Annual Privacy Reminder for our School Community
Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ privacy policy and the Schools’ privacy collection notice.
Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy [insert link to your school policy], describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.
We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.
For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents. This information is also available in eleven community languages:
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Dari
- Gujarati
- Mandarin
- Somali
- Sudanese
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
Library
It has been a productive start to the year in the Library. While the library is regularly full during breaks, it has been heartening to see the number of students using the library to study. Students have made a strong start, working both independently and quietly in groups. The atmosphere has been calm and purposeful, evidence that our students are taking responsibility for their learning. On February 13 we celebrated Library Lovers’ Day, with students taking part in literary trivia, Blind Date With a Book and library bingo. We look forward to hosting more events and lunchtime activities throughout the year.
Year 8 Wider Reading: Building Stamina
Our Year 8s continue the Wider Reading Program they commenced in Year 7. The sessions include 30 minutes of silent reading followed by completing the journal entry for the week. Sitting and reading quietly for 30 minutes does not come naturally to most people, so we use the reading program as a way for students to build their stamina and ability to focus. This supports all learning areas and will help students to succeed as they start to read longer and more complex texts.
Reading Aloud – Still Valuable in the Teen Years
Research from the Australia Reads study highlights just how important reading is for teenagers. Their national research shows:
- Reading for pleasure is strongly linked to better literacy outcomes.
- Frequent readers demonstrate greater general knowledge and stronger vocabulary.
- For teenagers, reading engagement is a stronger predictor of intellectual progress than parental education levels.
- Access to books in the home significantly increases the likelihood of children becoming regular readers.
The Australia Reads research also emphasises that reading engagement grows through positive reading experiences and shared reading culture at home.
While reading aloud is often associated with younger children, shared reading remains powerful in the teenage years. Hearing complex texts read fluently exposes students to sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structures. It also supports comprehension and critical thinking.
Importantly, Australia Reads highlights that children who see reading modelled and valued at home are far more likely to continue reading independently. Shared reading – whether reading aloud together or listening to an audiobook as a family – reinforces the message that reading is worthwhile and enjoyable.
Adolescence is a critical period for maintaining reading motivation and reading should not stop being social once children can decode words independently.
How families can help:
- Encourage 30 minutes of reading most days.
- Ask your child about what they are reading.
- Consider reading a chapter aloud together.
- Ask your child to show you the library website, search the catalogue for a book to read together! (See How-To Access the Library Website)
How Elevation Library can support your child to read at home:
- Students can borrow up to four books, for two weeks at a time.
- Students who would like to listen to stories can sign up for an Audiobook account. ePlatform Audiobooks provide students with access to thousands of age-appropriate audiobooks in a variety of genres. We have a limited number of accounts available, so get in quick!
- The library is happy to provide book recommendations to families, for whatever age and stage their student is at.
For book recommendations or to sign up for an Audiobook account for your child, please email the Library Manager at ellen.stephens@elevationsc.vic.edu.au
Ellen Stephens
Library Manager