Prep Book Look – A Special Peek into Learning!

Our Prep students are excited to invite their parents and carers to our upcoming Prep Book Look session! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to share the learning they’ve been doing so far this year. Families will get a chance to explore the classroom environment, view student work, and celebrate the achievements and growth of our youngest learners.

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating this special milestone together!

Under 8s Day 2025 – "Unleashing Scientific Thinking Through Play"

Under 8s Day is a Queensland-based annual event that celebrates the first eight years of a child’s life and promotes learning through play.

At Aspley State School, we will be celebrating Under 8s Day on Tuesday 24 June. This year’s theme is "Unleashing Scientific Thinking Through Play".

Students in Prep to Year 2 are invited to participate and are encouraged to dress as a scientist. Costumes must be sun-safe and school-appropriate, including closed-in shoes, sleeves, and a school hat.

We look forward to a fun and engaging day of science-themed play and discovery!

Year 3 to 6 ATHLETICS CARNIVAL DATE CLAIMER

P-2 ATHLETICS CARNIVAL DATE CLAIMER

• WHEN:Thursday 26 June 2025
• WHERE:Starting at your classroom for the role.Your teachers will bring you up to the big oval.
• ATTIRE:House colour clothes (sun safe ones of course!) or your Aspley school uniform, sneakers, a hat and sunscreen.
• WHAT TO BRING: Hat, water bottle, lunch, sunscreen, a positive attitude and good sportsmanship!

Reading: The Key That Unlocks Learning
Building Language Through Dialogic Reading at Aspley State School 

Learning to read is truly life-changing. From reading signs and recipes to understanding schoolwork, books, websites and beyond, reading and writing are part of almost everything we do. At Aspley State School, we are proud to support every student on their reading journey – every day, in every classroom.

How We Teach Reading

In Queensland state schools, including Aspley, our approach to teaching reading is both evidence-informed and carefully structured. We focus on two key areas:

• Word reading – teaching students how to decode words through a systematic synthetic phonics program and word study.
• Language comprehension – helping students understand what they read by developing their vocabulary and background knowledge experience.

From Prep to Year 2, we use a consistent, school-wide approach to phonics. This means all students are taught to read and spell words using the same high-quality program, giving them a strong and confident start.  Please see our 2024 newsletters for further information.

As students move into Years 3 to 6, they build on this foundation. They learn to read and understand more complex, multisyllabic words and rich curriculum texts across all learning areas.

A Special Focus in 2025: Shared and Dialogic Reading

This year, we have a school-wide focus on strengthening students’ language comprehension through shared and dialogic reading. This is an engaging and interactive way of reading together that turns reading into a conversation.

Rather than simply reading aloud to children, dialogic reading invites students to think deeply, make predictions, ask questions, and connect the story to their own experiences. Teachers use structured strategies to encourage rich discussions and deeper understanding.

How It Works:

• We read high-quality, age-appropriate texts aloud.
• We ask open-ended and thought-provoking questions.
• We encourage students to express their ideas, explain their thinking, and explore vocabulary in context.

This approach is especially powerful in the early years, but it benefits readers of all ages. It supports oral language development, builds critical thinking skills, and deepens students’ comprehension – which is essential for learning across all subject areas.

Working Together

Reading is a team effort – and families play a vital role. When you read with your child at home, try asking questions, talking about what’s happening in the story, and exploring new words together. Whether it's a bedtime story or a conversation about a recipe, these everyday moments make a big difference.

At Aspley, we are committed to building strong, confident, and thoughtful readers. Dialogic reading is just one of the many ways we bring the joy and power of reading to life in our classrooms.