Welcome to Speers Point Public School

1. Welcome to Speers Point Public School Kindergarten Orientation

2. How do I know if my child is ready for school? • Discuss this with the preschool. • Is your child the right age? • Can your child communicate with other adults and children? • Does your child ask questions, wanting to learn? • Can your child dress him/herself?

3. How can I help prepare my child? • Develop routines at home eg bed times • Read together regularly (especially dads) • Play family games to develop turn taking and sharing • Talk positively about school • Help them to visualise themselves at school • Help them to feel positive and self confident • Practise using lunch boxes, caring for belongings

4. Helping my child cont. • Learn to recognise and write their name • Visit the school and be involved in transition program • Have immunisation certificate up-to-date

5. Peer Support at Speers Point Public School • Year 5 participates in a leadership program so that they will be sensitive and reliable “buddies”. • Buddies meet children during transition. • Buddies greet children on their first day. • Buddies support Kinders intensely for first few weeks. • Kinders thank buddies with a morning tea.

6. Transition to Kinder Program What to expect in Kinder ….. • Stories • Make a boy/girl with a school uniform • Play games • Recite favourite rhymes

7. Transition to Kinder Program Classroom involvement and build on friendships • Story • Make a happy mask • Sing songs • Play games

8. Transition to Kinder Program Look at school routines and classroom expectations • Review last visit • Story about lunch and discussion • Prepare an order for canteen • Visit the canteen and place an order • Play a game • Learn a speech rhyme

9. Transition to Kinder Program Student participation in school activities • Story about the playground • Discuss rules for playground • Sing songs • Play games • Play on playground equipment • Collect recess orders from canteen (from last visit) • Stay for recess

10. Transition to Kinder Program Meet Buddies • Sing song for Year 5 • Meet buddies • Buddies read a story • Buddies talk about favourite food, toys etc • Tour of school with buddies • Games and songs • Take home an information sheet about their special friend/buddy for next year

11. Parent Orientation Program • Meet the Principal • Meet members of P&C • Find out about Canteen and Uniforms • Getting organised for the first 3 weeks of Kindergarten

12. What will children do on the first day? • Unpack their bags • Be greeted by their buddies and settle into a class activity eg reading, drawing, playing • Farewell anxious – but well assured parents. Parents are invited to morning tea in the staffroom. • Children will go on a school tour and meet the staff • Become familiar with recess and lunch procedures (with help from buddies) • Listen to stories, play games, sing songs

13. What will children learn at school? In PE children will: • develop fitness and coordination • learn new skills • participate in enjoyable and active programs

14. What will children learn at school? At morning circle children will learn to: • listen carefully • take turns • speak confidently to classmates • speak confidently about a chosen subject • learn how to be a happy member of the class • Find out what happens “today”

15. What will children learn at school? In English children will: • learn letter sounds • recognise words • begin reading simple books • complete simple homework • practise writing and drawing

16. What will children learn at school? In Maths children will • learn through playing maths games • use maths booklets • read books incorporating maths concepts • write numerals and count

17. What will children learn at school? In CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) • Lots of songs and dances for regular assembly performances • Painting • Drawing • Making lots of special things eg presents for mum/dad, puppets • Special assemblies for parents to attend