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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27 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ถ๐ A SYMPHONY OF STORIES! ๐๐ถ Today, our school was filled with characters, creativity and a whole lot of BOOK WEEK MAGIC! โจ๐๐ญ In celebration of Childrenโs Book Week 2026 and this yearโs theme, โSymphony of Storiesโ, our students brought the pages of their favourite books to life! ๐ Just like a symphony brings together different instruments to create something wonderful, stories bring together different characters, voices, adventures and ideas to create a world of imagination. ๐ถ๐๐ซ From magical creatures and courageous heroes to much-loved storybook characters, our school was certainly making some beautiful literary music today! ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ฆธโโ๏ธ๐ป๐ A huge thank you to our wonderful families and staff for helping make today such a special celebration of the joy of reading. ๐ ๐ถ Every story has a voice. Every book has an adventure. Together, they create our Symphony of Stories! ๐โจ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
25 Aug 2026
From Facebook
In Maths, Year 2 has been learning about 2D shapes ๐. We explored the language of quarter-turns, half-turns and full-turns ๐. We used the Beebots ๐ to strengthen our understanding of the language and compared it to the clock โฐ to discuss clockwise and anticlockwise. Check out our Year 2 mathematicians hard at work! ๐บ๏ธ Mapping Our Way! ๐งญโจ Year 3 students have been learning how to draw and read maps using legends and symbols! ๐๐ They have been practising how to use symbols to represent different features and using a legend to work out what each symbol means. ๐๐บ๏ธ Theyโre becoming confident little mapmakers! ๐โจ
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27 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ถ๐ A SYMPHONY OF STORIES! ๐๐ถ Today, our school was filled with characters, creativity and a whole lot of BOOK WEEK MAGIC! โจ๐๐ญ In celebration of Childrenโs Book Week 2026 and this yearโs theme, โSymphony of Storiesโ, our students brought the pages of their favourite books to life! ๐ Just like a symphony brings together different instruments to create something wonderful, stories bring together different characters, voices, adventures and ideas to create a world of imagination. ๐ถ๐๐ซ From magical creatures and courageous heroes to much-loved storybook characters, our school was certainly making some beautiful literary music today! ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ฆธโโ๏ธ๐ป๐ A huge thank you to our wonderful families and staff for helping make today such a special celebration of the joy of reading. ๐ ๐ถ Every story has a voice. Every book has an adventure. Together, they create our Symphony of Stories! ๐โจ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
25 Aug 2026
From Facebook
In Maths, Year 2 has been learning about 2D shapes ๐. We explored the language of quarter-turns, half-turns and full-turns ๐. We used the Beebots ๐ to strengthen our understanding of the language and compared it to the clock โฐ to discuss clockwise and anticlockwise. Check out our Year 2 mathematicians hard at work! ๐บ๏ธ Mapping Our Way! ๐งญโจ Year 3 students have been learning how to draw and read maps using legends and symbols! ๐๐ They have been practising how to use symbols to represent different features and using a legend to work out what each symbol means. ๐๐บ๏ธ Theyโre becoming confident little mapmakers! ๐โจ
23 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐โจ BOOK WEEK IS HERE! โจ๐ Get ready to celebrate Childrenโs Book Week 2026 โ Symphony of Stories! ๐ถ๐ We have a fantastic week ahead filled with books, imagination and plenty of fun, including our Book Performance, Book Fair, Author Visit, family picnic and our much-loved Character Parade! ๐ ๐ Thursday 27 August is our BIG celebration! ๐งบ 1:40pm โ Families are invited to bring a picnic blanket or cushions, find a spot on the grass and share a book with your child. ๐ญ 2:30pm โ Stay and enjoy our Character Parade on P2! Students are invited to come dressed as a favourite book character and donโt forget to bring your completed Character Profile with you! We canโt wait to see our school come alive with a Symphony of Stories! ๐๐ถโจ
20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Year 1 students have been making their own promises as they begin to explore the meaning of a covenantโa special promise between God and His people. Through their promises, students are learning that covenants are about love, trust and keeping our promises to one another. ๐ Year 5 have been exploring the world of data! ๐ They have been interpreting a range of graphs and writing statements about what they noticed, before collecting their own real-time data by tracking how often they contributed to class discussions. ๐ฌ They will then use their data to create their own graphs and represent their findings visually! ๐๐
20 Aug 2026
Six Habits That Help Children Develop a Love of Reading
Book Week is a celebration of stories, imagination and creativity, but helping children love reading isn't just something that happens during one week of the year. The good news? It doesn't take expensive resources or hours of extra time. Often, it's the small, everyday habits that make the biggest difference.
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
โ Vinnies Winter Sleepout โ Faith in Action โ Our students took part in a meaningful evening of prayer, meditation, learning and service as part of our Vinnies Winter Sleepout. Using Davidโs story and reflected on how quickly and unexpectedly people in our community can be one crisis away from homelessness. Students shared a simple meal of soup, a bread roll, fruit and water, before gathering in our Holy Family Prayer Garden for a Liturgy of the Word, where they led us beautifully in prayer and song. We finished the evening with a team-building challenge, constructing our own shelters. While this was a fun experience for us, it carried an important message, for many people, finding a safe place to sleep is not a game or a choice. It helped our students finish the night with a deeper sense of gratitude, compassion and responsibility to care for others. Through our Faith in Action initiatives, our Holy Family community has raised $1,277 so far to support the vision and mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW and the important work they do supporting people experiencing hardship and homelessness. Thank you to our students, families and staff for continuing to put our faith into action.๐ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Vinnies Australia
15 Aug 2026
From Facebook
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mary is being taken body and soul into heaven. The Assumption reminds us that Maryโs life was a perfect โyesโ to God, and because of that, she was drawn fully into His glory body and soul. It is a feast of hope. Her Assumption is not only a moment of triumph; it is a promise. A promise that holiness is not wasted, that love is not forgotten, and that every faithful โyesโ is gathered into eternity.
12 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ง BAKE SALE SUCCESS! ๐ง What a sweet success! ๐ A huge thank you to our generous teachers for donating delicious treats and to our wonderful students for showing up and supporting our Vinnies Bake Sale. Together, we raised an incredible $454 for our Winter Sleepout! ๐โจ Every cupcake, cookie and donation is helping us shine a light on homelessness and put our faith into action. ๐ฏ๏ธ๐ #Vinnies #WinterSleepout #FaithInAction #ShiningALightOnHomelessness Vinnies Australia
11 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ Year 5 Reward Day! ๐งขโฝ๏ธ Our first reward for following our school expectations! ๐ Year 5 enjoyed a fun-filled session at the local park, kicking off their reward with football skills, teamwork and plenty of energy! ๐ณโฝ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ A well-deserved morning of mufti, movement and fun! ๐๐
10 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ฐโจ Bake Sale for a BIG cause! ๐ Grab a delicious treat and help us shine a light on homelessness as we support Vinnies and our upcoming Winter Sleepout! ๐ ๐ ๐ช Treat yourself, make a difference, and spread a little kindness! โจ Every treat helps us put our faith into action. ๐
10 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ค Parents, this one is worth your time! Friendships can be one of the trickiest parts of growing up, and itโs not always easy to know when to step in or what to say. This FREE session with Michelle Mitchell will give parents practical strategies to help children navigate friendship issues, conflict, boundaries and bullying. ๐ Monday 31 August | 7:00โ8:30pm ๐ Nagle College, Blacktown Highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity! ๐
10 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Year 3 are the first grade to achieve their first reward for Term 3! ๐๐๐ป Today, they dressed up in mufti and had a board games afternoon! ๐งค๐งฃ๐งข Congratulations Year 3! Keep up the fantastic work you are doing โจโญ๏ธ
08 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Inspired by Mary MacKillopโs words, โNever see a need without doing something about it,โ we are called to continue her mission by caring for one another, welcoming all, serving those in need and bringing the love of Christ to life through our words and actions. Today we celebrate Holy Familyโs Josephite heritage with gratitude and pray that, like Mary MacKillop, we may be people of faith, hope and generous service. Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us. ๐๐
05 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐๐ 100 Days Brighter! ๐๐ Our Kindergarten students celebrated 100 Days Brighter with a fun-filled day of activities, marking 100 wonderful days of learning, growing and making memories together. Over the past 100 days, our Kindergarten students have built friendships, discovered new skills, grown in confidence and embraced every learning opportunity with curiosity and enthusiasm. We are so proud of everything they have achieved and canโt wait to see what the rest of the year has in store. Hereโs to 100 bright days and many more wonderful moments ahead! โจ๐ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese