Literacy Update
2024 KIDNEWS Short Story Writing Competition
The KidsNews 2024 Short Story writing competition is open.
The competition is free to enter, if you are interested in participating, please start writing and enter! The competition has opened and will close on Friday May 31st. The competition has three age groups suitable for primary schools;
- Foundation -Year 2
- Years 3-4
- Years 5-6 to Year 4
Stories need to be between 250 and 750 words for students in Foundation; and between 500 to 1000 words for students in Years 5 & 6. You can enter a story you have already written, or you can start something new.
Jackie French is again leading a panel of judges who will select the winning entries with the first prize winner in each age group scoring 10 copies of the story published by HarperCollins.
If you would like to enter, please click on this link here and fill in the form. You can upload your stories and consent forms all in the one spot from home. Where it asks for a teacher’s name, fill in my name and email address and the school telephone number (see below).
If you would like any assistance or advice regarding the competition, please send your child to come and talk to me or send through an email.
Jacqueline Morphy
8598 6444
jacqueline.morphy@education.vic.gov.au
Reading
A shout out to all families for supporting our Home Reading program. Reading every day engages the mind and stimulates our brain. Regular reading has been linked to increased and improved vocabulary. It also builds critical thinking through exposure to different ideas and ways of understanding the world.
It is a special time in classrooms when Neil visits and the students proudly share their reading skills with him.
Like anything, the more we do something, the greater success we will achieve.
What are you reading at the moment?
The SKiPPS staff have a ‘Staffroom Book Swap’. We bring in books we have enjoyed and recommend to each other. The conversations generated around shared books is always a positive one, eager to compare notes with each other. If you are after a book to read, ask one of us for a recommendation!
PEN PAL OPPORTUNITY
Who remembers having a pen pal and how excited you were when you received a letter in the mail?
One of our fabulous Mums, Kara Barbuto, has been in contact with The Sacred Heart Community who have expressed interest in setting up some pen pals for residents living there that have minimal connections in the community.
If you are looking for ways to support your child in some writing at home, this could be an opportunity for you.
We are wondering if any of our amazing SKIPPS families would like to become a pen pal with a member of the Sacred Heart Community. Letters would come through school, and we would arrange a letter drop off and collection each month. This activity would take place at home and so we would ask that the letters are scanned at home prior to being delivered to school. If you are interested in participating, please email me at jacqueline.morphy@education.vic.gov.au or come and see me at school.
I will wait to see how many families would like to participate before I make further contact regarding a collection date for the first round of letters.
HAIKU POEMS
Our staff were challenged by Riss Leung, a Literacy consultant to write a Haiku a day. To reflect on our day using limited syllables.
A Haiku is a Japanese Poetic style that consists of 3 lines – 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second line and 5 in the 3rd line. Our Year 3/4 classes have taken up the challenge but on a weekly level where they are reflecting on their week at school through the limited syllables. Enjoy some of the poems below written by our students.
I like my new school
I like my friends at school
I like my teachers
By Jacquie 3/4B
Yay! Monday Garden
I love my Mum helping out
I did the compost.
By Katerina 3/4B
Friday basketball
So tired after the game
Finally back home
By Annie 3/4G
I love basketball
I have a friend named Ayla
We will score and win
By Frankie 3/4G
School is very fun
I like SMART spelling, it’s good
School is awesome, YAY!
By Hugo 3/4B
Book Recommendations
Picture Story Book
The Imagineer by Christopher Cheng
.
Penny’s imagination is enormous, she loves to sketch up her ideas and then tinker away with tools to bring her plan to life. One day Penny visits her Grandpa and their time together unveils a whole new world of things to create. This story shares the special moments shared with Grandparents and how together they can build life long memories.
Middle Fiction
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
Li is an ex-SKiPPS parent and his story is amazing. I cannot recommend this true story enough!
A small peasant boy was chosen to study ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy. Despite many fears, his mother supported and encouraged him to go.
Li was only eleven years old and he was scared and lonely, pushed away from all that he had ever known and loved. He hated the strict training routines and the strange place he had been brought to. All he wanted to do was go home – to his mother, father and six brothers, to his own small village. Li soon realised that his mother was right. He had the chance to do something special with his life – and he never turned back . . .
Interview with Amy Salter, Year 5/6 Teacher
What are you reading at the moment?
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Why did you choose that book?
This book was recommended by a colleague from a previous school. They were reading it when we worked together and I could tell they were really engaged. We used to talk about it so I was intrigued to give it a go.
What is the story about?
It’s a psychological thriller that follows a psychologist and his patient. The story unwinds their relationship and there is a clever twist that you don’t see coming.
Some take aways...
This book made me realise how much I enjoyed reading thrillers. Prior, I thought it wasn’t my genre of choice, but I now find myself looking for books with a similar vibe.
Did you enjoy the book?
I absolutely loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing in a couple of days, it was that good. I have continued to share this book as a recommendation.
This book is for a mature audience.
BOOK CONTACTING
You would think EVERY book in our school would be contacted by now but I have to break it to you …… there are still loads to go! I am working my way through each of the classroom libraries and removing books that need to be covered.
There are a group of parents that have been ABOLUTELY AMAZING …. I cannot stress that enough. It would be great to ease their load and spread out the work. I always have a bag of books and a roll of contact available in the Foundation space, so please come and see me or ask Wendy in the office. I am so grateful as books that are contacted definitely have a longer life span meaning more kids get to enjoy them.
THANK YOU!!!
Jac Morphy
Leading Teacher
Literacy