Recently, a group of Year 9 students from Kolbe Catholic College embarked on a special visit to St Vincent’s Primary School, bringing along creativity, enthusiasm, and a passion for reading. This visit was an extension of our “Reading for Pleasure” Literacy programme, which encourages students to foster a love for reading, both for themselves and in their communities.
In preparation for the visit, the Year 9 students were tasked with creating their own original picture books. These books were designed to engage younger readers and offer fun, educational stories. Once at St Vincent’s, the Year 9s were paired with primary students, guiding them through a series of interactive literacy activities. Together, they explored stories, answered comprehension questions, and shared in the joy of reading.
The comprehension activities involved questions designed to build crucial reading skills, such as inference, prediction, and recall. The primary students demonstrated their growing literacy abilities, and the experience provided the Year 9s with valuable insights into how younger children develop reading skills.
Our students found the experience highly rewarding. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“When we read to the students they asked lots of questions and really enjoyed hearing the stories we about them” – Maddie
“It was a worthwhile experience because we could connect with the local primary school and see their faces light up when we read to them.” – Brydee
“I enjoyed reading to the primary students and learning about where they at with their knowledge of letters and reading.” – Shelby
“The students were really entertaining because they loved the books we made for them. You could see their excitement.” – Angus
This visit not only strengthened the connection between Kolbe Catholic College and St Vincent’s but also helped our Year 9s to develop their own literacy skills by mentoring younger students. We look forward to more collaborative opportunities that inspire a love for reading in both our students and the wider community.
