Future preppies under the hands of Gleneagle State School are welcome to join the school’s ‘Get Set for Prep’ transition program that will help support kids transitioning into Prep next year.
Every Wednesday from October 23 until November 27, various activities have been organised for future students to familiarise themselves with the school grounds.
The weeks will include a visit to the Prep classroom, games with Chappy Tish Harris, Mununjali storytelling and art, Quota readings and a final celebration with a teddy bears picnic.
Families are encouraged to attend multiple sessions to truly get a feel for the school.
Principal Jennifer Fenwick is excited to give the kids an opportunity to settle into school routines early by providing a strong foundation to their first year of schooling.
“Get set for prep is about being ready for prep – having that positive connection and early preparation to support success,” she said.
“We’re entrusted with people’s children, so it’s a big responsibility to do that, and when children come in next year, there’s that familiar face, they’ve seen the building before, and the parents have met.”
After their first transition day on October 23, a group of 11 kids and their parents enjoyed a lovely tour around the school, led by Inclusion Teacher Safron Brettell.
“We’ve done a bit of gross motor skills today. It was nice to see, and it was all about social skills as well,” Safron said.
“They were really great – they were meeting friends and socialising really well.”
The kids were filled with curiosity as they wandered through the grounds, stopping at anything that caught their attention – including the school’s latest instalments of strawberry gardens.
Safron ended the morning with free play in the playground where kids could choose between climbing, the sandpit, painting, or the whole lot!
“Since Jennifer has been here, she’s extended on having more transition days because there are studies showing that they are important,” Safron said.
“The more time that they have to be in this environment [helps] to prepare and familiarise themselves and reduce that anxiety.”
The kids on the day enjoyed getting to know their future school and are looking forward to starting Prep next year.
