Deputy Principal Update

It certainly has been another busy week at school. Thankfully the weather has not been as hot as the end of last week – the summer sunshine makes for pleasant days at school. Thank you to all the children for remembering to wear their hats and putting on sunscreen when going outside for lunch and recess. Please remember, if your child requires a certain brand of sunscreen, they can bring this to school, keep it in their bag and apply it before going outside. If your child forgets their hat, they are asked to play on the playground areas during break times.

School Photos: - Catch up Session.

Thursday was a busy day with school photos taking place. The children were very excited having their photos taken – lots of happy smiles all round. If your child was absent from school on photo day, there is an opportunity for them to attend a catch-up session. This is happening on Tuesday 7th of March 2023, between 3:30pm – 5:00pm at 73 Wyndham Street, Shepparton. (Dale Wright Portrait Maker). No appointment necessary, but parents may call the studio on (03) 58211400 if they need.

Reading Tips:

All classrooms have been busy establishing routines for learning over the past weeks. One of these routines is Home Reading - children and parents/caregivers enjoying reading different take home books together, or children reading independently at home. Often parents ask questions about how they can support their child with reading. Listed below are some tips to with this.

General Tips to Support Reading:

Instil a love of reading by sharing stories with your child. This is a special one-to-one time where you and your child can escape into all sorts of adventures and amazing worlds. For older children, share with them favourite stories or authors that you like to read when you were younger. Ask your child about their favourite stories or authors.
Read many different types of books with your child. Not all children are motivated to read stories. Finding interesting non-fiction books to share with your nature loving or car loving child can be just as stimulating for them. For older children, reading newspaper articles, interest magazines, recipes or instruction sheets can expand their understanding of different vocabulary.
It is okay to re-read stories with your child. Reading a story for a second time helps develop fluency and phrasing as a reader.

Develop a reading routine at home. Find a quiet place and choose a time that works for your family routine.

Tips for Younger Readers:

Before Reading:

Look at the front cover and predict what the story might be about.
Ask do you think this story this story is about something real (non-fiction) or is a made-up story? (fiction)
What clues are there in the title or the pictures that tell you what the story might be about? What do you see in the pictures?

Questions to ask During Reading:

What will happen next in the story? Why do you think this?
How do you think the story is going to end?
How do you feel about the characters?
What can you do to solve a word you don’t know? Do the pictures help solve the word? What is the first letter of the word? Re-read the sentence and think of a word that fits the message and starts with that letter.
Is there a part of the word you know that will help? Eg: cart – I know ‘a-r-t’ go together to say ‘art’.
When I am reading, does it sound like I am talking or reading word by word. When we read, it sounds just like I am talking.

Questions to Ask After Reading:

What is the main message of this story?
Did you enjoy the story? Why or why not?
Was there a problem to be solved in the story? If so, how was it solved?
Did you have a favourite character in the story?
Do you know someone who is like one of the characters?
Does this story remind you of another story you know?

These are just some tips you might like to use at home when listening to your child read. You might like to choose one from each section each time you read with your child. Most of all, enjoy this wonderful experience. Some books might become favourites that will remain a part of your family for a very long time.

Zooper Doopers:

Zooper Dooper are continuing to be a popular refreshment on Tuesdays and Fridays. They cost 50c each with a maximum of two per child. We ask children to buy zooper doopers for themselves or brothers/sisters only – not to be purchasing for friends/classmates.

Another great quote from Dr Seuss – to foster in us the love of reading.

“The more that you read,

The more things you will know.

The more that you learn,

The more places you will go!”

Dr Seuss.

I hope everyone has a great week ahead.

Mr Mac.