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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25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π Mercy Day 2026 π What a beautiful day of celebrating our Mercy spirit and community! π We began the day with a beautiful liturgy led by our wonderful FIAT group, providing a special opportunity for our school community to come together in prayer and reflection. Our Year 6 students then brought plenty of excitement to the day with their fantastic market stalls! ποΈπ Thank you to our Year 6 students for all their creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. We ended our Mercy Day celebrations with the Mercy Cup, with MacKillop taking on our teachers! ππβ½οΈ What a fantastic way to finish the day! A huge well done to our teachers on their Mercy Cup victory! ππ Thank you to everyone who helped make Mercy Day such a wonderful celebration of our community, our faith and the spirit of Catherine McAuley. π Happy Mercy Day! πΏβ¨22 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π€ΈββοΈ A HUGE congratulations to Camille! π We are so proud to celebrate Camilleβs incredible achievement at the National Clubs Gymnastics Championships, where she placed 1st in Trampoline Gymnastics and was crowned Age Champion! What an amazing accomplishment, Camille! Your hard work and dedication have certainly paid off. We canβt wait to see what you achieve next! ππ
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.
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π Mercy Day 2026 π What a beautiful day of celebrating our Mercy spirit and community! π We began the day with a beautiful liturgy led by our wonderful FIAT group, providing a special opportunity for our school community to come together in prayer and reflection. Our Year 6 students then brought plenty of excitement to the day with their fantastic market stalls! ποΈπ Thank you to our Year 6 students for all their creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. We ended our Mercy Day celebrations with the Mercy Cup, with MacKillop taking on our teachers! ππβ½οΈ What a fantastic way to finish the day! A huge well done to our teachers on their Mercy Cup victory! ππ Thank you to everyone who helped make Mercy Day such a wonderful celebration of our community, our faith and the spirit of Catherine McAuley. π Happy Mercy Day! πΏβ¨
22 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π€ΈββοΈ A HUGE congratulations to Camille! π We are so proud to celebrate Camilleβs incredible achievement at the National Clubs Gymnastics Championships, where she placed 1st in Trampoline Gymnastics and was crowned Age Champion! What an amazing accomplishment, Camille! Your hard work and dedication have certainly paid off. We canβt wait to see what you achieve next! ππ
04 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π Celebrating Our Dads & Father Figures π What a wonderful morning celebrating the amazing dads, grandfathers and special father figures in our St Anthonyβs community! Our Fatherβs Day Breakfast was a beautiful opportunity for families to come together, share some special moments and celebrate the important people who love, guide and support our students each day. π Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the morning so special. We wish all of our dads, grandfathers and father figures a very Happy Fatherβs Day! π #FathersDay #StAnthonys #SchoolCommunity #BetterTogether
01 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Loving God, Be close to all those caught in the devastation of the floods in Nepal and Tibet. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, strengthen those waiting anxiously for news, and guide rescuers and emergency workers as they search for survivors. Give courage to displaced families and compassion to communities offering shelter, food and care. May those who are missing be found, and may those who mourn know they are not alone. God of mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
ππΆ Book Week 2026 β Symphony of Stories! πΆπ Our students had a wonderful time bringing their favourite book characters to life at our Book Parade! πβ¨ As part of our whole-school focus on building vocabulary, students were also asked to bring along a Tier 2 or Tier 3 word that described their character. It was fantastic to see so many creative characters and rich vocabulary on display! π Thank you to our wonderful students and families for helping make our Book Parade such a special celebration of reading! β€οΈπ #BookWeek2026 #SymphonyOfStories #BookParade #BuildingVocabulary
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, itβs surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
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.
11 Aug 2026
From Facebook
06 Aug 2026
From Facebook
β½ Stage 2 Soccer Gala Day β½ Following the cancellation of the Diocesan Stage 2 Soccer Gala Day, our Stage 2 students enjoyed a fun and successful St Anthony's Soccer Gala Day, ensuring everyone still had the opportunity to experience the excitement of a soccer tournament. The morning was filled with teamwork, determination, encouragement and plenty of smiles. Congratulations to all of our teams for displaying great sportsmanship and giving their best throughout the tournament. π Tournament Results π₯ 1st Place: Team 5 (McAuley) π₯ 2nd Place: Team 7 (MacKillop) π₯ 3rd Place: Team 4 (McAuley) A special congratulations to Andreas (Year 3), who was awarded the Sportsperson Award in recognition of his outstanding sportsmanship, leadership and encouragement of others throughout the day. He was a wonderful example of what it means to compete with respect and integrity. Thank you to our staff and student referees for helping make the morning such a success. It was wonderful to see our Stage 2 students enjoying friendly competition, building new friendships and creating lasting memories together. β½πππβ€οΈ #LearningUplifts #Stage2Soccer #Sportsmanship #Teamwork #StAnthonys
04 Aug 2026
From Facebook
β½οΈ Stage 3 Soccer Gala Day β½οΈ Our Stage 3 students had a fantastic day at the Soccer Gala Day! All three teams represented our school with pride, demonstrating excellent teamwork, determination and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day. Across the competition, our teams celebrated a few wins, fought hard for some draws and learned from a few losses. Most importantly, they encouraged one another, played with respect and gave their best in every match. Well done to all of our players for the wonderful way you represented our school. We are so proud of you! πβ½οΈ
28 Jul 2026
Action and Progress: Western Sydney Catholic Schools release 2026 Closing the Gap Report
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has released its Closing the Gap Report 2026, detailing efforts to enhance educational equity, community engagement, and cultural capability across its 80 schools in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.