WEEK 10

Dear Parents and Carers,

The Advent season, within the Catholic Church has begun. Advent is a time of waiting, a time to prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus celebrated at Christmas. It is a time also to consider what the presence of Jesus, the Christ means to us today. Advent encompasses the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas and it is a time of preparation for our heart and minds for the anniversary of the Lord's birth on Christmas.

At St Fidelis, one way we celebrate Advent is by putting up an Advent Wreath and lighting candles each week. Our Advent wreath is located at the front foyer of our school and in the centre space of the SLA. It is in a prominent space so students, parents and visitors can look at it and contemplate the meaning Advent.

The students have been learning about the significance of Advent and the wreath and using some thinking routines such as SEE, THINK, WONDER to elicit their wonderings and questions for further inquiry. Our Whole School Prayer focus will continue to focus on the significance of each week of Advent. Please join us at our Thursday morning as we pray in the second week of Advent.

Elderly Luncheon

Once again, the Parish and School community worked together to ensure that the Elderly Luncheon was a success last Wednesday. Ninety Five elderly parishioners attended the Mass of healing celebrated by Father Cartwright and Father Val. Members of the Parish social committee and the school Parents and Friends committee prepared a wonderful lunch, Mrs Hedley and the School choir entertained the elderly and some of our students assisted with serving of food and drink. Thank you to everyone for making this a memorable and special day in the St Fidelis calendar.

Christmas Carols

God looked after us again with a wonderful evening for our Annual Christmas Carols evening. Thank you to the Parents and Friends who cooked and sausages (which were enjoyed by all), drinks and Christmas gifts. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who made the effort to attend and be part of a wonderful community event. A very special thank you to Mrs Hedley who prepared and the students weeks before and Carmelo Sciglitano (father of Gisele 3/4KD & Sienna 5/6MM) who generously gave up his time and set up the sound equipment.

To the teachers once again giving up their time for your students and of course to the students for singing beautifully. If I can quote the words of a lovely grandmother who at the end the concert she said “I enjoyed it so much. It was lovely and the school spirit really shone through” - how true!!

End of Year reports

On Friday, the students end of year reports will be sent home. The teachers put in many hours to ensure your child’s report reflects where your child is at with their learning. Please make an appointment with the teacher if you need to discuss the report further.

Outstanding Fees 2019

Thank you to all the families that have paid their fees in full. Many families still have outstanding fees. As mentioned many times before our school relies on school fees for many recurrent costs so prompt payment this week is appreciated.

School Levies 2020

All families received a letter last week regarding the family fee and student Levy structure for 2020. You will have noticed a change in the structure for 2020. We will require all payment by the end of Term 3 for budgeting purposes. Please come and see me if you require to discuss this further.

End of Year Mass and Thank Morning tea

This Wednesday 11th December, Father VAL will celebrate our end of Year Whole School Mass at 9:15am. Everyone is encouraged and welcomed to attend. It is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the year and to celebrate the wonderful events and achievements throughout the year. It would be lovely to see the church full with as many parents and grandparents of St Fidelis as possible.

Parent Helper Morning Tea

After Mass, the staff of St Fidelis would like to acknowledge and thank all the St Fidelis Parents who have assisted in some way to our wonderful community this year. Please make your way to the school library to enjoy a morning tea on our behalf and have an opportunity to catch up with the teachers in a more relaxed and informal setting.

Parents and friends AGM

The Parents and friends AGM will be held in the School Staffroom this Wednesday December 11th at 7pm It would be lovely to see as many people as possible at their meeting. We have had many helpers this year, new and existing parents, which has been fantastic. Let’s make an effort to attend and put our hand up to join such a fun, vibrant and dynamic group of parents who only do what they do because they want the best for their children. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Farewell Assembly

This Friday we will hold an assembly to farewell some staff who are leaving or retiring from St Fidelis. As mentioned in a letter at the end of Term 3, Janine has taken another position at St Therese’s in Essendon after being with us for four years. After six years Laura Munari will be heading to St Carlos in Greenvale. Clare Moore will retire from teaching after twenty six years at St Fidelis. Claire Tenant, our art teacher for the last two years is taking a break from teaching. Tania Fragopoulos is going on maternity leave after being with St. Fidelis for the last five and half years.

I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank each one of these teachers who have all contributed in some way to our wonderful community, some for a few years and some for many years. They will be surely missed by the teachers and students. On Friday, we will have the opportunity to say our goodbyes at our formal assembly.

Lizzie Blandthorn (MP for Pascoe Vale) will be present as she would like to give out the certificates and prizes to the winners of the Christmas Card competition.

Year Six Farewell Mass and Graduation

The Year 6 Farewell and Graduation Mass will take place this Saturday night at 5:30pm in the church. After mass, the Year Six children and their parents will be invited to the hall for some presentations and speeches. I would like to congratulate all these graduating students on being such wonderful examples to the rest of their peers and wish them all the best next year as they enter another phase in their journey. All children and families no matter what year level are welcome and encouraged to attend Mass to farewell these wonderful students.

Whole School Orientation

Class lists are now finalised. The students will have an orientation session with their new 2020 teacher and classmates on Wednesday 11th December. Over the past few weeks, teachers have spent some time and effort into placing students in their 2020 classes. Many factors are taken into consideration when groupings are formulated; we take into consideration areas such as; gender balance, academic ability, class dynamics etc… Teachers in conjunction with the leadership team place the students where they believe they will learn best (not necessarily with their friends). Please talk to your children to prepare them for their 2020 grouping, allow them to ask questions and reassure them their teacher is there to help and support them in every way.

2020 Staffing

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM 2020

Student Leaders 2020

Below is a list of our 2020 Student leaders for 2020. Congratulations to all these students and their families. This is a great achievement and I look forward to all the Year Six students being great examples and leaders to there younger peers in 2020.

School Captains - Mary Dinatale, Luca Ciaverella

Vice Captains - William Archibald, Scarlett D’Astolto

Sport Leader (Red) - Marcus Nardella (5/6CJ), Magie El Bitar (5/6CJ)

Sport leader (Blue) - Julian Sicura, Neela Woodhouse

Sport Leader (Gold) - Anthony Papaleo, Dimitri Accetta

Sport Leader (Green) - Luca Zagami, Elena Borelli

Community Leaders - Emilia Migliorisi, Damian Mignone

Social Justice Leaders - Eliza Miller, Demetrous Miraglia

Library Leaders - Augustus Mazzerella, Sienna Sciglitano

Former students, Santa Maria awards

Congratulations to two former students from St Fidelis who received awards at the Santa Maria Presentation Evening last Thursday 5th December. Morgan Woodhouse was named as the Year 7 Level Sport Champion and Julia McArdle was named as the Year 12 Level Sport Champion and the Best All Round Sportswoman for 2019.

Congratulations on your efforts Morgan and Julia!

Working Bee

Thank you to the families that have already volunteered to assist with the Working Bee. If you are able to come to the Working Bee this Saturday morning 7:30am-9:30am, please call the office on 9383 3600. I require moving of tables, cupboards, filing cabinets, removal of hooks and other little jobs. If you have trolleys or drills, we may need them. Breakfast will be supplied. Hopefully two hours is more than enough time.

Thank you again

Have a lovely week everyone.

Manuela

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