Dear Parents and Carers,

We are pleased to see students have settled in well to the new year and are well and truly into their new routines. One important routine for our students is nightly reading at home. This is an important routine and habit we want to start and continue throughout the year. Students are encouraged to read every night, from anywhere between 15 and 30 mins depending on the grade level. Students can read aloud to an adult, older sibling, friend or even stuffed animal! If capable, students can also read independently to themselves.

The importance of regular home reading

You were your child’s first teacher and taught them many important skills, including how to speak. As partners in learning, your child will experience the most success in reading when school and home work together. Children learn about the importance of reading as they watch family members use reading and writing for everyday purposes. Reading for pleasure, sharing a story with your child, using a recipe or reading street signs teaches them that reading is a useful skill in today’s world.

Reading with your child at home will help your child in all areas of school. Skills in reading extend across all curriculum areas and is a vital skill. Research shows the importance of reading on a daily basis in developing their use and understanding of vocabulary.

Students from Grades Prep to 6 will have been sent home with a take home reading folder and books. Accompanying this is a letter outlining the requirements for home reading for your child’s grade level. If you are unsure of the process and requirements for your child, please speak with their class teacher.

Nightly reading at home is the main homework focus for all grade levels, with 3-6 assigning some additional tasks.

It is really important to provide opportunity for your child to read to or be read to by you, another adult or sibling. Discuss and share books you enjoy reading now and as a child and encourage a love of reading.

To support engagement in reading, students have access to Wushka and Epic! from home (online texts) which can be read and recorded in their take home reading log in place of, or as well as, the books they bring home.

Please also see some fliers attached to this week’s newsletter regarding the free Melton Central Kids Reading Club, run by St Vincent de Paul Society. This is a great opportunity for students to get some additional support and tutoring with their reading.

Sarah Mills

Assistant Principal

Mental Health & Wellbeing Report