Educational Achievement
Reading
Did you know that reading for just 10 minutes a day can have a powerful impact on your child’s learning and future success?
Those small, consistent moments add up. Research shows that a child who reads for around 10 minutes each day can be exposed to between 600,000 and over 1 million words per year. In contrast, children who rarely read may only encounter a few thousand words annually. This enormous difference in word exposure plays a key role in building vocabulary, improving comprehension, and developing confident, capable learners.
But the benefits go beyond academics.
Reading daily helps children:
- Develop their imagination and creativity
- Build empathy by seeing the world through different perspectives
- Improve focus and concentration
- Reduce stress and promote calmness
Most importantly, it helps foster a lifelong love of reading.
Setting aside just 10 minutes a day: before bed, after school, before school, or on the weekend can make all the difference. You might listen to your child read, take turns reading together, or simply enjoy a book side by side.
Reading with your child and chatting about the story, what’s happening, what they think, or what might come next helps make reading more enjoyable and meaningful. When children feel involved and interested, they’re far more likely to want to keep reading on their own.
Make sure to build reading into your daily routine to help give children the best chance at success.
Music
Instrumental Music
Students are currently preparing for the Goondiwindi Eisteddfod, which is held early next term. Daily practice and preparedness for each lesson is essential.
Classroom Music
"Learning music strengthens focus, listening, following instructions and staying with a task even when it becomes challenging. "(Bigger Better Brains)
Focus is definitely needed by the Year 4s at the moment as we begin learning how to play the recorder.
Here are just 5 benefits of learning this instrument at school:
- Playing the recorder helps with creative thinking and brain development
- Develops fine motor skills, finger dexterity
- Builds hand-eye coordination and strengthens the use of left hand/right hand
- Playing the recorder develops breath control which can help with wind or brass instruments, or singing
- Develops memory skills
Above all, it is character building!! This learning can be challenging so we can approach it as just another way of building resilience in young learners.
We continue with our busy rehearsal schedule in both choirs this term as we countdown to the Eisteddfod. The GSV sang beautifully at the school ANZAC Assembly last week and have the opportunity to join the Brisbane Celtic band, "Murphy's Pigs" onstage at their Goondiwindi concert on May 9th. Information around this event has been emailed to parents.
News from the Library
Overdue Books
If your child has an overdue book, we issue them each week with an overdue letter to take home, so parents can assist in locating them. Further books are not generally issued until they return their overdue books.
If you are not seeing new books each week at home, please check with your child to see if they have overdue books or a note for you. Your assistance is appreciated in helping them locate and returning them to school.
Regional Reader's Cup Challenge
We have a small team of Year 5 and 6 students who are working this term on reading 5 set books, so they can compete for our School at the Regional Readers Cup in Toowoomba on the 11th June. They are reading daily and taking notes and then meet every Tuesday in the library to discuss the book and any questions they have. We wish them good luck.
2026 Premier's Reading Challenge
Our whole school is registered to participate this year.
Reading Starts on the 11th May and runs for 3 months ending on the 28th August, a recording form will be given to each student.
Our Prep to Year 2 students need to read/ or be read 20 books.
Our Year 3 to 6 students need to read 15 books at their reading level.
Students will drop their completed forms back to the library once they have finished, so they can be registered to receive a Certificate from the Premier of Queensland.
Scholastic Book Club Brochure Issue 3 is out now, all orders can be placed on the LOOP App or you can scan the QR Code on the Brochure. Orders need to be placed online by 9am Friday 8th June.