Learning & Teaching 

Learning and Teaching - Vira Pirrotta

Mercy Explore Day

Last Wednesday, the Year 4 students participated in the Mercy Explore Day at Mercy College in Coburg. They were excited as they stepped into the shoes of high schoolers, ready to explore the corridors of the big Mercy Campus on Bell Street.

The day began with a talk with Lila McInerney, the principal, and then the students broke into groups with the other schools from the area. Next on the agenda was a series of classroom visits, offering a taste of the academic subjects offered at Mercy. The students dove headfirst into engaging  Drama, Dance, Home Economics, and  Art lessons led by engaging and enthusiastic teachers. With each passing period, they gained a deeper appreciation for Mercy's subjects. 

The student leader and Year 12 students took the Year 4 girls on a guided tour through the bustling hallways of the high school. The girls were in awe of the sights and sounds of a larger, more diverse campus. From the vibrant artwork and fashion on the walls to the spirited chatter of students congregating between classes, each part of the tour revealed a glimpse into the dynamic and vibrant high school that Mercy is. 

Amidst the activities, the students were treated to lunch and morning tea. It was a fantastic experience for our Year 4 girls, and we are very thankful to Mercy College, which organises this experience for students each year. 

Please look at their website and book a tour for more information about what they offer.   https://www.mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au/ 

LITERACY - Bernadette Parnis

Reading and writing during the holidays

The school holidays are a great time to relax and have fun. However, it can also be enough time for children to forget some of the important skills they have learnt during the term. To avoid this, children can read and write for their own enjoyment. The holidays could provide an opportunity for your family to visit the local library and borrow books to read at home. A fun activity could be for children to write a letter to their friends and extended family members, put it into an envelope and walk down to a red street-posting box. Reading and writing helps keep children thinking.

Fun, simple and engaging things to do during the holidays

• Sing nursery rhymes like ‘Humpty Dumpty’, ‘The Wheels on the Bus’, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’.
• Read road signs together when in the car or walking to the park. As you drive past McDonald’s, Kmart or the sign posts to various destinations use the initial sounds of these words to name other words that start with the same sound.
• Play games such as ‘I spy’ which involves turn-taking and talking, and develops social and language skills. You can play ‘I spy’ anywhere. You can also easily adapt ‘I spy’ for children of different ages. 
• When you are at the supermarket, talk about the groceries, fruit and vegetables, bakery goods etc.
• Play board games as a family. For example, Snakes and Ladders, Junior Scrabble, Connect Four, Scrabble, card games etc. 
• Allow children to use chalk and draw outside on the concrete in the backyard or driveway.
• Play Hopscotch.
• Go to the park and feed the birds stale bread.
• Allow the children to wear gum boots and stomp in the puddles.
• Play games like ‘Hide and Seek’. 
• Make sandcastles at the beach. 
• Go to a local museum or art gallery.
• Head out to a local park and have a BBQ picnic.
• Write a story together.
• Crafting: Use macaroni or costume store beads to make necklaces, bracelets, and more.
• Plan a treasure hunt.
• Go for a bike ride.
• Play a detective game.
• Have a tea party.

Wishing you all a blessed holy Easter and a restful relaxing break,

Bernadette 

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT - Leanne Wenckowski

Storytime  is back at St Fidelis for 2024 

Beginning Term 2, Week 2

Monday 22nd April 2:30-3:20pm

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 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

SPORT NEWS - Michael Jennings

Congratulations to Chloe in FLW who competed at Moreland Little Aths Championships. 

She won gold in 70m & discus and Silver in 300m & shot putt.

ITALIAN NEWS - Rosa Fokianos

BUONGIORNO! 

Salve a tutti! (Hello everyone!). 

Mamma Mia! How quickly this term has flown…granted it was a shorter term but it was filled with many learning and exciting opportunities for all, from the specialist classes, own classrooms, as well as the St Fidelis' Community Day just recently, just to name a few.

I would like to take this opportunity to give- parents an overview of what was achieved during this term in Italian for each grade level. This is as follows:

Foundation: 

• Introductions, (Ciao, mi chiamo… / Hi, my name is…) 
• Comparing Italy with Australia, (geographical map and flag)
• Introduction to numbers (0-10), some children were not only able to count from 1-10, they were also able to read the numbers as well as count past 10. Bravissimi!!

Grade 1/2:

• Introductions: revising basic greetings as well as beginning to ask Come stai? and responding appropriately, eg. sto bene, (more work will be done on emotions and feelings next term in Italian) 
• Language related to following instructions: eg. Tutti seduti, tutti in piedi, as well as demonstrating the instructions
• Learning more about the Italian alphabet (number of letters, how to pronounce the letters and comparing the Italian alphabet with the English alphabet)

Grade 3/4:

• Introductions (revision with partners / groups through games)
• Greetings, revising as well as introducing new greetings such as Buona Fortuna, Buon Viaggio and learning what they mean and when they can be used
• Consolidating our greetings through games and making posters
• Revising language related to following instructions (this is ongoing), eg. Tutti insieme, Tutti in fila

Grade 5/6:

• Revision of language essentials (what I call non-negotiables), eg. Introductions, Greetings, Days of the week, eg. Che giorno è oggi? Ieri? Domani? Months, weather and seasons, eg. Che tempo fa oggi? or, In che stagione siamo?
• Begin a cultural unit on Italia / Italy: asking the children what they already know and then explore this country even further, by learning more about its geography, history, landmarks, famous people and other interesting facts that come up  (this unit will continue next term)

Throughout the term, the children have also been saying Il segno della croce, the Sign of the Cross, (Foundation will begin this next term), as well as learning Ave Maria (Hail Mary) in italiano. 

I have now included below some photos taken throughout the term with various grade groups. If you spot your child/ren, perhaps you could ask them what they were doing when the photo was taken? 

I have also been busy labelling more places and objects throughout the school, I wonder if your child/ren have been able to report back what they have found and learnt to say in regards to various places around the school? eg. How do we say left and right in Italian? Where are these signs around the school? Happy searching! 👀

I would like to wish all the St Fidelis' community a happy and Holy Easter and look forward to teaching your children more italiano next term. Buona Pasqua!

Signora Rosa 🌹