Learning & Teaching

Growing Confident Readers Through MiniLit Sage and MacqLit

At St Patrick’s School Tongala, we are committed to helping every child develop into a capable and confident reader. Through the Magnify Sandhurst initiative, we proudly deliver MultiLit's evidence-based intervention programs MiniLit Sage and MacqLit, which provide targeted literacy support for students requiring additional assistance with reading development.

MiniLit Sage supports students in Years 1 and 2 who need extra instruction in the foundational skills of reading. The program provides explicit and systematic teaching in areas such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Conducted in small groups by trained educators, MiniLit Sage helps students strengthen the essential building blocks needed for future reading success.

For students in Years 3 and above, MacqLit provides targeted intervention for those working below the expected reading level. The program focuses on developing skills in phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension, helping students build confidence and make strong progress alongside their peers. Similar to MiniLit Sage, MacqLit is taught in small groups and includes ongoing assessment to track growth and guide instruction.

Both programs form an important part of Magnify Sandhurst, a diocesan-wide initiative aimed at improving literacy achievement across schools in the Diocese of Sandhurst. Through this approach, our staff are supported with high-quality professional learning, specialised resources, and expert guidance to strengthen literacy teaching and intervention practices.

By implementing MiniLit Sage and MacqLit at St Patrick’s Tongala, we are creating valuable opportunities for students to experience success in reading. These intervention programs work alongside our whole-school literacy approach, where explicit teaching, ongoing assessment, and data-informed practice combine to support every learner to thrive.

National Simultaneous Story Time

On Wednesday May 27th, schools across Australia came together to celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime, where a selected book is shared with students all at the same time. At our school, students and staff gathered together to enjoy listening to Miss Taylor read the delightful story Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller. Everyone loved the story and enjoyed sharing this special reading experience together. National Simultaneous Storytime is a fantastic annual event that celebrates the importance of reading and literacy through Australian children’s literature. To finish off the day, our Foundation students created some very cute artworks inspired by the book Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller.