Leadership & Management

Week 6 Term 1

Dear Parents and Carers,

Ash Wednesday – March 2 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season in the Catholic Church. During this time, Catholics are asked to engage in Prayer, Fasting (self-denial) and Almsgiving (outreach to others). All these practices are to lead to an overall personal conversion.  This season lasts for 40 days beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter.  The season reflects the 40 days Jesus spent in prayer and fasting in the desert, before he started his public ministry. Lent is also observed by many other Christian denominations. 

In 2022, what does Lent mean for me? Some thoughts?

Fasting - Am I aware of how much food I actually have? 

Can I ensure I am not wasteful and only take what I need

and not what I want just because it’s there?

Almsgiving - When giving, am I giving so that it has an effect on me 

or is that giving the type of giving that will not affect me.

Prayer - Am I always asking The Lord for my own needs.  

Do I ever stop to thank The Lord for everything I have and I have around me. 

Do I pray to the Lord regularly so my relationship can continue to grow with Him?  

Do I listen to Him? 

Do I recognise the signs when He is speaking to Me?

Ash Wednesday School Mass

At this stage, Government advice is to continue to limit large gatherings in schools, therefore, we will not be having Whole School Mass at the St Fidelis Church on Ash Wednesday this week. However, we will gather outside and engage in Whole School Prayer (with a focus on Ash Wednesday). Father Linh will join us at our whole school prayer outside the junior learning area and distribute the ashes to the teachers and students.

Photo Day –March 2nd

A reminder that Wednesday March 2nd is School Photo day. If you require sibling photos, you must collect a sibling envelope from the office or you may miss the opportunity.

Student Leadership - Year 5/6 Assembly

Our School Leaders Assembly will be held this Friday March 4th outside the Junior Learning Area. We are still unable to have large gatherings therefore, we are allowing ONLY the parent/carers of the student leaders to attend this special assembly this week.  It will begin at 8:55am.

EUCHARIST CELEBRATION – March 5 - 2:00pm and 4:00pm

After waiting for two years, our students will be finally celebrating this wonderful Sacrament on Saturday. The students have been preparing for this Sacrament since the start of term and I know the excitement is building. Thank you to all the teachers and particular Mrs Annette Gasbarro (Religious Education Leader) who has organized and prepared the students. Looking forward to seeing all the students and their families on the this Special day.

Thank you to all the volunteers at Sunday's Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

In my spare time (which is not much), I have been reading a book titled “The Parent Connection” by an award winning educator, author and speaker, Dr Joni Samples.  Dr Joni speaks about many ways that we can connect parents in a school but one thing I really love is the way she speaks about developing a School Culture.

In my view, a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is one way we are continuing to build a positive welcoming culture at St Fidelis. At St Fidelis, I want us to continue to build a culture that invites us all in and not a culture that turns you away. 

Everything begins with attitude. The attitude that you display attracts more of the same. At Sunday's Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, many parents volunteered their time to support this fundraising activity. Parents took it in shifts to do their bit.  Parents who could not volunteer came to buy a sausage and it was fantastic to see them.  I want to say a special thank you to the Parents and Friends' Association for organising this on such short notice, and a special thanks to Tara Soares who was the main driver of this event.  Our focus for all fundraising was outlined in an earlier newsletter.

Year 5/6 Camp Information Evening - Postponed

The Year 5/6 Camp information evening will be postponed to March 22. This information evening will take place online at 7:00pm.  More information and link will be sent to these families closer to the day. 

Foundation 2023 –School Tours 

I have begun taking School tours for Foundation 2023. I have been taking personalised tours and it’s fantastic to be able to showcase our new learning spaces and facilities that we now have to offer. We have a new feature on our school website where interested families can book a tour via our school calendar. 

If you have any friends, family that are interested in a school tour please let them know that they can either book a tour via our website, contact our office by calling 93833600 or contact me directly: mwatson@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au

Sibling Enrolments for 2023 

If you have a child commencing Foundation in 2023, 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 2023. Collect your enrolment forms from the school office or download them from our website. 

School Choir is BACK !!!

Last year we introduced Choir at lunchtime for any students who wish to join. The Choir is open for all students from Foundation to Year 6 and is held at lunchtime. Michelle from Experience Music will be taking the children for choir this year. The aim is for the choir to sing at school and community events in the later part of the year. 

Flagpole Repair

In last week’s newsletter I thanked Chris Archibald (a parent at St Fidelis for repairing our flagpole). This week Chris informed me that Hire Depot at Fairfield, the scissor-lift hire company that he used, has kindly donated the time that Chris used the scissor-lift at no cost. There are truly some wonderful people in our community and we are very grateful. 

Undercover Area Painted

Over the weekend, we continued to upgrade the outdoor area by painting the brick wall under the covered area in Saunders Street. This area has become a real favourite for teachers to take their class for outdoor learning and for the children to use their imaginative play during recess and lunchtime. 

St Fidelis Primary School OPEN DAY

Sunday March 20

10:00am -1:00pm

St Fidelis Families, Parishioners and visitors are cordially invited to tour St Fidelis Primary School and experience our newly refurbished classrooms area and contemporary learning spaces. Opportunities to chat with students, parents, teachers and the Principal.

Guided Tours by staff and School Captains

Activities Include:

STEM DEMONSTRATI0N

FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE

COFFEE VAN

ART & CRAFT ACTIVITIES

SUSTAINABILITY GARDEN

FREE SHOWBAG ONE PER FAMILY UPON ENTRY

SCHOOL FEES 2022

Our school does rely on school fees for many recurrent costs so prompt payment is appreciated.  The office is open from 8:30 to 4:00pm each day if you would like to pay in person. During this COVID time, direct debit is preferred.

If you 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. 

Accounts for Term 1 were distributed last week with the first instalment due on Friday March 25.

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.

Stay safe and have a great week,

Manuela Watson