We are excited to share some wonderful news about our students’ reading progress this term. A big congratulations goes out to the 22 Year 7 and 8 students who have made noticeable gains in their reading achievement since last term. This is a fantastic effort and shows the hard work, persistence and determination our students are putting into developing their reading skills.

Families play a big role in supporting this growth too. Simple activities like reading together for 10–15 minutes a day, talking about stories, or encouraging your child to read signs, recipes, or even sports articles can make a huge difference. Every little bit of reading at home adds up and helps strengthen the skills we are building at school.

A big thank you also goes to our teachers and families, who continue to encourage and support our learners every day. Together, we are creating strong, confident readers who are ready for every challenge ahead.

Well done to all our students, we can’t wait to see even more growth next term!

How Can You Help at Home? Tips for Parents:

1. Listen to your child read aloud daily – even 10 minutes a day helps build fluency and confidence.
2. Encourage rereading – reading the same text more than once improves speed, accuracy, and expression.
3. Model reading – let your child see you reading books, newspapers, or recipes so they understand reading is a lifelong skill.
4. Talk about what they read – ask questions like, “What happened in the story?” or “Why do you think the character did that?”
5. Praise effort and progress – celebrate small improvements in speed, expression, or confidence.
6. Create a distraction-free reading space – a quiet, comfortable spot helps your child focus.
7. Use a variety of texts – encourage reading magazines, comics, newsletters, and instructions, as well as books.
8. Stay in touch with teachers – ask about your child’s progress and the skills they are currently working on so you can reinforce them at home.

If you would like support in finding appropriate texts for your teen or would like to know more, please contact Assistant Principal Christie Gumley at: christie.gumley@decyp.tas.gov.au