Literacy

St Roch’s Reading Challenge: Final Days!

We’re now eight weeks into the St Roch’s Reading Challenge for 2025, and what an incredible effort from our school community! So far, we’ve read an outstanding 2,365 books which is an amazing achievement that reflects the energy, enthusiasm and love of reading that fills our classrooms and homes.

But here’s the exciting part: we’re just 207 books away from beating last year’s total of 2,572 books. With one week to go, we know we can do it!

Let’s rally together and make every page count. Whether you’re just starting a new series, finishing off a bedtime favourite, or squeezing in a few chapters during the day, every book adds up. Be sure to log all your books via the Google Classroom or link below.

And don’t forget that there are prizes up for grabs!

One student from Prep to Year 2 and one from Year 3 to Year 6 who reads the most books will receive a special prize.
There will also be a prize for the top class in each of those year levels.

This is your moment to help St Roch’s make reading history. Let’s all work together to beat our record and celebrate the magic of books together.

Ready, set… read!

St Roch’s Reading Challenge Link to Register Books Read

Talking Together: Building Strong Literacy Skills Through Everyday Conversations

At St Roch’s, we know that a child’s reading and writing journey begins with something simple and powerful — conversation.

Oral language is the foundation of literacy. When children learn to speak clearly, listen carefully and share their ideas, they are building the skills they need to become confident readers and writers. Oral language helps children broaden their vocabulary, understand how language works and express themselves in meaningful ways.

The school holidays offer a perfect opportunity to support these skills through everyday activities and shared experiences.

Everyday Experiences That Encourage Talking

You do not need anything fancy to spark great conversations. Many common holiday activities naturally encourage children to talk, ask question and describe what they see and feel. These might include:

Visiting a park, museum, or library
Going on a walk, picnic, or drive
Watching a movie together
Playing games as a family
Helping with cooking or gardening
Exploring a new place nearby.

These experiences create moments where children can think, reflect and express their thoughts. They give children a chance to hear new words and ideas in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

Promoting Conversation

You can help your child build strong oral language skills just by making time to talk. Here are some easy ways to encourage more meaningful conversation:

Ask open questions: Try asking “What did you enjoy most today” or “What do you think will happen next” instead of questions that can be answered with yes or no.
Take turns speaking and listening: Let your child know their ideas are important by giving them time to speak and responding with interest.
Encourage storytelling: Ask your child to retell something that happened during the day or to make up a story based on what they saw or did.
Talk about feelings and opinions: Ask what your child liked, what surprised them, or what they might change next time.
Explore ideas together: Share your thoughts and wonder aloud together, such as “I wonder why the sky looks that colour today” or “What would you do if you were in that story?”

These simple moments of talk help children develop confidence, think deeply and connect with others. Best of all, they strengthen the language skills that are so important for success in reading, writing and learning.

So during these holidays, enjoy your time together and make space for conversation.

Rachel Gray

Literacy Leader