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.
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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19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π STUDENT SUCCESS | LIAM MAKES HISTORY! π What an incredible day for Liam in Year 6 at yesterdayβs 2026 Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival! πββοΈπͺ Liam had a huge day, competing across every event and showing outstanding skill, determination and sportsmanship. He proudly represented St Nicholas of Myra and certainly let his St Nickβs School Spirit shine! π₯ Gold β 100m π₯ Gold β 200m π₯ Gold β Shot Put π₯ Gold β Discus And there was something extra special about his Discus victoryβ¦ Liam threw an incredible 40.99m to set a NEW Nepean Zone Discus Record! π€―π As a reward for his outstanding results at the 2026 Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival, Liam was named the 2026 Nepean Zone Senior Boys Champion! π₯π These achievements are a fantastic reward for the hours of hard work, practice and dedication Liam has put into his athletics. Congratulations, Liam! We are incredibly proud of you. What an amazing achievement! ππ₯
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
We have some exciting news to share! π Congratulations to our amazing Stage 3 athletes, Liam and Celine, who will represent St Nicholas of Myra at the 2026 CSPD Athletics Carnival on Friday, 28th August! π π¨ Liam will compete in the: π 100m π 200m π₯ Shot Put π₯ Discus πββοΈ Celine will compete in: π Long Jump What a fantastic achievement for both Liam and Celine to qualify for this event! We are incredibly proud of you both! Give it your best, challenge yourself and show everyone the St Nick's School Spirit! ππ The entire St Nicholas of Myra community is right behind you! π Good luck, Liam and Celine! ππ
More News
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.
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π STUDENT SUCCESS | LIAM MAKES HISTORY! π What an incredible day for Liam in Year 6 at yesterdayβs 2026 Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival! πββοΈπͺ Liam had a huge day, competing across every event and showing outstanding skill, determination and sportsmanship. He proudly represented St Nicholas of Myra and certainly let his St Nickβs School Spirit shine! π₯ Gold β 100m π₯ Gold β 200m π₯ Gold β Shot Put π₯ Gold β Discus And there was something extra special about his Discus victoryβ¦ Liam threw an incredible 40.99m to set a NEW Nepean Zone Discus Record! π€―π As a reward for his outstanding results at the 2026 Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival, Liam was named the 2026 Nepean Zone Senior Boys Champion! π₯π These achievements are a fantastic reward for the hours of hard work, practice and dedication Liam has put into his athletics. Congratulations, Liam! We are incredibly proud of you. What an amazing achievement! ππ₯
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
We have some exciting news to share! π Congratulations to our amazing Stage 3 athletes, Liam and Celine, who will represent St Nicholas of Myra at the 2026 CSPD Athletics Carnival on Friday, 28th August! π π¨ Liam will compete in the: π 100m π 200m π₯ Shot Put π₯ Discus πββοΈ Celine will compete in: π Long Jump What a fantastic achievement for both Liam and Celine to qualify for this event! We are incredibly proud of you both! Give it your best, challenge yourself and show everyone the St Nick's School Spirit! ππ The entire St Nicholas of Myra community is right behind you! π Good luck, Liam and Celine! ππ
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
πββοΈπββοΈ Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival 2026! πββοΈπββοΈ Yesterday, our St Nicholas of Myra students competed at the 2026 Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival in Blacktown, taking on some of the best young athletes from across the Zone. Our students showed incredible skill, determination and sportsmanship, giving their very best and challenging themselves across their events. πͺ The most pleasing aspect of the day was seeing our students supporting, encouraging and celebrating each other. They truly demonstrated the St Nickβs School Spirit throughout the carnival! A huge THANK YOU to all the parents and teachers who supported our students and helped make the day such a success. We are so proud of you. Go St Nickβs! π
19 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π BEST OF LUCK, MALAKAI! ππ The St Nicholas of Myra Community wishes Malakai the very best as he represents our school at the MacKillop Rugby Union Carnival in Mudgee this week! π Give it your all, try your best, never give up and show them your skills! πͺπ₯ We are incredibly proud of you, Malakai. Go out there, enjoy the experience and represent St Nickβs with pride and plenty of school spirit! ππ Go Malakai! π
18 Aug 2026
From Facebook
πββοΈπββοΈ NEPEAN ZONE ATHLETICS 2026! π We wish the very best of luck to our 31 St Nicholas of Myra students who are representing our school at the 2026 Nepean Zone Athletics Carnival! ππ Remember: Try your best, challenge yourself, encourage others and never give up! πͺ Go out there, have fun and show them the St Nickβs school spirit! We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Go St Nickβs! βοΈ
17 Aug 2026
From Facebook
ππ BOOK WEEK! ππ Today, our students had the very special experience of being taught by the Stars of St Nicholas of Myra! βπΈ And donβt our teachers look fantastic in their colourful tops and custom Book Week shirts?! ππ They certainly brought the school spirit, the energy and a little bit of rockstar magic, with a bit of a Wiggles twist to the classroom! πΆ A huge THANK YOU to our incredible teachers who show the St Nickβs spirit each and every day. πππ§‘
17 Aug 2026
From Facebook
πβ¨ BOOK WEEK HAS KICKED OFF! β¨π St Nicholas of Myra has officially kicked off Book Week with some special Teacher Reads in Space! ππ Our students rotated around the school, listening to some fantastic quality texts brought to life by our wonderful teachers. There were plenty of great stories, lots of laughs and, hopefully, some very attentive listeners! ππ Why? Because questions from these books will be featuring in our Book Week Trivia! π§ π So, studentsβ¦ we hope you were paying attention! π Let the Book Week fun begin! ππ
14 Aug 2026
From Facebook
πβ¨ BOOK WEEK HAS BEGUN! β¨π Our St Nicholas of Myra students kicked off Book Week in spectacular style with an amazing performance by Tony Bones and his Books to Life! ππ Each year, Tony chooses a book from the CBCA Shortlist and brings its characters and story to life on stage. This year, our students were treated to Being Indy, a wonderful story about trying to fit in, discovering who we really are, and recognising the true worth of being yourself. π A huge thank you to Tony for once again delivering an incredible performance and helping our students see just how magical books can be! π Happy Book Week, St Nickβs! ππΆπ
12 Aug 2026
From Facebook
12 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π¦π€ Voice of Youth 2026 π€π¦ Today, Isabella, Vivien and Yethum from Year 6 proudly represented St Nicholas of Myra at the 2026 Voice of Youth Penrith Cluster Final. Each student delivered a powerful and memorable speech. π€β¨ π± Vivien spoke about the importance of our daily habits and how small choices can completely change who we become. π Isabella shared a heartfelt message about treasuring what we have and appreciating the people and moments in our lives before it is too late. π¦ Yethum delivered a powerful speech encouraging us all to embrace the lionβs mentality and approach everything we do with courage, determination and confidence. We could not be prouder of the effort, persistence, courage and skill shown by all three students. Each member of the St Nicholas of Myra community can be incredibly proud of the way you represented our school today. π π And in some very exciting newsβ¦ Vivien was presented with the Social Justice Award! π π Isabella was named the Overall Cluster Champion! π Isabella will now progress to the Diocesan level, where she will proudly represent St Nickβs once again. What an outstanding achievement and a wonderful reward for her hard work, dedication and commitment. Congratulations Isabella, Vivien and Yethum. You have made us incredibly proud! π€π¦π
07 Aug 2026
From Facebook
β Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop β Today, the St Nicholas of Myra community gathered to celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Australia's first Saint holds a special place in our school's history, with Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph serving at St Nicholas of Myra from 1880. Their legacy of faith, service and education continues to inspire our community today. Father Rojan reflected on Saint Mary MacKillop's words: "Do all you can with the means at your disposal, then calmly, leave the rest to God." A simple but powerful reminder to always do our best, trust in God, and live with faith each day. May we continue to follow the example of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop through our kindness, service and commitment to living in the way of Christ.
07 Aug 2026
From Facebook
07 Aug 2026
From Facebook
ποΈ St Nicholas Through the Years ποΈ π Google was founded π¬ Popular films: Saving Private Ryan, Mulan, Armageddon, and The Truman Show. π΅ Chart-topping artists: The Spice Girls The year was 1998, and St Nicholas of Myra looked very different! Take a trip down memory lane with these wonderful photos, capturing student achievements and everyday school life. From our talented choir performing at Grace Bros. to our victorious PSSA tee-ball team proudly holding their shield, these moments showcase the rich history of our school. You'll also spot some familiar places that have changed over the years, including the old Infants building, the playground and monkey bars, the maintenance shed (now the site of our school hall), and views of areas that are now home to our Stage 1 classrooms. These snapshots remind us how much St Nicholas has grown while continuing to foster the same strong sense of community, learning and school spirit. β€οΈ Every photo tells a story, and every generation has helped shape the St Nicholas we know and love today. ποΈ Stay tuned next week for another journey through our history in St Nicholas Through the Years! ποΈ
07 Aug 2026