Literacy

St Roch’s Reading Challenge: Over 1,200 Books and Counting!

We are now four weeks into our exciting St Roch’s Reading Challenge, and we’re thrilled to share some amazing news—our students have already read a phenomenal 1,245 books! This is an outstanding achievement, and we couldn’t be prouder of the enthusiasm and dedication our students are showing toward their reading.

A huge thank you goes out to all the grandparents and special friends who generously donated books to our library during Grandparents Day. Your thoughtful contributions have made a real difference. With so many wonderful new titles now available, it’s clear that our students are embracing the joy of reading with open arms and curious minds.

At St Roch’s, we believe that reading is one of the most powerful ways to learn, grow and imagine new possibilities. We encourage every student to make time each day to escape into a great book. Don’t forget to log your reading progress using the link shared below or through your Google Classroom page: every book counts!

Let’s keep the momentum going strong. We are nearly at the halfway point and we’re excited to see just how many books we can read together by the end of the term. Can we reach 2,000? Let’s find out!

Happy reading, everyone!

St Roch’s Reading Challenge Link to Register Books Read

Reminder: Book Week Celebrations

Our Book Week celebrations are just around the corner! We hope you're getting excited and finalising your costumes! This is one of the most anticipated events on our school calendar, and we can’t wait to see everyone dressed as their favourite book character.

Key Details:

• Date: Tuesday 26th August
• 8:50am: Book Character Parade – Parents and carers are warmly invited to come along and join the fun!
• 2:20pm: Whole-school incursion – Students will enjoy ‘Treasure Hunt’, a live musical performance by Perform Education, inspired by this year’s CBCA theme: “Book an Adventure.”

We’re looking forward to a day full of creativity, storytelling, and fun. We can’t wait to see everyone dressed up in their costumes!

Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Shortlisted Titles

Throughout the term, students will explore and enjoy the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s shortlisted titles—books chosen for their literary excellence. Across Australia, schools, libraries, and early childhood settings will come together to celebrate the imagination and creativity of Australian authors and illustrators.

Book Spotlight: Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by Jackie French

Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by beloved Australian author Jackie French is a gripping, imaginative adventure set in the heart of colonial Australia.

This story follows Tigg, a clever and resourceful young girl who finds herself caught up in a thrilling bushranger tale, complete with danger, daring escapes, and unexpected friendships. With a unique twist on history, the book cleverly blends fact and fiction, helping readers see Australia’s past through a fresh, exciting lens.

Jackie French’s storytelling is full of heart, humour, and rich historical detail. It’s a perfect choice for students who love action-packed stories with strong characters and for parents looking to share a memorable read with their children.

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee

We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the students from Years 3 to 6 who participated in the first round of the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee last week.

The spelling bee is a national competition that challenges students to demonstrate their spelling ability, vocabulary knowledge and focus under pressure. It provides a wonderful opportunity for students to build confidence, develop their language skills and celebrate a love of words.

Our students showed great dedication, enthusiasm and resilience as they tackled some very challenging words. Each participant should feel incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they represented their year level and our school community.

We commend all those who took part and wish the very best of luck to our students. We will keep you informed of any students who will be progressing to the next stage of the competition. 

Well done to all of our talented spellers!

Rachel Gray

Literacy Leader