Student2Student Program

Reading support

A number of Secondary School students took part in The Smith Family’s 2025 Student2Student program, supporting younger students with their reading.

The program pairs secondary students with a younger reader to read together online two to three times per week over 18 weeks. Through this commitment, our students helped build not only reading skills but also confidence and self-esteem.

 Students Lachlan D, Hugo F-A, Nicholas M, Jed R and Joey W were acknowledged at Secondary School assembly for their dedication and contribution.

The impact of the program is significant, not only for the younger students, but also for our boys as these testimonials show.

Nicholas (Year 12):

” The Smith Family Student 2 Student reading program gave me the chance to support a younger student with their literacy each week, and it quickly became one of the most rewarding parts of my routine. Over time, I could see real growth. At first, my student hesitated over simple words and lacked confidence. A few months later, they were reading aloud more smoothly and even correcting themselves. Showing up each week, even when it felt busy, made a difference. Literacy shapes opportunity, and being part of a program that directly supports that felt purposeful.”

 Lachlan (Year 10):

 “The biggest thing I learned from my time reading with my student was being patient and giving the student time to figure out the answer for themselves, which made their confidence grow a lot. This program connected a lot with the work we did in Year 9, learning about the challenges many people in our own communities face, and made me reflect a lot on how privileged we are to have all the opportunities we are offered.”

 Joey (Year 10):

“My involvement with The Smith Family has been, in simple terms, wonderful. Participating in it has changed my outlook on educational facilities quite a bit, simply by having a view from the teacher’s side of things. I recommend every student to participate in this program, as not only does it help with education, but it also directly helps the community with your effort to teach reading.”

Lindsey McCormac
Head of Service Learning