St Mary’s engages students and parents in a thorough Kinder to Prep Transition.
This begins with the Principal and Parish Priest meeting all the families individually. Prep Teachers visit all feeder Kinders, observing students in their current learning environment and create profiles on new prep students from information shared by the Kinder teacher. Wherever possible and practical children are grouped with familiar children from their kinder. Children attend 3 sessions where they experience school life with their peers and teachers in their new school environment.
Children with additional needs are contacted by the Learning Diversity Leader and an appointment is made to add details to the child’s profile. This may include Medical History, ongoing specialist support or simple things such as a child’s interests and motivators. If necessary extra transition times are organised for individuals to come along to school with their parents to ensure that every child is thoroughly ready, comfortable and happy to begin their journey at St Mary’s.
Buddy Program
Our Buddy Program involves the senior students being paired with the Prep students.
Planned activities between the classes are held so that the students involved become friends and are there to support each other. This provides a ‘buddy’ for the younger student and gives the older student the opportunity to develop leadership skills and responsibility.