Principal's Report

Dear school community, 

World Teacher's Day

I want to take this opportunity to celebrate World Teacher's Day. World Teachers Day is our chance to celebrate the heart and soul of our school: our incredible teachers! It is a day where we can show our appreciation for the tireless work they do. Teachers are the architects of our future, shaping minds, inspiring hearts, and guiding the journey of learning with patience and passion. In our school community, every teacher plays a pivotal role, not just in education, but in nurturing a sense of belonging. They're the ones who listen, encourage, and challenge our students to be the best versions of themselves. They spark curiosity and keep the flame of learning burning bright, even on rainy days.

I would like to take a moment in conjunction with our parent community to say a big 'thank you' to these everyday heroes. They're the ones who stay late to make sure a lesson is just right, who spend their evenings planning, and who believe in every student's potential. They don't just teach; they touch lives. So, to all the teachers, know that you are valued beyond words. Your dedication, commitment, and care do not go unnoticed. We celebrate you, and every day, we are thankful for you. Here's to our teachers - the heartbeat of our school!

Grandparent's Day

The hosting of Grandparent's Day at our school was a great success. It was so special to see the smiling faces of our students when they saw their grandparents. Thank you to our Senior Students for delivering beverages to our grandparents and significant others.  The smiles, laughter, and stories exchanges were a testament to the significant impact grandparents have. Thank you to all the grandparents and significant others who came to visit. 

Beyond Borders Program 

The Year 11 and 12 students at The Rockhampton Grammar School have been welcoming and embracing the learning opportunities formed with students at our school. Our students have been engaging with Science, Music as well as sporting opportunities. Mr Langman from Rockhampton Grammar said that it was amazing to see the smiles on the faces of Rockhampton North Special School students as they interacted with their students, played various musical instruments, and watched some epic experiments. Thank you to Mrs Sam Wearne for organising these amazing partnership opportunities. 

Teaching of Phonics

Systematic phonics is like the secret code to unlocking the magic of reading. Reading is a life skill that every student needs to have. As so much of our world rapidly changes around us, learning to read remains one of the most essential outcomes of schooling. The Australian Curriculum: English Version 9.0 presents a number of shifts for the teaching of reading, with the clarification and removal of some aspects. Updates to the curriculum strongly reflect reading research on the most effective and efficient way to teach all students to read.  The updated Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum promotes the teachings of Phonics in a systematic way. 

Imagine each letter and their sounds as clues on a treasure map. As educators, we're the trusty guides, teaching our kids how to follow these clues systematically, meaning we do it in a very organised and step-by-step way. By exploring the relationships between letters and sounds, phonics helps our students not just say the words, but truly understand them, transforming squiggles on a page into stories, facts, and ideas. When we teach phonics in a structured order, it's like learning the notes in a musical scale before playing a song. It sets a solid foundation, so our students can read words they've never seen before, which helps every student to make meaning of what they are reading. Plus, it's not just about reading; it's about building confidence. When our students can decode words, their understanding grows, and so does their love for reading.

At our school, we believe in giving every child the keys to the library of the world, and phonics is one of those keys. It's a stepping stone towards not just reading, but loving to read, and that's a gift that lasts a lifetime. Let's keep passing on this incredible gift, one sound, one word, one book at a time. To support schools to implement the updated Reading component of the curriculum, the Education Departments released the department’s new Reading Portal. School leaders, teachers and teacher aides will be supported to implement the teaching of reading through a comprehensive suite of capability building opportunities. 

At Rockhampton North Special School, we have been made a start to the teaching of Phonics and have seen a remarkable improvement in students reading abilities over the course of the year.

Have a beautiful week.

Kind regards,

Dehlia