Ruth Thompson

Kae McCaull, Head of Primary

​​Last week, I discussed the science of reading and its five fundamental elements: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension.

Reading is a complex skill, and our reading programs at Kuyper teach these essential elements explicitly and systematically, progressively building students’ literacy competency.

Practice is fundamental to building reading skills. As homework kicks off for all our classes, one of the key ways parents can support young readers is by listening to them read aloud daily. Faithfully doing this will not only build wonderful attitudes towards learning but also give your children the practice they need to master developing literacy skills. Older students also need to be encouraged to keep reading regularly with texts appropriate to their age and level of reading.  

In addition to supporting our children in reading regularly, there are other things that we can do to encourage success in building their vital literacy skills. 

Read to your children
In particular, read books your child cannot yet read for themselves. This builds vocabulary as you discuss new and interesting words you come across together. It develops interest and enjoyment in reading. As you read, make predictions about what might happen next and discuss the sequence of events or the reasons behind the characters’ actions. These strategies encourage students to think about and comprehend what they are reading. 

Ask questions
Check that your children have understood what they (or you) have read, and allow them to generate questions for you. Be aware that developing questions is a much harder cognitive skill and will take lots of practice. If children ask a question not answered in the text, you could pretend to look for it and say something like,

“I don’t know. It doesn’t tell me in the book, but if I were the character, I would…”

Read Fiction and Non-Fiction 
This helps children understand that we can read to learn about new things or things we are interested in. Some children prefer reading and hearing non-fiction books. All reading is beneficial.

Use and explore language
Talk about what you see happening in the world around you and look for opportunities to introduce new words into your discussion. This will allow your children to hear new words in context and ask you about their meaning. Students with a greater vocabulary better comprehend what they are reading.

Let them see you reading in real life
For example, reading a recipe or instructions and using a Google search to learn about something.

Whilst these things do not replace our children’s reading, they provide wonderful support for the hard work they are doing. 

As we work together to help your children become proficient readers and writers, please talk with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns or questions. Celebrate your child’s success with them, even if it’s as small as mastering one new tricky word, reading a new book, or sticking with it when it is challenging. Feel free to share their successes so we can celebrate with you. Mastering the skill of reading is something we can all celebrate.

Kae McCaull, Head of Primary

There is a poem about reading that I love. It goes like this,

For me, this poem captures the amazing and imaginative qualities of being able to lose yourself in a book. The written word can transport us to another place to think about new ideas and introduce us to places and people we may otherwise never know.

Creating and reading written and visual texts is one of the primary ways that we exercise our God-given imagination and creativity to share ideas, experiences and stories with one another. The ability to read and write allows us to enjoy and benefit from other’s knowledge and imagination and to share our own.

Above all this, our God has chosen to speak with us through his son Jesus. In our time in history, this is communicated through God’s written word, the Bible. To be able to read and understand the Bible for ourselves is a privilege that people in past generations have not always enjoyed.

The Science of Reading
Over recent years, three very extensive studies have been undertaken into how children learn to read. In 2000, the USA conducted ‘The National Reading Panel’; in 2005, Australia conducted the ‘National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy’; and in 2006, the UK undertook an ‘Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading’. Interestingly, all three studies arrived at the same findings about the fundamental elements of learning to read. This research, along with many other studies, now forms a body of research known as the Science of Reading. 

The research behind the science of reading identifies five fundamental elements of reading that must be explicitly taught for students to become competent readers.

Phonemic awareness
The ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.

Phonics
The relationship between the sounds of the spoken language (phonemes) and the letters (graphemes) or groups of letters or syllables of the written language.

Fluency
Both the pace at which we read and the smoothness with which we read. It involves skills like pausing at the correct places and using appropriate expression.

Vocabulary
The words students know, understand, and use.

Comprehension
The strategies and skills students possess to understand the words they are reading and how they connect to form ideas and messages.

When we use the term literacy in an educational context, we are not just talking about reading. Literacy learning involves reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, grammar, and speaking and listening. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? 

It is! That is why we dedicate a significant part of every primary school day at Kuyper to explicit literacy learning and weave literacy skills into all the subjects taught from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Our reading programs at Kuyper are designed to cover all five of the fundamental elements of reading. They are taught in an explicit and systematic way, progressively building on easier skills to develop more complex skills. 

Reading and writing are very complex skills, and children will need several years of practice to develop into proficient readers and writers. In this area, parent partnership is a tremendous benefit to your children. The more reading practice students can do at both home and school, the more we help them develop a mastery of lifelong literacy skills that support all their future learning in whatever subjects they are studying. 

Reading is an incredible skill we have the privilege of teaching our children. Next week, I will discuss the specific ways parents can support their children’s literacy learning at home.

This week, we are excited to welcome three new staff members to the Kuyper team.

Praise God for His ongoing provision of staff. Every Square Inch Belongs to Jesus.

Mitch Cavens, Head of Secondary

At the end of Week 2, our Year 7 students embarked on an exciting journey to Camp Kedron—a meaningful opportunity for them to begin their Secondary School years grounded in the truth that they are God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s rule. This camp, held early in the year, reflects our commitment to starting well, fostering relationships, and preparing our students to live as a community in God’s world. As they transition into Secondary School, it is our deep desire that they grow in character and be equipped to contribute to both our school community and the broader world beyond.

The camp was more than just outdoor activities and shared meals; it was an intentional time to reflect on who we are as individuals and as a community. Through team-building exercises, biblical teaching, and quiet moments of reflection, our students were encouraged to consider how they might do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God (Micah 6:8). These values, central to our school’s vision, are not simply ideas but practical truths we seek to embed in every aspect of life at Kuyper Christian School.

And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

One of the most encouraging aspects of Camp Kedron was witnessing our students take steps to develop genuine character. They were challenged to think beyond themselves, to listen well, and to serve one another. In a world that often prioritises self-interest, we are committed to cultivating a culture where humility and service are central. 

Our aim for every student who graduates from Kuyper is that they would be equipped to live lives marked by strength, wisdom, and humility. These qualities are not developed overnight; they are nurtured through intentional experiences like Camp Kedron, where students learn to see themselves as part of God’s greater story. Secondary School is a critical time for shaping both character and conviction, and we believe that establishing these foundations early is vital for students’ future success and service.

As we reflect on our time away together, we are reminded of the words of Colossians 3:23:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

This verse captures our hope for every student—that they would approach their studies, relationships, and service with a heart that seeks to honour God in all things. Camp Kedron was a tangible expression of this goal, and we are grateful for the staff who invested their time and energy to make it a success.

We invite you to continue partnering with us in prayer as our Year 7 students settle into Secondary School. May the lessons learned at camp continue to shape them, and may they grow in their understanding of what it means to be God’s person, in God’s place, under God’s rule. Together, let us encourage them to live lives that reflect the beauty and truth of the Gospel.

Cassie Dixon, Head of Teaching & Learning

The new school year at Kuyper has started well. New students have been welcomed and are now connected with their classmates. Routines are being established as students settle into new classes with new teachers. Books that were brand new two weeks ago now contain records of some of the learning that has already taken place in our classes.

Sometimes, it is easy to get caught in the excitement of the ‘new’; however, we must not lose sight of the things that continue to hold importance in our school community. Our values remain the same, even when faced with new opportunities and challenges. The narrative of the Gospel is central to Kuyper’s vision, and together, they influence the decisions our staff make about how to best teach our students. 

A learning community that prepares students to live restoratively for Jesus in a world where every square inch belongs to Him.

Kuyper Vision Statement

Kuyper does not exist to purely teach subjects; our school exists to teach people. We often say that if our students leave having learnt only the content, then we have failed. We seek to not only impart information, but also share how knowledge and skills can be used to glorify, honour and serve God. When our staff discuss the characteristics we hope our graduates will have, words such as ‘strength’, ‘wisdom’ and ‘humility’ are frequently mentioned.

In this context, ‘strength’ refers more to strength of spirit than physical strength. We long to see our students develop traits such as self-control, resilience and patience, and to stand strong in the knowledge of who God is and who He made them to be. 

The concept of wisdom is so much more than having all the right answers. Godly wisdom is essential in being able to discern good from evil, to understand God’s story as it unfolds in the world around us, and to understand how we might be co-workers with Christ as we seek to do Kingdom work. 

Some may be surprised to see ‘humility’ in this list of attributes, as it seems to be countercultural in our society. However, humility allows us to come to a place of repentance and accept the gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the Cross. Humility allows us to put the needs of others before our own, as we sacrifice for and serve others. Humility allows us to best show the love of God to others. 

Strength. Wisdom. Humility.

This year, we hope that you will be able to see your children grow in strength, wisdom and humility, as they continue to learn what it means to be God’s Person, in God’s Place, under God’s Rule, Doing Justice and Loving Mercy, Walking Humbly with God, and Equipped to Contribute.