Dear Parents and Carers,

I’m sure everyone will agree that we are all very excited about the prospect of our first Book Week Parade in three years. It is shaping up to be a wonderful community event, especially since we have the opportunity to invite parents and community members to join in the fun.

We are very grateful to Mrs Bryant, Mrs Siderenko and Mr Astill for their work in organising our school celebrations for this special event.

Book Week reminds us that one of the most important foundations for building a child’s potential as a learner is by building the skills associated with understanding and using oral language. One is the easiest ways to do this is by reading to or with your child.

Mem Fox, one of Australia’s favourite children’s authors offers her top ten read-aloud commandments for parents: 

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud.
2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read.
3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don't be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.
4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.
5. Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same 'tune' for each book: i.e., with the same intonations on each page, each time.
6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.
7. Look for rhyme, rhythm, or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are short.
8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child's name and yours, remembering that it's never work, it's always a fabulous game.
9. Never ever teach reading or get tense around books.
10. Read aloud every day because you just love being with your child, not because it's the right thing to do. This is as important for fathers as it is for mothers!

ANNUAL CATHOLIC CLUB COMMUNION MASS

Thank you to our School Captains, Ysabella and Patrick who gave up part of their Sunday to act as our student representatives at the Annual Catholic Club Communion Mass celebrated at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Rosemeadow. We are very grateful to Ysabella and Patrick’s parents for making their attendance at this important event possible. The 2022 Communion Mass was indeed a special occasion, as this popular Macarthur event has been on hold since 2019.

Much gratitude is extended to the Campbelltown Catholic Club for their generous and ongoing financial support of Catholic Education in the Macarthur.

In 2022, the Catholic Club’s total donations towards financial support of Catholic Education, Sport and Culture within the Macarthur area was $1,004,623. Since the inception of the Catholic Club 56 years ago, total donations made exceed a staggering $33.208 million. This is a fitting tribute to the aims and objectives established by the members of the Campbelltown Catholic Club and the dedication of the directors both past and present.

Tina Murray

Principal