Deputy News
St Joseph's Primary School
The Gift of Reading Together
Reading at home is one of the simplest and most powerful ways families can support their children’s learning and wellbeing, and it’s never too early, or too late, to start. Sharing books and stories every day helps children get to know sounds, words and language, sparks their imagination and curiosity, and supports their ability to focus. Just as importantly, those special moments spent reading together build the bond between parent and child.
The primary school years are a particularly precious time for reading at home. As children move from learning to read towards reading to learn, regular reading helps them build vocabulary, fluency and comprehension, the skills that underpin learning in every subject.
Books also open windows onto the wider world, helping children learn about their own culture and the cultures of others, and giving them a safe place to explore big feelings and different points of view.
We often find that once children can read independently, family read-aloud time quietly fades away. Yet for our older students, aged 10 to 12, reading together remains just as valuable. Children at this age can understand stories well beyond what they can comfortably read on their own, so reading aloud to them introduces richer vocabulary and more complex ideas, while also modelling what fluent reading sounds like.
A shared novel can also spark conversations about friendship, fairness and kindness that might be hard to raise out of the blue. Many children this age still love being read to, even if they don’t say so. Try taking turns reading pages or starting a series together.
If you are stuck with what to read, our local library and book store, The Avenue have some incredible recommendations for you. We also encourage families to explore magazines, newspapers and recipes as ways to keep fresh texts coming into your home.
So whether your child is five or twelve, we warmly invite you to find a few minutes each day to share a story. The benefits are immeasurable.
Celebrating Our Young Mathematicians
Throughout Terms 1, 2 and 3, various students in Years 4 to 6 have taken part in the Maths Olympiad and the Australian Mathematics Competition. These challenges gave them the chance to develop and apply their mathematical skills and knowledge in a competitive setting alongside students their own age.
At today’s assembly, each participant was presented with a certificate in recognition of their effort and commitment. We also celebrated some outstanding individual achievements.
Congratulations to Clementine L, who received the ‘Best in School’ Award for both the Australian Mathematics Competition and the Maths Olympiad. A special mention also goes to the following students, who were awarded a Distinction in the Australian Mathematics Competition, placing them in the top 20% of all competitors:
Benjamin S, Clementine L, Jacob L, Jasmine K, Joshua L, Keira P, Max O, Maximilian K and Ryan H.
A full list of students who participated in both competitions can be found below:
Abi T, Allegra P, Amelie A, Anna X, Archie B, Benjamin S, Charlotte R, Clementine L, Cohen M, Daniel D, Emma S, Evie R, Francis L, Gungeet K, Harriet B, Harriet S, Harvey H, Imogen F, Ines L, Isaac M, Jack C, Jack S, Jacob L, James B, Jasmine K, Josephine S, Joshua L, Keira P, Maia W, Mason S, Max O, Maximilian K, Maximilian S, Maya J, Monte O, Nasa N, Nate S, Ned F, Ned V, Nicolas R, Remy H, Rex S, Rhyley G, Rosa M, Rosie C, Ryan H, Ryder C, Sebastian B, Ted R, Tom S, Zara L, Zoe G and Zoe M
Congratulations to all our students on their hard work, persistence and problem-solving throughout the year. We are very proud of you!
Alannah Harrison & Luke Daffy
Deputy Principals