Acting Assistant  

Principal News

2026 is a Symphony of Stories! - Book Week

Book Week is one of Australia’s most treasured celebrations of reading, creativity, curiosity and storytelling. It is a wonderful time for us to nurture a lifelong love of reading in our students and encourage them to discover the joy, wonder and imagination that books can offer.

As children step into the shoes of beloved characters, they have the opportunity to connect with stories in playful and meaningful ways. Through reading, dressing up, sharing and imagining, our students develop their language, expression and emotional understanding, while simultaneously having fun with books.

Held from 22–28 August 2026, this year’s theme, Symphony of Stories, celebrates the unique ways stories, voices, genres, styles and cultures come together to create the rich world of children’s literature. Like a symphony, stories can be quiet or energetic, funny or reflective, familiar or surprising. They may be spoken, sung, danced, drawn, written or performed, coming together like instruments in an orchestra to create something truly magical.

At St Francis Xavier book week will be celebrated across a three week period to accommodate our busy school calendar. We will be hosting our annual Book Character Parade on Wednesday 19 August at 9:00 am. We are so excited to see our playground come alive with creative costumes, beloved characters and, most importantly, lots of big smiles and a shared love of books!

"Books are a uniquely portable magic."

 — Stephen King

The Importance of reading 

Reading and sharing books together with your children not only strengthens the bond between children and their families, but also helps foster a love of learning and reading for pleasure. When children see the important adults in their lives enjoying books, they are more likely to associate reading with enjoyment and discovery.

We encourage all students from Kindergarten to Year Six to ensure reading is part of their everyday routine. Reading aloud provides an opportunity for parents to become involved, discuss new or unfamiliar words, and explore how language can be used in everyday life. These simple conversations help build vocabulary, comprehension and confidence.

Whether it’s a favourite storybook, magazine or online resource, regular exposure to a variety of reading materials can open the door to new ideas, experiences and possibilities. Developing a daily reading habit not only supports children’s learning now, but also helps set them on a path to success in the future. 

With Book Week around the corner, visit your local library and explore some of the 2026 shortlisted books together. 

Behaviour 

As we approach the middle of Term 3, we are continuing to remind students about the importance of making positive choices in their day to day actions and to live out our school values; Respect, Excellence, Service, Compassion and Stewardship. In particular, we are reinforcing the importance of using our hands appropriately, engaging in safe and respectful interactions and using words to communicate and verbalise emotions and feelings. Students are encouraged to seek help from a teacher when needed in order for their concerns to be addressed appropriately. As a united team of parents and teachers, we can support our students to contribute to a safe and caring school community.