Literacy Update

Important Literacy dates for Term 3

• Week 6 Scholastic Book Fair commences Tuesday 18th August 2026 
• Week 7 Book Week Parade 9am Friday 28th August 2026

Learning spelling and tricky Words

In our spelling lessons this term, students are learning that words follow patterns and rules. We are unpacking words to better understand how they are built by identifying the base word (the main word), as well as prefixes (added to the beginning of a word) and suffixes (added to the end of a word). Students are also exploring sound patterns and learning spelling rules to help them recognise patterns, make connections between words, and become more confident readers and writers.

Home practice is an important part of supporting the learning that takes place at school. Foundation and Year 1 students bring home tricky words to practise. These are high-frequency words that don't always follow regular spelling patterns and are often difficult to sound out, so they need to be recognised quickly and automatically.

Students in Years 2–4 bring home weekly spelling words that reflect the spelling patterns and rules they are learning in class. This term, students in Years 5 and 6 are working from personalised spelling lists. They are identifying words they commonly misspell in their writing, along with new and more challenging words they would like to learn. This approach encourages students to take greater ownership of their spelling while continuing to build their vocabulary and writing skills.

Spending just 5–10 minutes a few times each week practising these words can make a real difference. Reading together, talking about interesting words, and encouraging your child to notice base words, prefixes, suffixes and spelling patterns in books or everyday print are simple ways to reinforce classroom learning. This regular practice at home complements what students are learning at school and helps build confidence in both reading and writing. 

St Fidelis Book Fair 

What is a Book Fair?

The Book Fair will be set up in the School Hall and will open on Tuesday, 18 August from 3:30pm–3:45pm.

It will then be open on Wednesday, 19 August, Thursday, 20 August and Friday, 21 August at the following times:

Before school: 8:30am–8:45am

After school: 3:30pm–3:45pm

Friday, 21 August will be the final opportunity for students and their families to browse and explore the selection of books available.

Families are encouraged to use card payment, as change will not be available. For added convenience, the Scholastic Book Fair Tap & Go feature is also available for iPhone users, allowing payments to be made using major credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Families can also choose to prepay for their purchases using the QR code on the Book Fair Flyer that was sent home with your child. Simply visit scholastic.com.au/payment to complete your payment before visiting the Book Fair.

I look forward to seeing our students and families at the Book Fair and hope everyone enjoys browsing the selection of books available.

Premiers’ Reading Challenge Reminder

A reminder that the 2026 Premiers’ Reading Challenge closes on Friday 4 September 2026.

Thank you to all families for encouraging and supporting students throughout the Challenge. It has been wonderful to see so many students taking part and enjoying their reading journey.

To allow time to verify reading records and finalise all entries, I ask that families please encourage their child to complete their reading by Friday 21 August. This will allow me time to check each student’s books, finalise entries and ensure all reading records are submitted before the Challenge closes.

Once all reading has been verified and the Challenge is complete, certificates will be issued and I’ll send them home to students.

Bernadette Parnis | Literacy Leader bparnis@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au