Services Commemorative Grants Program”  to assist our school in funding our two new flagpoles and memorial garden. The intended outcome of the grant opportunity is to provide funding for projects and activities that:

• Promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who served have played

Last year we embarked on building a memorial garden with special roses, plants that mean something about peace and war and erecting two flag poles to honor the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who served in war.  This special area at our school, is a place we gather as a school community in particular on ANZAC Day and REMEMBRANCE Day to remember and pray for all who have served so we could have a better life. 

Last week Mr Peter Khalil, our Federal Labor member for WIlls called me to announce we were successful with our application of $6450.00 for our project. Mr Khalil and Mr Michael Pianta, president of the Coburg RSL will attend our school's ANZAC Day ceremony to speak to the students, families and staff and present us with our grant. 

This ceremony, will be led by the Year 5/6 students in front of the flagpoles on April 24th at 10:30am. Please mark this in your diary if you are able to attend, as that would be most appreciated. 

Some of our achievements and events this term include:

• Completion of Term One for our Foundation students and new families at St Fidelis
• Numeracy Parent Workshop
• Lunch Order Days
• Hot Cross Bun Morning tea 
• Open Community Day
• Foundation and Year 5/6 Buddy Mass
• Year 4 Mercy Explore day 
• Numerous  School Tours 
• Year 5/6  Camp at Sovereign Hill 
• Life Saving Education Year 3/4  Excursion 
• Year 5/6 Summer District Sport
• Winners of Art Exhibition Awards Catholic Education week 
• School Advisory Board Meeting
• Parents & Friends Meetings 
• Year 3 Parent and Child faith workshops
• Year 3 Students Celebration of Sacrament of Reconciliation
• PSG Meetings
• GATEWAYS 
• Project Compassion
• Introduction of New School Unform

Sibling Enrolments for 2025 

If you have a child commencing Foundation in 2025 can you please enrol your child by the end of March so we can determine how many places will be available to new families for 2025. We have a high sibling intake in 2025 however we may have missed some so please ensue  you enrol before March to secure your enrolment for 2025. Collect your enrolment forms from the school office or download them from our website. 

School Fees 2024

We would appreciate payment as soon as possible. The school has already paid for all of your children's stationary upfront and prompt payment of the first installment would be most appreciated. The office is open from 8:30am to 4:00pm each day if you would like to pay in person. If you prefer to pay by Direct Debit, please use the bank details below. If any families need to discuss alternative arrangements for the payment of fees, please contact me directly.  Included are the Bank details for your ease of payment:

Please note once you have made a payment can you email Ann Russo 

annr@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au with the amount you have deposited.

Concessional School Fee

Families who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for a fee concession:

•  Any family of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage
•  Any family holding a HCC and eligible for CSEF
•  Any family holding a DVA Gold Card
•  Any family identified as refugees and holding an ImmiCard

Please collect a concession fee application form to be considered for the concession fee.

Have a great week everyone

Kind regards,

Manuela