Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Making Moments Matter- Read with Me!

At St. Joseph’s we highlight the need to 'Make Moments Matter' with your child.  Today in our newsletter we highlight the importance of reading with your child and the impact this daily routine has on their academic outcomes in life.

Children who are read to more frequently at an early age enter school with larger vocabularies and more advanced comprehension skills (Mol & Bus, 2011).  Research shows that there is an important role for parents in the development and educational performance of their children. Parents reading to children and children reading to parents increases the child’s reading and other cognitive skills at least up to the age of 10–11. This is an early-life intervention that is beneficial for the rest of their lives. The results indicate a direct effect from reading to children at a young age and their future schooling outcomes regardless of parental income, education level or cultural background. It makes a significant difference to the academic outcomes for your child if you read to them daily. (Reading to young child- a head start in life: Department of Education)

We ask that students at St. Joseph’s read to an adult every day and get their diary signed with the book that has been read and a signature of the adult that has heard the reading.

Children right up to Year 6 should read to and be read to by parents.

Please do not assume your child is reading a book effectively if they are reading on their own. This is a great opportunity to spend valuable time with your child. Share in the reading - read one page and get your child to read the next. Discuss any vocabulary that is interesting or that is not understood and link what you have read to your own lives making valuable connections to general knowledge and life concepts.

If your child does not do their daily reading they will be asked to read at recess or lunch as we strive in 2019 to ensure every child at our school achieves positive growth in their literacy and numeracy.

Community

I would like to thank Father Michael for leading our Beginning of the year school Mass last Friday. It was a wonderful occasion where we gathered in our newly upgraded  prayer garden. I would like to congratulate Abby, Ryan and Max for joining with Father Michael in presenting the homily and congratulations to our year 6 leaders on being awarded their badges. Thanks to Matt DeMarte on cooking for our welcome BBQ. A great afternoon for all and a positive community event.