Informer - Term 4 Week 3

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

When you are stuck at home and sick, there isn’t a lot to do. I actually spent some time last week reading a book. With the busy-ness of life, it is one thing I just never seem to have time for normally. It is a fundamental skill of our society and one that I think we are losing. It is a skill we need to model and expose our kids to as well.

10 Reasons Why Reading Is Important (for kids AND adults)

1. Kids who read often and widely get better at it. This is pretty much just common sense. After all, practice makes perfect in almost everything we humans do and reading is no different.
2. Reading exercises our brains. Reading is a much more complex task for the human brain than, say, watching TV is. Reading strengthens brain connections and actually builds new connections.
3. Reading improves concentration. Again, this is a bit of a no-brainer. Children have to sit still and quietly so they can focus on the story when they’re reading. If they read regularly as they grow up, they develop the ability to do this for longer and longer periods.
4. Reading teaches children about the world around them. Through reading, they learn about people, places and events outside their own experience. They are exposed to ways of life, ideas and beliefs about the world which may be different from those which surround them. This learning is important for its own sake however it also builds a store of background knowledge which helps younger children learn to read confidently and well.
5. Reading improves a child’s vocabulary, leads to more highly-developed language skills and improves the child's ability to write well. This is because children learn new words as they read but also because they unconsciously absorb information as they read about things like how to structure sentences and how to use words and language effectively.
6. Reading develops a child’s imagination. This is because when we read our brains translate the descriptions we read of people, places and things into pictures. When we’re engaged in a story, we’re also imagining how the characters are feeling. We use our own experiences to imagine how we would feel in the same situation.
7. Reading helps kids develop empathy. This is something I’ve only recently realised but it makes sense. As my fifteen-year-old son said to me when we were discussing it, ‘Of course it does because you’re identifying with the character in the story so you’re feeling what he’s feeling.’
8. Because reading does all the things I’ve mentioned above, children who read do better at school. And they don’t just do better at subjects like reading, English and history. They do better at all subjects and they do better all the way through school.
9. Reading is a great form of entertainment! A paperback book doesn’t take up much space so you can take it anywhere and you’ll never be lonely or bored if you have a book in your bag. You can read while waiting in a queue, while waiting for a friend who’s running late or during a flight delay at an airport.
10. Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind. This is an important point because these days we seem to have forgotten how to relax and especially how to be silent.

The constant movement, flashing lights and noise which bombard our senses when we’re watching TV, looking at a computer or playing an electronic game are actually quite stressful for our brains. When we read, we read in silence and the black print on a white page is much less stressful for our eyes and brains.

So there you have it – the Top 10 benefits of reading!

Don’t forget our Parents and Friends Association is running their Friday Fun Afternoon this week from 3.30 till 6.30. Come along  and enjoy the event.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Jamie Emerick
Principal

Volunteer Parent Induction

Our next Parent Volunteer Induction is on Thursday, 19 October, commencing at 8.40am in the school library.  

Volunteers & Bakers Needed: Family Fun Afternoon

2024 Class Consideration Forms

2024 Class Consideration forms will be available for collection ONLY from the office this week.

To be considered, these forms must be returned to the office no later than 3.30pm on Friday, 27 October.

Bandana Day, Day for Daniel & Crazy Sock Day - Friday 27 October

Altar Servers' Training

Parish News

St John's Way Awardess

Library News ...

Mr Moynihan, our I.T. guru, recently visited a book launch event in Rockhampton and purchased a copy of an Anh Do book for our Library collection.   

This book, titled ‘A New Gemini’ is number four in Anh’s new series ‘E-Boy’. Each book in the series features a different illustrator, and our copy is personally signed by the illustrator Tim McEwen. 

Queensland School Athletics

Congratulations to Harley Stokes on his success at the recent Queensland School Multiclass Athletics Championships.  Harley  won gold in the discus, silver for shot put, 4th for 100m, 6th for the 200m.

2024 Booklists

2024 Booklists are now available on Parent Lounge.

As always, we try to ensure the smoothest and most cost-effective way for purchasing booklist requirements.  To ensure this, you have two options for filling your child’s 2024 booklist requirements:

OPTION 1: Purchasing from Office National Gladstone

• Office National Gladstone is our online (and in-store) provider.
• Office National Gladstone have already pre-priced your child’s 2024 booklist requirements at competitive rates and offer free home delivery (orders over $50).
• You can order online via booklist.officebrands.com.au/aucklandst or you can drop-off or email your order form to Office National Gladstone.

OPTION 2: Purchasing from a local news agency of your choice

• Simply take your child’s 2024 booklist to a news agency of your choice.
• Local news agencies have been provided with our generic 2024 booklist

Please go on to Parent Lounge as of Monday 13 November to find all information and forms relating to your child’s 2024 booklist.

There will be a 2024 Book Drop-Off opportunity prior to the school year beginning next year, which is from 8.40am – 9.10am on Friday 19 January, 2024 ONLY.

If you have any questions about the 2024 booklists, please contact Mrs Jakki Graham at the school office.

Student Travel Rebates Close 31 October

Clean Up Club Thank You

Flute Lessons - 2024

Support Caritas

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Menu

In And Around OSHC

OSHC Easter Vacation Program

Positions Vacant - Catholic Education