Literacy

Literacy Comes Alive in Term 3!

Term 3 is always one of the most exciting times of the year for literacy at St Roch's! Throughout the term, our students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in books, celebrate Australian authors and illustrators, challenge themselves through exciting competitions and discover the joy of reading. We encourage all families to get involved and support these wonderful literacy events.

St Roch's Reading Challenge

Our annual St Roch's Reading Challenge will run throughout Term 3, encouraging every student to read as many books as they can!

Every book a student reads earns one point for their class, and even our teachers are joining in, with every book they read also contributing a point. At the end of the term, awards and prizes will be presented to the students, classes and teachers who read the most books in both the Prep–Year 2 and Years 3–6 categories.

The challenge isn't about reading difficult books; it's about developing a love of reading and enjoying great stories. Whether students choose picture books, graphic novels, information books or chapter books, every book counts!

Parents can support the challenge by encouraging regular reading at home and helping students record the books they have read using the following link.

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee

This term, students in Years 3–6 have the opportunity to participate in the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee, a fun and engaging national competition that celebrates spelling, vocabulary and word knowledge.

The competition encourages students to explore the fascinating world of words while building confidence in spelling through a series of increasingly challenging rounds. It is a wonderful opportunity for students who enjoy words and language to extend themselves while having fun.

Students wishing to participate should have received a permission form to take home. Please ensure the signed permission form is returned to Mrs Gray by the end of this week so registrations can be finalised.

Further information about the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee, including competition details and free opportunities for students to practise at home using the "Try the Bee" practice platform, can be found on the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee website.

Children's Book Council of Australia – Book Week

Throughout the term, every class will be reading and enjoying books shortlisted for the 2026 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Awards.

This year's Book Week theme, "Symphony of Stories," celebrates the way stories come together to inspire, entertain and connect us. Students will explore a wonderful range of Australian literature through read-alouds, classroom discussions and literacy activities inspired by the shortlisted books.

These beautiful stories encourage imagination, creativity, empathy and a lifelong appreciation of reading.

Book Week Parade – Tuesday 1 September

One of the highlights of the year is our annual Book Week Parade, which will be held on Tuesday 1 September.

Students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character and join us as we celebrate the wonderful world of books and storytelling. Costumes can be as simple or as creative as you like and homemade costumes are always encouraged!

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about costume ideas. We can't wait to see the incredible creativity of our students as they bring their favourite stories to life.

Indigenous Literacy Foundation – Great Book Swap

Also on Tuesday 1 September, St Roch's will proudly participate in the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Great Book Swap.

The Great Book Swap is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to celebrate reading while making a real difference. Students are invited to bring along a pre-loved book to swap with another student in exchange for a gold coin donation.

All funds raised support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, helping provide culturally relevant books and literacy resources to children living in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. By participating, our students not only discover a "new" book to enjoy but also help ensure that every child has access to quality books and the opportunity to enjoy the magic of a good book.

There is so much to look forward to this term! We thank our families for supporting these exciting literacy initiatives and for encouraging children to read every day. Together, we can continue to foster confident readers, curious learners and a lifelong love of books. Happy reading!

Rachel Gray

Literacy Instructional Coach and Leader

Mathematics Instructional Coach and Leader