Learning & Teaching

My name is Mrs Amie Fleming, and I am delighted to be joining the St Patrick’s community in 2026 as the Foundation teacher and Leader of Teaching and Learning. After relocating to Kyabram in 2017, I have spent the past seven years teaching at St Augustine’s College, where I have predominantly taught Foundation students.

I am very much looking forward to getting to know the St Pat’s community and am excited to be part of your children’s learning journey.

Home Reading

The school year is off to a fantastic start, and it’s wonderful to see our students jumping back into their home-reading routines! All students have now received their new reader diaries, and classes are happily choosing books to pop into their green reader bags as they build strong reading habits for the year ahead.

Classroom teachers will again be available for morning reading on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30–9:00 am, giving students the chance to read with an adult at school twice each week. Teachers will be there to complete reader diaries, and we warmly welcome parents and carers to come along and enjoy listening to our enthusiastic readers.

Morning reading continues to be a wonderful opportunity for student to read, and regular nightly reading at home remains just as important. Your ongoing support at home plays a huge role in helping students grow in confidence, fluency, and a love of reading.

The Power of Nightly Reading

Reading at home is one of the most powerful ways families can support their child’s learning. Just 10-20 minutes of nightly reading can make a world of difference. By encouraging nightly reading we can help build a lifelong love of books. 

Why is nightly reading important?

• Builds a strong foundation for academic success
• Improves literacy skills
• Develops concentration and focus
• Promotes a love for learning and reading
• Encourages parental involvement
• Fosters a growth mindset

How Parents Can Help at Home

When supporting your child’s reading at home, don’t forget to log their progress in their reader diary. This not only helps them earn a reading certificate at our whole-school assemblies but also allows teachers to track whether reading is happening consistently at home as well as at school. Reading together at home is a fantastic way to be part of your child’s learning journey. Here are some simple tips to make the most of home reading:  

Reading together doesn’t need to be complicated:

• Create a positive and relaxed reading environment
• Be patient and offer encouragement  
• Ask questions about the story to build comprehension 
• Celebrate progress and effort!   

Most importantly, make reading enjoyable! Cuddling up with a book at the end of the day builds strong reading habits, a love of learning, and special family connections.

This year our reading diaries look a little different and are different in the junior and senior ends of the school. Please see the visual below (senior on the left, junior on the right):

Tracking Reading Nights & Certificates

Every second week, classroom teachers will collect and tally up nights of reading recorded in the diaries. Students will earn a reading certificate for reaching key milestones: 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200 nights!  

Green Reader Bags – A Daily Essential!

Please ensure students bring their green reader bag to school every day. These bags are used regularly in the classroom for reading sessions, changing books, recording reading nights, and carrying important notes or correspondence home.

Developing a love of reading plays a vital role in a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social growth. It builds curiosity, confidence, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students grow into enthusiastic and capable readers!