Literacy News
Term 4 Class Novels
As we begin Term 4, all classes are diving into new books to inspire and extend their learning in Reading and Writing. These carefully selected texts form the foundation for much of our literacy work this term. Daily fluency passages are drawn from these books, helping students strengthen their reading accuracy, expression, and confidence. In Writing, students will continue to build from strong sentence-level skills, developing cohesion and structure as they move towards crafting well-organised paragraphs and complete texts.
Some of the books students will be exploring this term include:
- Foundation: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
- Year 1: Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker and Looking After Country with Fire: Aboriginal Burning Knowledge with Uncle Kuu by Victor Steffensen
- Year 2: Tiddler by Julia Donaldson and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
- Year 3: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
- Year 4: His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda
- Year 5: The Last Bear by Hannah Gold and
- Year 6: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Each of these texts has been thoughtfully chosen to engage students’ curiosity, spark meaningful discussion, and provide rich opportunities for developing both reading comprehension and written expression. This work aligns with our whole-school commitment to explicit instruction and a structured approach to literacy, ensuring that every student continues to build strong foundational skills while developing a genuine love of reading and writing.
Year 5 Writing
Prompted by their current class novel The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor, our Year 5 students were challenged to reimagine a passage using rich sensory language. The results were absolutely impressive, their writing beautifully captured sights, sounds and emotions in vivid detail. I’m excited to share some of these wonderful pieces with you over the coming weeks.
Molly 5M
With a sudden explosion, like a loud slam of a door, the pressure of the ocean punched out more fragments of glass. The strange smell of salty seawater, a momentary distraction before he felt himself aggressively dragged up, up, and even off the ground by a towering wave as high as a sky scraper. Vally grabbed one of the mirrors, fighting the current. Trying to hold onto, not just his, but Pearl's life.
Harrison 5M
With the ocean banging on the glass it sounded like a boxing match, waves 10- glass 1. Finally with the waves being so strong an explosion set out across the room, punching out even more fragments of glass.
The waves came galloping in like a herd of horses, it almost seemed like the waves were sinister. The waves were up to neck height, lifting Vally off his feet and dragged him down under into the ocean's snare. Vally grasped onto the mirror, now he had reached a dilemma. Should he stay gripped onto the mirror or should he lunge for his sister Pearl?
Book Review by Arabella 3B
Arabella S in Year 3 absolutely made my day this week when she approached me in the yard to share a book review she had written about a story she’s been reading at home. Last term, we had chatted about her love of reading, and I had casually suggested, “You should write a review for me!” I hadn’t given it another thought until she proudly presented the incredible review you can see below.
This is such a wonderful example of how our students are engaging with books well beyond the classroom. Her enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity are a joy to see!
Jac Morphy
Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Instruction