We just celebrated a huge Book Week and it was a joy to see the students and staff throw themselves into the theme.

Book Week is perfect for showing children of all ages that books are fun. This is the message that needs to endure long after the costumes have been stowed for another year. Here are a few ways to help your children read – from birth to teens.

1. Babies: Children are never too young to have a book read to them so begin when they are babies. They may not understand a word that is spoken to them but they benefit from the rhythm of the language, hearing your voice and enjoying the relaxed closeness reading brings. The hard page books also provide many hours of enjoyable chewing when teeth come through.
2. Toddlers: When the whirlwind of ‘toddlerhood’ arrives, reading together provides a quiet respite for both parties. In the midst of running everywhere and exploring at a frantic pace, a nice relaxing read with mum, dad, nana or a friend calms everyone down.
3. Lower Primary: The whole world opens up when children begin primary school. However, this is the age when many stop reading to their children because they learn to read for themselves. Children still love being read to and this age provides an excellent opportunity to ‘take it in turns’. Your child will have their favourite parts to read and other parts they will want you to read.
4. Upper Primary: Reading now forms part of a child’s homework and anything with the word ‘work’ in it will try and suck the fun out of a book. It takes a little more effort to keep reading fun but new possibilities also open up. Help your child find a favourite series or author so they are always hungry for the next issue. Find things they are interested in for them to explore in words and experiences e.g. their favourite sport or hobby.

5. 

   Middle and Senior School: This age group presents more challenges but hopefully the groundwork has already been laid and they have learned to treasure reading. Keep non-compulsory reading fun and interesting; it doesn’t matter if they are choosing humour and comics rather than War and Peace – they are still reading. This is the perfect age to read the same books as your teen. Not only will it provide good conversation starters it also shows that you are interested in what they like. Visit the library or go to a Lifeline Bookfest together followed by afternoon tea somewhere nice. Keep reading fun.

Father’s Day – who is your hero?

Coming out of Book Week, I noticed many students dressed as superheroes and sports stars –everyone loves a masked crusader!  Children used to name these characters as their heroes but change is afoot. These days more than half of young people name a parent as their hero.

At GCC we understand the power of a good role model and how dads play a huge part in their child’s life. Committed, caring, involved dads grow healthy, confident children who grow up to be committed, caring, involved parents in their own right.

Fathers were celebrated at Prep on Tuesday night and at a special chapel on Wednesday. This year dads were treated to coffee and chocolates followed by an exceptional mini concert put on by Little Voices and items from Prep, Year 1 and Year 2.

On Thursday our hard working P and F organised a Father’s Day stall where there were more perfect presents for dad than what you could ever find at the shops. Dads can be one of the most difficult people to buy for so thanks to the P and F for providing such a valuable service.

I hope this Sunday or sometime over the weekend you will find time to spend with your family just to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the special dad in your life. Don’t forget that the best gift of all is simply to say thank you for being an awesome dad.

Mike Curtis, Principal