The Surprising Benefits of Reading 20 Minutes a Day

It doesn’t matter the genre, reading 20 minutes a day impacts your life…

If you read to your child 20 minutes a day starting in Kindergarten, they will have heard 1.8 million words per year.

By Year 6, your child will have read for 851 hours.

In 1987 a study was conducted by Nagy and Herman. The results were astonishing. For the time commitment of just 20 minutes per day spent reading at home, children scored in the 90th percentile on standardised tests. However, there are tons more benefits of reading, and they go far beyond just test scores...

Year 6's Dive into Data

Currently our Year 6 children are delving into the captivating world of statistics and data. Our inquisitive learners have been actively gathering, analysing, and interpreting data, fostering their critical thinking skills along the way. This week, their exploration led them to a new discovery—the idea that different types of data are best represented using specific data displays. For instance, they encountered a side-by-side column graph with two categorical variables, as pictured below. Our children practiced producing this graph after collecting the relevant data. They meticulously audited their graphs, ensuring that all essential elements were present. They explained that this particular graph enabled them to compare two different variables within each category, such as contrasting the responses of boys and girls within the one data set. Keep up the excellent work!

District Netball

We are thrilled to highlight the achievements of our Holy Cross netball teams at the recent District Netball Tournament held on Friday, June 2nd. The weeks leading up to the event were filled with dedicated training sessions where our children enjoyed honing their skills together as a team. On the day of the tournament, our teams displayed incredible teamwork, supporting and encouraging one another every step of the way. Their hard work paid off, and all our teams experienced success throughout the competition. While they didn't secure the overall victory, they returned home with heads held high, filled with immense pride for showcasing their exceptional skills and team spirit. Well done to all the players and a special thank you to the coaches, volunteers and supporters for their guidance throughout the tournament.

Targeted Teaching at Holy Cross

At Holy Cross, we prioritise personalised instruction and recognise that every child is unique. One of the ways we accomplish this is through small group targeted teaching sessions. At the beginning of each unit of work in literacy and mathematics, our dedicated teaching teams collect and analyse children's data. This valuable information helps us gain insights into each child's strengths, areas for growth, and specific learning needs. Collaboratively, teachers and curriculum leaders design tailored learning programs that incorporate small group targeted teaching sessions. Through this approach, we are committed to nurturing the academic growth and success of all our children.

Year 5 Mavericks Take Flight

Our Year 5 children have jumped headfirst into the world of STEM with their thrilling Aviation project. These young aviators have been exploring the captivating physics behind flight, exploring the intricate forces that make it all possible. With a solid foundation in measurement and geometry, they have meticulously constructed their very own model planes, applying their knowledge to ensure precision and accuracy.

Now, the children have transitioned into the design phase of the project, where innovation and problem-solving take center stage. Guided by the design process, they are embarking on a continuous cycle of testing, analysing, and improving their planes to maximize their flight capacity. Each flight test serves as an opportunity for them to fine-tune their designs, making adjustments and adaptations based on data-driven observations.

As we cheer on these aspiring engineers and pilots, we wish them the best of luck in their remarkable Aviation project. May their designs take flight! Keep reaching for the skies, Year 5.

Mentor Texts in Year 3 & 4

In our Year 3 & 4 classes we utilise rich mentor texts to enhance comprehension, writing, spelling, and grammar strategies. Through deep thinking and exploration at multiple levels, children engage with the text, from the whole to the paragraph, sentence, and word levels. They build upon the strategies and styles of accomplished authors, boosting their own writing skills. This highly engaging approach has already shown remarkable benefits in children's writing pieces, fostering motivation and a love for literacy.

Confirmation Family Evening

On Wednesday, parents and Year Six children participated in a Confirmation Family Evening. This event was the next step in the childrens' preparation for receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. It was wonderful to see so many families come together to discuss, participate and create throughout the session. Some activities included recognising the gifts that God has given us in each other, creating a flame that represents the Holy Spirit and having time to discuss how receiving Confirmation can enrich our lives and our community as Catholics. I'd like to thank Pat, Kellie, Kate and Aoife for supporting the Confirmation candidates throughout their Confirmation preparation. Thank you also to all of the parents and children who attended and participated in the evening's activities. Lisa Peake

Happy Birthday!