Why and How we Read

Over some welcome free-time at Year 7 Camp recently, I came across a student, basking in the sun and totally absorbed in her fiction book. She was oblivious to the chatter that surrounded her; the story had transported her to another world and it was a reminder that the enjoyment and engagement of reading, particularly fiction, also leads to stress reduction as well as increased empathy for the wider community and world; all this together with increased cognitive function!

These reasons are precisely why we have the Reading Connections Program for Years 7, 8 and 9 where wider reading is encouraged and sound cognitive skills are incorporated in the sessions to enhance deeper understandings of the story between author and reader.

This year, we have a ‘Genre Bingo’ card for each student to encourage their diversification into reading a wide choice of genres, earning their genre stamp by engaging in a conversation with the Teacher Librarian or English Teacher, conversations that have proven to be enlightening and informative for both student and teacher.

Reading Routines

Our students continue to follow a research-based reading routine that includes:

• Free choice reading – Our generous fiction and non-fiction collections cater for a wide reading, choices and interests for all students.
• Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) – Helping the students to focus and be absorbed in their reading.
• Deeper understanding of reading texts – Discussions relating to the strategies that effective readers need to appreciate and understand in the story context.
• Genre Investigation – Broadening students’ horizons of story themes and ideas; particularly in fiction.
• Reading circle conversations and discussions, both teacher and student led.
• Investigating new or challenging vocabulary to increase fluency in reading and writing.

Student Library Accounts

Students have 24/7 access to our extensive catalogue and, by logging in with their school login and password from SIMON, are able to renew, reserve and make personalised wishlists. The experienced and friendly library staff, Mr Pearson and Ms Albrecht, are always ready to assist in this process.

Write a Book in a Day 2025

The annual Write a Book in a Day competition is on again at Kilbreda for 2025 and allows teams of students from all year levels to express their creativity through writing and illustration, whilst vying for prizes and raising money to support the Kids with Cancer Project. More details for registration will be on SIMON very soon, so watch out for the Write a Book in a Day notices.

Insight Creative Writing Competition

The 2025 Insight Creative Writing Competition is open to high school students around Australia and aims to ignite a passion for creative writing and inspire the voices of the future. Entering the competition is free and all entrants will have the chance to share in over $3000 worth of cash prizes! For more information head to the https://www.insightpublications.com.au/insight-creative-writing-competition/ where you can also find and download the submission form.

Joyce Sendeckyj

Head of Library and Information Services