Ben Munday with students reading at Holy Family Primary
Do you remember learning to drive? Even if you’ve never learned, you can probably imagine the process.
At first, there is SO much to remember and it can seem overwhelming. When you try to focus on getting the clutch right, you forget about putting on your indicator. Just when you feel you’ve got the hang of second gear, your teacher says “Now shift into third”.
If you had professional lessons, your instructor’s car had a second set of pedals on their side of the car. This way, they could share some of the control just in case you were about to drive them into a wall.
So what does all this have to do with reading?
Good readers are like good drivers. We use many, many different skills and processes all at the same time without even noticing. And just like you learn to change gears and steer so you can use the car to get somewhere, when we read we use all the different skills for a higher purpose – to make meaning from written words. In other words, to understand, or comprehend what we read. ‘Getting all the words right’ is less important than understanding what we read.
Just like driving teachers, school teachers use a ‘gradual release of responsibility’ model when teaching reading.
- In Modelled Reading, the teacher is in control.
- In Shared Reading, the teacher leads and the children join in.
- In Guided Reading, the children lead and the teacher joins in if necessary.
- In Independent Reading, the child leads and is in control.
- Read to your children every day in any language – even five minutes is a good start
- Talk about what you have read
- Talk about movies and games and compare them to stories you know
- Listen to your children read their home readers to you
- Have books available for your children to read for pleasure
- Take your children to the library to borrow books, magazines, books on CDs, anything!
- Teach your children to read a menu, a shopping list, a catalogue, a bus timetable, anything!
Mr Benjamin Munday
Assistant Principal
Holy Family East Granville
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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11 Apr 2026
From Facebook
⭐️ Sporting Shoutout ⭐️ We are so proud of A.M for her fantastic effort at the NSW CPS Swimming Championships last term! 🏊♀️💙 Competing at such a high level is an incredible achievement in itself, and she gave it her absolute best in every race. She placed in the following races: ✨ 50m Backstroke – 9th ✨ 50m Breaststroke – 15th ✨ 50m Butterfly – 13th ✨ 50m Freestyle – 14th What an amazing accomplishment to be racing against the best swimmers from our diocese! Your determination, courage and sportsmanship truly shone through. 🌟 Well done — we are so proud of you! 👏💫
11 Apr 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 4 historians officially traded their textbooks for LEGO bricks! To wrap up our deep dive into Mesoamerica, we took on the ultimate engineering challenge: recreating the iconic stepped pyramids of the Maya and Aztecs. It wasn't just about stacking blocks; our students had to think like ancient architects, considering: Symmetry and scale 📐 The significance of the "stepped" design 🪜 How these massive structures served as temples and calendars ☀️ Watching their teamwork and creativity flourish was the highlight of our week. Who knew learning about 1,000-year-old civilizations could be this much fun? Check out some of our mini-masterpieces below! 👇
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11 Apr 2026
From Facebook
⭐️ Sporting Shoutout ⭐️ We are so proud of A.M for her fantastic effort at the NSW CPS Swimming Championships last term! 🏊♀️💙 Competing at such a high level is an incredible achievement in itself, and she gave it her absolute best in every race. She placed in the following races: ✨ 50m Backstroke – 9th ✨ 50m Breaststroke – 15th ✨ 50m Butterfly – 13th ✨ 50m Freestyle – 14th What an amazing accomplishment to be racing against the best swimmers from our diocese! Your determination, courage and sportsmanship truly shone through. 🌟 Well done — we are so proud of you! 👏💫
11 Apr 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 4 historians officially traded their textbooks for LEGO bricks! To wrap up our deep dive into Mesoamerica, we took on the ultimate engineering challenge: recreating the iconic stepped pyramids of the Maya and Aztecs. It wasn't just about stacking blocks; our students had to think like ancient architects, considering: Symmetry and scale 📐 The significance of the "stepped" design 🪜 How these massive structures served as temples and calendars ☀️ Watching their teamwork and creativity flourish was the highlight of our week. Who knew learning about 1,000-year-old civilizations could be this much fun? Check out some of our mini-masterpieces below! 👇
11 Apr 2026
From Facebook
Year 3 🎭📚 There’s nothing better than seeing stories leap off the page! ✨ Let’s rewind to last term, where our Year 3 students brought A Child of Books to life through Drama Literacy. Using creative tableaux, they showed the contrast between quiet and loud settings through facial expressions and body language—no words needed! A fun and engaging way to build confidence, creativity, and storytelling skills 👏
10 Apr 2026
From Facebook
Who says the Easter fun has to end just because the calendar says it’s over? 🐣🍫 To celebrate the end of the term, our students enjoyed a cracking final reward—an Easter egg hunt filled with excitement, laughter and plenty of teamwork! The playground was buzzing as students searched high and low, determined to find every last treat. And let’s be honest… the chocolate buzz is still very real, with a few goodies probably still hiding in cupboards at home! 😄🍬 The perfect way to finish the term—full of fun, energy and sweet memories to take into the holidays! ✨
09 Apr 2026
From Facebook
We came together to celebrate the end of the term at our final assembly! 🌟 Our FIAT team led us in a meaningful reflection, reminding us of the joy and hope of Jesus’ resurrection. ✝️ The choir filled the space with a beautiful song they had been working so hard on throughout the term 🎶 We also celebrated our incredible students as we presented our end of term awards, recognising those who consistently lived out our expectations: Live Safely, Love Respectfully and Learn Daily. 👏
05 Apr 2026
From Facebook
✝️Easter Blessing for Our Catholic School Community🐣 Easter is the greatest and most important feast in the Church. It can only be described as the core of the Church’s life. ✨ May the joy of the Risen Christ fill our hearts with hope, renew our spirits with His love, and guide our school community in faith and kindness each day. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, may we be reminded that light overcomes darkness, love conquers all, and new life is always possible. May our students grow in compassion and friendship, our families be strengthened in faith, and our staff be blessed with wisdom and peace. Wishing you and your families a joyful and blessed Easter.
03 Apr 2026
From Facebook
Today, we take a moment as a community to reflect on the meaning of Good Friday, a time that reminds us of love, sacrifice, and hope. May this sacred day offer our families a sense of peace, quiet reflection, and renewed purpose as we continue our shared journey through the Easter season.
02 Apr 2026
From Facebook
💃🕺 Last night Holy Family took to the stage at the ZING Activ Interschool Dance Championships!! 🙌🙌 We are so proud of our amazing Year 3–6 students who have been working hard all term on their partner routines and absolutely shone on the dance floor this evening! 🙌⭐⭐✨ Take a look at some photos from the night capturing our students in action — including their first partner dance, the Tango 💃, as well as their incredible show dance! 🌟 A HUGE congratulations to all of our place getters 🤗🤗🤗, and a special shoutout to our Year 6 students who were crowned overall winners for their age group! 🏆👏 A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parents for coming along and supporting our students, and to our dedicated teachers for their time, encouragement, and hard work in preparing the team. 💛
01 Apr 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 4, 5 and 6 students reverently led our school community in the Stations of the Cross, an important and meaningful tradition in the Catholic faith during Holy Week ✝️🌿 Through prayer, reflection, and thoughtful storytelling, they guided us through each station, helping us to walk alongside Jesus on His journey to the cross. This powerful experience invites us to reflect on the sacrifice, love, and hope at the heart of our faith. 💛 We are so proud of the respectful and heartfelt way our students brought this sacred story to life for our community. 🙏✨
31 Mar 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 1 and Year 2 students reverently shared the story of the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane as part of our Holy Week journey. ✨ Through prayer, reflection, and storytelling, they helped us enter into these sacred moments—remembering Jesus sharing a meal with his disciples and later praying in the garden with trust and courage. 💛 We are so proud of the thoughtful and respectful way they brought this important part of the story to life for our community.
30 Mar 2026
From Facebook
Today our Kindergarten beautifully shared the story of Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week. 🌿✨ With joyful hearts and gentle voices, they reminded us of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, joyfully calling out “Hosanna!”—a word of praise and hope meaning “save us.” Their reverence and enthusiasm brought this sacred moment to life, helping us all reflect on the love and faith at the heart of this season. 💛 We are so proud of the special way they shared this message with our community.
29 Mar 2026
From Facebook
Today we pause to reflect on Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week. 🌿 This special day reminds us of the importance of peace, humility, and kindness, inviting us to carry these values into the week ahead🌿 Please join the school community for a Palm Sunday Liturgy tomorrow at 2:20 pm🌿
28 Mar 2026
From Facebook
🌍 E A R T H • H O U R 🌍 A Call to Care for Our Common Home Tonight, as we switch off our lights for Earth Hour, we are invited to do more than sit in darkness, we are called to shine as stewards of God’s creation. In this special year dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, we remember his deep love for all that God has made. He saw creation not as something to use, but as a gift to cherish, our brothers and sisters in creation: Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Sister Water. We are reminded through Laudato Si’ that caring for our common home is not optional, it is part of our faith. It is an act of love, justice, and responsibility. 🕯️ So tonight, let Earth Hour be more than a moment, let it be a movement. ✔️ Turn off your lights ✔️ Pause and pray in gratitude for creation ✔️ Commit to one action that protects our planet Because caring for the Earth is caring for each other.Because creation is a reflection of God’s love.Because our faith calls us to act. Let us follow St Francis and be instruments of peace, for the Earth and for all who call it home. 🌿
26 Mar 2026
From Facebook
Year 5 struck gold on their excursion to the Goldfields today! ⛏️✨ Students began their journey as shepherds before stepping into 1851, when the gold rush began. They formed syndicates and worked together to purchase everything they needed to survive on the fields. Some were lucky enough to strike gold and shout “Eureka!” while others experienced the reality of leaving empty-handed. Through hands-on activities, students explored what life was like during the gold rush, building teamwork, resilience and a deeper understanding of Australia’s history. A truly golden learning experience that brought the past to life! 🌟
25 Mar 2026
From Facebook
Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord — a special moment when Mary said “yes” to God with courage and trust. 💙 Inspired by Mary’s example, our students also said “yes” today by taking part in Caritas Australia’s Big Walk for Water 🚶♀️💧 Walking in solidarity, we showed care for others and put our faith into action. We also read about Sisilia’s story and walked with empathy as we reflected on her experience. 🌏✨ We are so proud of the way our community lives out compassion and kindness each day. Thank you for all of your generous donations to help support Project Compassion this Lenten season. #faithinactioncspd