We have already had a wonderful start to 2023. Ms Helen Barrie (Head of Academic Enrichment) and I, were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to present to staff on the application of metacognition skills and self-regulation strategies, to strengthen inferential reading skills. It was magnificent to collaborate with staff from both the Junior and Senior school, in order to target areas where students can be best supported to ensure reading achievement.
2023 Year 7 and Year 8 Reading Program ‘Reading Rules!’
This week, Mr Roberts and I launched our reading program in Year 7 and Year 8. We are very excited to be welcoming all classes to the library once a cycle, to experience the luxury of reading a great book of their choice in this beautiful space.
We aim to engage students in the pleasure of reading, with the hope of creating lifelong habitual readers, who are passionate about reading. Everyone knows the positive knock-on effects; improved brain power, memory and creativity, building vocabulary, and developing empathy. Plus – reading makes us happier and live longer, according to the study ‘A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading with Longevity’ undertaken by Harvard University in 2021.
We encourage our parents/carers to take time to chat with their sons about the book they are reading (without passing judgment), while encouraging even 10 minutes of reading at home as part of a healthy reading diet.
NAPLAN Update
NAPLAN is moving from May to March in 2023. Year 7 and Year 9 will be given lots of opportunities to prepare and work on improving their numeracy and literacy skills. Over the coming days, both Year groups will receive workbooks to complete independent learning at home.
The expectation is that students will come to class with the set work completed in a timely fashion.
Equally, through the integrated use of Writer’s Toolbox and other programs across faculties, students will continue to improve syntax, spelling, punctuation, fluency and precision.
