Dear Parents, Guardian and Carers,

The Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Dan Andrews, announced yesterday several changes to the Victorian Roadmap. Because of Victoria meeting vaccination targets, students in regional Victoria will now return to on-site, full-time learning on Friday 22 October 2021. 

It will be lovely to have everyone back together by the end of this week. 

We continue to ask that you wear masks when dropping off and picking up your children (unless you have a medical exemption), maintain social distancing requirements and exit the school grounds as soon as possible.

Again, we thank you all for your support in assisting us to deliver a remote learning program. We know how challenging it has been juggling your own commitments with supervising your children. 

Kind regards

Jodie

The proven benefits of reading with your child

Taking the time to read with your child has enormous benefits in improving them as learners and we know that the children who read regularly at home make significantly more progress academically. The following article is from PETAA (Primary Education Teachers Association Australia) website and explains other benefits to this practice. 

Parents and carers who read aloud with children in a secure, safe and comfortable context motivate their children to read.

Parents’ perceptions, values, attitudes, and expectations play an important role in influencing their children’s attitudes toward reading, and subsequent literacy development. When children share a book with someone who makes them feel special, the attitude that reading is pleasurable is transferred to other reading encounters.

Relationship building

At the core of reading is a relationship and it is the bond between children and parents that is enhanced through reading together. It only takes ten minutes a day to build this relationship.

Children’s reading improves

The research is conclusive: When parents successfully support their children’s literacy learning from an early age, everyone benefits. When teachers and parents work together to support children’s reading and academic success, learning outcomes for all children improve.

Children read more

Students who read with their parents are better prepared for school. They begin school with knowledge of book language and familiarity with concepts of print. They understand how books work and have many more exposures to text types and vocabulary.

Children’s self-esteem improves

Knowing someone cares enough to take time out of a busy schedule to give you undivided attention around a book makes a significant difference to how students perceive themselves as learners and readers. When parents show an interest in their children’s learning, children respond positively.

Reading unites families through shared stories

When a family reads together, stories form a common ground for communicating. Stories bind families and help students makes sense of where they fit in the world.

Not only does parent involvement have a specific and profound impact on children’s reading, but also on children’s language and literacy learning in general. It is through interactions with parents and carers that children learn new vocabulary, seek clarification of new understandings, and learn to comprehend their expanding worlds. Talk is the key to reading and writing success. Talking with children (walking to school, at the table, in the car, bedtime) has a significant effect on literacy learning in general.