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, recurring habits that make the biggest difference.
1. Let them see you read
Children are more likely to value reading when they see the adults around them enjoying it too. Whether it's a novel, magazine, recipe or newspaper, showing that reading is part of everyday life helps build positive attitudes towards books.
2. Read together, even after they've learnt to read
Many parents stop reading aloud once their child becomes an independent reader, but shared reading continues to support vocabulary, comprehension and a love of storytelling well into the primary years. It also creates moments to connect and talk about ideas.
3. Give children the freedom to choose
Not every child will be drawn to classic novels, and that's okay! Graphic novels, comics, fact books and magazines all count. When children can explore topics they're genuinely interested in, reading becomes something they want to do rather than something they have to do.
4. Make reading part of everyday life
Ten or fifteen minutes before bed or reading together after school helps establish reading as a regular habit. Consistency matters more than long sessions.
5. Talk about stories
Asking simple questions like "What surprised you?" or "Who was your favourite character?" encourages children to think more deeply about what they've read. These conversations also help develop confidence and comprehension.
6. Celebrate curiosity, not perfection
Children don't need to finish every book they start or read at the same level as their peers. The goal is to nurture confidence and enjoyment. When reading feels positive, children are more likely to keep coming back to it.
Wondering how schools help children become confident readers?
At Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD), engaging literacy experiences, dedicated teachers and well-resourced libraries help students build the skills and confidence to thrive as readers and learners.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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18 Sep 2026
From Facebook
This morning, Year 1 met with Father Andrew in the church to learn more about the Sacrament of Baptism. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding by seeing, smelling and touching the sacred items used during Baptism. Through this hands-on experience, students were able to make meaningful connections between their learning in Religion and the sacramental life of our Church. A beautiful opportunity for our young learners to encounter and celebrate our faith!17 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Thank you to our wonderful Kindergarten parents for hosting the school canteen today! Lots of delicious treats were enjoyed 🍭
Latest News More news
28 Sep 2026
Celebrating 40 years of Voice of Youth and the power of student voice
Six Year 6 students from 58 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) Primary schools came together at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens on 22 September for the Voice of Youth Grand Final, showcasing their public speaking skills through a series of thoughtful and engaging speeches.
18 Sep 2026
From Facebook
This morning, Year 1 met with Father Andrew in the church to learn more about the Sacrament of Baptism. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding by seeing, smelling and touching the sacred items used during Baptism. Through this hands-on experience, students were able to make meaningful connections between their learning in Religion and the sacramental life of our Church. A beautiful opportunity for our young learners to encounter and celebrate our faith!
17 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Thank you to our wonderful Kindergarten parents for hosting the school canteen today! Lots of delicious treats were enjoyed 🍭
15 Sep 2026
From Facebook
This morning, some of our Stage 3 students experienced the spectacular ‘Be the Witness’ musical at Riverside Theatre. The production shared the life of Jesus through the eyes of Peter, bringing the story to life through powerful song, dance and theatre. Our students were immersed in the story of Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection and had the opportunity to reflect on His message and mission in a truly engaging way. We are very grateful to CSPD for providing our students with this wonderful experience of faith, allowing them to encounter the story of Jesus in such a meaningful and memorable way.
11 Sep 2026
From Facebook
This morning Mr White, our Student Animator, led a small group of students in prayer. The prayer focus was ‘The Season of Creation’ and allowed students time to reflect on the gift of creation given by God. Students also reflected on our responsibility to preserve and promote creation 🍃🌸🌱🌷We look forward to Mr White offering students from Year 4-6 in future formation sessions throughout this term and in Term 4.
09 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Today in music, Stage 3 students practised maintaining a steady beat by creatively jumping to the beat of Michael Jackson’s music. They then began composing their own musical pieces, exploring the elements of beat, rhythm, melody and timbre. Musicians in the making 🎶🎵
04 Sep 2026
From Facebook
This morning we welcomed our wonderful Fathers, grandfathers and father figures for a delicious breakfast! Our Infants students led a beautiful Father’s Day Liturgy which was followed by some fun dad jokes and a great song! Thank you dads - you are simply the best!
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
What a fantastic book week! We have loved every minute of the soundscapes, book reading, games and fun that 2026 book week has brought. We love reading and we love book week!
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Going Faceless You might notice something a little different on our school social media page and we wanted you to hear the why straight from us. We have a new approach to social media, taking a proactive stand on protecting our students’ online safety. We’ll keep sharing what our students are learning and achieving, the wins, the projects, the everyday moments that make our school community special. But we will not be posting identifiable photos of children’s faces on our public social media pages. This follows new guidance from the e-Safety Commissioner about how AI tools are being used to misuse photos taken from school social media pages. Our school takes online safety seriously. We’ll continue to share event memories directly with families through our newsletter. We ask that these photos aren’t used on personal social media platforms. Families who have selected ‘not for publish’ will still not appear in these photos. To update your permission, please contact the office. This is a new endeavour and like any new approach, we may not get it perfectly right every time as staff adjust. We appreciate your patience as we find our feet. Thank you for backing us as we take this step. 💙
28 Aug 2026
Our schools are cracking the reading code
Do you remember how you learned to read? For a vital skill that is linked to all other learning, it’s surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
23 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Another fun-filled trivia night! Parents, friends and staff gathered last night for an evening of trivia, music bingo, dancing and laughter. Thank you to those who attended and supported our school. Thank you to DJ Louie who brought the fun!!
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.