Learning & Teaching

LITERACY - Di Manthos

NAIDOC Week 

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. It’s a celebration of 65,000 years of history, culture and achievements, but it’s also a time to chart a just future - and this future starts with education.

At St Fidelis we are celebrating NAIDOC Week with incursions, online resources, Literature and Art. Students will be exploring different understandings to enhance engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and perspectives. As part of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation we will also be involved in the Great Book Swap. More details to follow as we participate in this event in September. 

In line with the Australian curriculum, we are working towards addressing two distinct needs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education: 

• that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are able to see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum of each of the learning areas, can fully participate in the curriculum and can build their self-esteem 

• that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority is designed for all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures. 

The students in each year level will be developing different understandings and exploring different questions. 

• Foundation - Indigenous people are the original owners of the land.
• 1/2 - We can learn about the indigenous culture through their stories.
• 3/4 - The indigenous  communities shared their stories in various ways.
• 5/6 - Looking after family, community and country is an important part of the Indigenous culture.

BOOK CLUB

Book Club orders are now open for Issue 5.  Catalogues will be sent home tomorrow or you can order online via Scholastic Australia LOOP website or app.

PE & SPORT - Michael Jennings

CAMP WEEKAWAY 2021

The Grade 5/6 Camp was held during the last week of Term 2 at “Weekaway” Camp, Benloch, on 23rd, 24th and 25th of June, 2021.

The purpose of going on this camp was to provide the students with a worthwhile educational, living and learning experience as part of our Year 5/6 curriculum.

Throughout the days spent at camp, the students were involved in a variety of outdoor educational activities which included, amongst other things, bush-walking, flying fox, ropes course, initiative course, archery, the maze, and possum glider.

All the activities and responsibilities attached to being a camp member were designed to:

1. Increase initiative, self-reliance and self-discipline;
2. Encourage determination and concentration;
3. Teach promotion and protection of the natural environment;
4. Encourage participation;
5. Teach new skills;
6. Increase team effort;
7. Motivate and challenge; and
8. Encourage problem-solving, planning and correct judgement.

Congratulations to all the Grades 5/6 students, who attended the camp, for their enthusiastic participation, co-operation and wonderful behaviour.

Thank you to the St Fidelis camp staff, Mrs Casamento, Mrs Clarke, Ms Sargent, Mr Frazzetto, Mr MacGregor, Mrs Wenckowski and Mrs Watson, for your leadership, enthusiasm and care of the students whilst at camp.

Finally, thank you to the Grades 5/6 parents for allowing your children to be a part of this learning experience.

Michael Jennings

School Camp Coordinator