Starting school is a significant event in the lives of children and their families. Strong relationships and information sharing between families, early childhood settings and schools help support a child's successful transition to school.
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Staff at The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School understand that a child’s first year at school is an important one. The school works closely with families, local pre-schools and child care centres to ensure a smooth transition to school.
An information session for parents of children attending Kindergarten in 2018 was held at school at the end of Term 3. The session provided parents with a basic overview of school organisation, daily routines in kindergarten, the curriculum and programs offered at TSHPMPS, the Best Start Literacy and Numeracy assessment and ideas to assist their children in transitioning to school.
Parents had the opportunity to meet with members of the school community including the P&C, the canteen and uniform shop coordinator. If any parents were unable to attend the session but would like find out about the opportunities available at the school an addition information session will be held on Thursday, November 19 in the school library. After the final information session parents will have the opportunity to visit the Kindergarten classrooms and enjoy the learning experiences with students.
The school is offering five transition sessions for students during Term 4, held each Thursday in Goudy Hall. The first session was held on October 12, with students participating in a range of classroom activities prepared by the Kindergarten teachers with a focus on literacy, numeracy, creative and practical arts and science and technology.
The October 19 had a numeracy focus, reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears and sorting bears in order from smallest to largest. Year 6 leaders helped with counting games that will be used during number sessions next year. Morning tea was enjoyed outside undercover and then the children got to play on the equipment.
If your child is starting Kindergarten in 2018 you're invited to Session 3 which will take place on Thursday, October 26.
During the sessions the students will have the opportunity to visit the school library, shop at the canteen and experience life as a student at ‘Big School’. If parents have not received an invitation or confirmed their child’s attendance they can contact the office.
Best start
The Best Start Literacy and Numeracy assessment is scheduled for the beginning of Term 1 each year before students begin Kindergarten. It helps teachers identify the knowledge and skills that each child brings to school as they enter Kindergarten and is a great opportunity for children to meet some of the teachers at the school.
The NSW Department of Education parent website School A to Z has information about how to make the right decision for your child. Reading this information may help you to decide if your child is ready for school.
When to start your child at school is an individual decision. You may also want to discuss this with the school or with your child’s pre-school teacher, carer or doctor.
Parents can do a lot to help prepare their child for Kindergarten before their big 'first day'. It is important to know that everyone develops at a different pace so this is only a guide and not all children will have these skills.
At home parents are encouraged to spend time with your child:
- answering and asking simple questions about school. Make school a positive place to be.
- helping your child to follows simple instructions
- using books for enjoyment or for looking at pictures
- identifying pictures in books and magazines
- using a variety of things (pens, pencils, textas, paintbrushes, sticks in the dirt) to draw, to scribble or to write
- joining in singing familiar songs
- recognising that numbers can be used to count
- encouraging them to use the toilet independently
- finishing a task and tidies up afterwards
- playing cooperatively with other children – shares and takes turns
- encouraging them to sit still to listen to a story for a few minutes
- sharing an adult's attention with several other children
- participating in imaginative play
- using scissors to cut along a straight line
- enjoying a variety of indoor and outdoor play
- putting on and taking off jumpers, shoes and socks independently
- packing their school bag
- eating from a lunch box
The list is endless but not a requirement by any means. Your child will engage in many opportunities to develop these skills once they start school.