Dr Paul Wood

Hello, colleagues, my name is Paul Wood, Executive Director, Educational Standards, and I'm joined by Kristie O'Neill, Director, Literacy and Numeracy, and we're so pleased to be here today to launch Literacy & Numeracy Week 2024. Literacy & Numeracy Week is all about celebrating and recognising the achievements of students and the work of teachers, parents, carers, and families who support young people to develop strong literacy and numeracy skills. We know that literacy and numeracy form the foundations that students need for deep learning across the curriculum and the development of skills essential to everyday life. They open doors to new opportunities and help us navigate the world with confidence. The explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy skills is an absolute priority for us and is at the core of Our Plan for Public Education. Literacy & Numeracy Week is a special time to recognise the incredible work that happens in classrooms across NSW every day.

Kristie O'Neill

This week, we have a series of exciting activities, planned to engage students, teachers, and the community, from daily challenges and games to resource spotlights, and special guests, there's something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. You'll find all the events, activities, and resources on our dedicated Literacy & Numeracy Week webpage within the Literacy and Numeracy Statewide Staffrooms and in the Literacy and Numeracy newsletter. We are looking forward to hearing about how you celebrate Literacy & Numeracy Week at your school. I encourage you to read, write, calculate, play your way through this week. Take the time to try a new activity with your class, talk to a colleague about their literacy and numeracy experiences. Engage with one of the Literacy & Numeracy Week videos as a team or share your ideas with the school community on how you can work in partnership to prioritise literacy and numeracy. Together, we can foster a culture that values, celebrates and champions literacy and numeracy achievement.