Published on: 18 September 2025

  • Developing oral skills
  • Spring Music Concert
  • Lapathon
  • Year 6 Market Day

Developing rich oral skills is key to developing good reading and writing skills. From Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6, boys engage with both the Talk for Reading and Talk for Writing models. Both approaches are evidence based and are underpinned by rich oral language development as a foundation for writing and reading success. In the younger years, opportunities at home to assist in developing sound oral language skills include reading together as a time to bond, explore new stories, and introduce new words. Storytelling and imaginative play encourage new vocabulary, practicing sentence structure and developing creative thinking. Alphabet and letter recognition games, such as ‘I Spy’, promote vocabulary development and phonic awareness. Together, these experiences build the strong oral foundation that supports boys in becoming confident, capable readers and writers throughout their schooling.

Week 9 in the Preparatory School continues to be busy with the Spring Music Concert taking place in the Chapel on Tuesday night. A wonderful evening that highlighted all the demanding work that our musical ensembles put into performing their pieces. From guitar ensembles to the Yahoos, it was a great night that celebrated the boys’ musical talents.

The Wardung Lapathon had been moved to Tuesday of this week. All boys in the Preparatory School ran enthusiastically in support of Camp Quality, an organisation helping children and families as they face the challenges of cancer. With over $15000 raised already, families can still donate money here to this important cause.

Year 6 Market Day took place yesterday and showed how the Year 6 cohort embarked upon the journey of product research, design, manufacturing, and sale to our whole school community with proceeds raised going towards The Orangutan Project and The Cancer Council. Read more here.

Dr. Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School