Learning
and Teaching
Learning
and Teaching
At St Mary’s we are committed to using the best tools and the best-trained teachers and ESO’s to support every child’s growth in literacy.
Refining our practice with DIBELS (Years 3–6) During recent professional-learning sessions, staff revisited the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Literacy Skills) assessments for Years 3 to 6. These quick check-ins give teachers an early heads-up if a student is not yet meeting key benchmarks in reading accuracy, fluency or comprehension. Regular progress-monitoring lets us act swiftly and close any gaps long before they affect confidence or achievement.
Building solid foundations with InitialLit (Foundation–Year 2) Our younger learners continue to thrive in the InitialLit program, which already provides frequent progress checks, cumulative reviews and “stop-and-check” points. Because InitialLit covers the same early-warning territory as DIBELS, we no longer need to double-test in the early years, saving valuable learning time while still maintaining rigorous assessment.
Targeted support through MacqLit & MiniLit Sage For students who need an extra boost, MacqLit and MiniLit Sage are running with fidelity and great success. The data from DIBELS and InitialLit feeds directly into these small-group interventions, ensuring every lesson is tailored to each learner’s needs. Meticulously sorted and prepared each week by our ESO intervention team.
A community effort to celebrate
We’re proud of the way our teachers are blending research-based programs with day-to-day classroom practice and we’re just as proud of our students for the hard work they’ve put in this term. Thank you, families, for your ongoing encouragement at home.
As the holidays begin, please keep reading together, whether it’s a bedtime story, a favourite comic, or road signs on a family trip. Every word counts, and every shared book builds both skills and lifelong memories.