Learning & Teaching 

LEARNING & TEACHING - Vira Pirrotta

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2023 school year. I hope you enjoyed your break. For the parents with whom I haven’t had the opportunity to meet, I thought I would take the time to tell you a little about myself. 

It is my second year as Deputy Principal, Learning and Teaching and Literacy Leader at St. Fidelis.  I can not believe that a whole year has passed. I had such a wonderful year last year. All the families have been so welcoming and I am looking forward to another exciting year filled with exciting opportunities for the students. 

I have 20 years of experience in Catholic Education and worked in many different roles. I have Masters in Education and a Postgraduate degree in Literacy intervention. I am passionate about improving student outcomes and engagement.

I love shopping, travelling, and visiting art galleries. I enjoy drawing, going out for breakfast and love listening to music. Hopefully, this year will be the year the Kangaroos make the finals. 

I look forward to working with you all this year.

LITERACY 

READING AT HOME  

At St. Fidelis, we aim to foster a passion for reading and believe that together we can create a love of reading in your child. Parents play a vital role in their child’s learning at home. The home reading program is one way the school and family can work together. 

The evidence for children who participate in reading at home is astounding; the more reading the children do, the quicker they will develop as readers. Reading is a foundation for success, so let’s not underestimate the importance of reading at home. It is an aspect of homework for all! The most successful readers are supported both at home and school. 

The students will select from books either in coloured tubs, the school library or classroom libraries. Home Reading is aimed at enjoyment and practise and because of this, children will be reading books they can read competently and with confidence to practise a range of reading behaviours without struggling with the text; the most important of this being comprehension. We do not expect you to teach your child at home.

The Foundation students will bring home books for you to read to or with your child. They will also bring letters, numbers and words home to practise before they begin reading independently. 

Your child has a home-reading diary for you to record their reading each night. The dairies are to be signed by a caregiver or parent daily. To ensure these good reading routines are maintained and monitored diaries will be collected and checked by your child’s teacher.

We encourage students in Years P-3 to read for 10-20 minutes and students in Years 4-6 to read for  20 - 30 minutes daily.

Home reading may also include letters, word work or comprehension tasks set by their teacher.  

Your support in fostering a love of Reading and learning is appreciated.

WELCOME INFORMATION 

Please find attached the links to each year level's welcome presentation. The presentation will provide information about your child's year-level expectations and procedures and any other relevant information for that year level for this year. We look forward to a successful year of learning. Please do not forget to book your Meet and Greet appointment for this Wednesday the 8th of February. 

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB 

 LOOP online Orders are due in Wednesday, February 8.

SUSTAINABILITY - Annette Gasbaro

Sustainability

As a learning community, our learners will have the opportunity to engage in Sustainbility throughout the year.  The purpose of teaching Sustainability within the learning community of St Fidelis is to engage and empower our students to allow our students to take responsibility for their actions and contribute to their vision for a sustainable future and to develop an appreciation and respect for the environment. 

 “Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home.”  

Quote from Pope Francis' book on Care For Our Common Home - the encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’’

As part of our learning, the children will have the opportunity to engage in Sustainability. The program will enable children from Foundation to Year 6 to engage in small focus groups on a weekly basis.  

We begin this week by focusing on how to REDUCE, RECYCLE & REUSE. Our learners will focus on the importance of the 3Rs and what an impact they have on our environment.

• What can we do as a learning community to REDUCE waste/packaging?
• How and what can we RECYCLE?
• Why is it important to RECYCLE?
• What can we REUSE to eliminate packaging?

“Reuse, recycle, and reduce the waste for a better future. Increase greenery by recycling waste. Save the earth by reusing, and recycling waste. Waste isn't waste until we waste.’’  Quote from solutions for waste and recycling

  SPORT & PE - Michael Jennings