Prep Transition

What we can offer your child:

Experienced, enthusiastic and caring teachers who love children and believe that they can provide "Success for All"
A varied curriculum with excursions, special events and many other highlights during the year
Small class sizes
Literacy, Numeracy & Teaching & Learning as our main priorities across the school
Additional Assistance Programs such as Reading Recovery, Bridges
Extension Programs - Numeracy & English, Japanese, Art, and Music.
Computers in classrooms in addition to the Computer Centre
A comprehensive Physical Education Program which includes all sports, swimming and Water Safety Week
Before school and lunchtime activities such as dance, joggers club, choir, band and basketball
A library well-stocked with interesting books and resources
An excellent music program which includes lessons in our keyboard lab
Optional private music lessons in guitar, violin, saxophone, flute and drums
A year level team structure managed by a senior teacher which ensures team planning and evaluation to provide the very best educational opportunities for our children
A discipline and welfare program which includes the implementation of the ‘You Can Do It’ program and promotes catching children being good. Bullying is not tolerated at Overport.
A wonderful drama program which culminates in every child performing in our musical production at the Frankston Cultural Centre
A Science program which includes Enterprise education and an annual expo relating to a particular curriculum area
Full Canteen facilities every day (lunches are ordered in the morning and delivered to the classroom
Computer education for all grades
Teaching of Japanese to all grades
Extensive excursion and camping program
Perceptual Motor Program for preps
A Year 6 buddy allocated to all Prep students
A very successful Prep/Transition Program
Beautiful , spacious grounds which offer:
Areas for passive activities
Adventure playgrounds
Spacious grassed playing area
Oval, basketball & netball courts
Shady trees throughout
Picnic areas with tables & seats
CAMP Australia offers before and after school care.

Transition

The main aim of the Prep Transition program is to familiarise parents and children with the school, its surroundings and facilities. We want your child to feel at home at Overport right from day one.

To help facilitate this we offer the following separate occasions that we recommend you attend.

1. Parent Information Night
2. Transition afternoons
3. Orientation Day
4. Interview Days

Transition Times, Dates and Information for 2009/2010

"A Taste of Preps at Overport": Friday 22th May

Kinder groups will be invited for:
- Special events
- Computer experience
- Classroom activities
- Art experience

Whole School Transition Program: The children will meet their buddies for the following year and work in classrooms undertaking enjoyable and exciting activities each Friday afternoon at 2:30 to 3:30pm for 4 weeks commencing:
- 6th November (Parents are most welcome to stay for tea and coffee which will be provided in the staff room)
- 13th November
- 20th November
- 27th November

State Wide Transition morning: Dec 8th
- The children will spend the morning session in the Prep classrooms.
- A picnic lunch will be held at the end of the session. Parents are welcome to join us for lunch.

Information Evening for Enrolled Families: Wednesday 9th December
- Grades will be announced.

As well as school visits during the formal transition program, we also encourage parents to use the school grounds and outside facilities on weekends. Children will then feel comfortable and secure in their environment when they commence school.

Reminders for 2010

Preps will begin the year with an allocated individual half hour sesson with their teacher on Monday 1st February OR Tuesday 2nd February OR Wednesday 3rd February 2010. All Preps will attend on Thursday 4th February and Friday 5th February from 9:30pm until 1:15pm.

From Monday 8th February, all children will attend for 4 days per week for the first 3 weeks - 9:00am - 3:30pm.
Preps will not be required to attend school on Wednesday the 10th, 17th and 24th February.
The first full week of school (five days a week from 9:00 till 3:30) will begin on Monday 1st March.

Children will be placed randomly in groups for the transition period. Please note that this is not necessarily the class or teacher they will have for 2010. Classes and teachers will NOT be allocated until after the transition period. You will be notified by letter in December as to your child's class and teacher for 2010.

Prep Transition Program 2009/2010

THE PREP YEAR

When your child enters school for the first time he/she will have begun to make discoveries of and to inquire about the world "at large". He/she will be keen to seek new learning experiences, to encounter different learning environments and to socialise on a wider and differing scale.

We seek in the first weeks of school to make the transition from home (and kindergarten in most instances) as relaxing, secure and interesting as possible. Many activities, both familiar and new, are presented to the children to help foster a co-operative learning environment.

The Prep Year is the first in your child's formal education. Throughout these years we assist your child to extend his/her knowledge and to develop the processes of learning through an integrated curriculum.

Your own and our encouragement and interest in the child is of utmost importance. Most children during their Prep Year are keen to discuss their day's activities when they come home. However, do remember all children are individuals and some may take a little longer to express themselves - some even prefer to keep their experiences to themselves for a while.

Most of your children's development will occur during planned activity sessions, and whilst some of this is recorded individually, much is oral, or recorded in a variety of ways and shared by the class or group.

The children will be able to take home books daily from the grade and the library to share with parents and siblings. Take home library books is optional and should not be seen as an every day activity. They should be returned by your child at the appropriate time.

Home activities, family outings, etc. are all a part of your child's total learning environment. These will all assist, complement, extend and sometimes initiate your child's school experiences. The child, the parents, the teacher and the school work as a team!

In all, we hope to make the Prep year the first of many enjoyable, stimulating and productive years at school.

Beginning School

As the time gets close for your child to start school, there are a number of things which parents can do to help the child settle in easily. Here are some ideas:

* Walk with your child to school so that he or she knows the way. Even if you plan to drive him/her most days, it's a good idea for a child to know which way to walk home, in case there is any mix-up.
* Point out the different school buildings and playground areas.
Once school starts, make sure your child knows where to meet you.
If children are to feel secure, it is important that they are met on time.
* Practise with your child what he or she should say when asked for his or her name and address.
* Label any clothes your child may take off, and things like lunch boxes and school bags. Show your child the label and say something like 'See, I've put your name here in blue pencil'.
* Talk about how long the school day will be in a way that your child can understand. 'It's as long as kinder but you'll have your lunch after that, and perhaps then some stories and then I'll come and get you'.
* Talk about the difference between 'playtime' and 'lunchtime'. Show your child what food you have packed each morning and say when you expect it to be eaten. Make sure your child can easily open the lunch box and drink container. Sandwiches that are individually wrapped are easier to handle.
* Choose a school bag or case that is a suitable size for your child.
* If your child will be travelling on a school bus, see if you can arrange for him or her to meet the bus driver and make the trip before school starts.

Parent School Relationships

The first day of school can mark the beginning of a clear division between home and school for a child. On the other hand parents and the school can work together in the interest of the child.

You can help your child make this transition by :-

* visiting the school to ask about enrolment well before your child is due to start;
* asking whether there is an information booklet about the school;
* finding out how to contact teachers if you want to tell them something about your child or discuss his or her progress;
* asking how you may join in school affairs;
* asking about school hours for beginners, as they may not be the usual 9.00 am to 3.30 pm;
* asking if there are things that can be done at home to help the child's progress at school.
If you don't know what prep classes are like, try to arrange a visit to the school your child will be attending and take your child along. You could talk with the teachers about what they are teaching the children and the reasons for some of their methods.

Parents' Feelings

The emphasis so far has been on preparing a child for school, but parents have to be prepared too: prepared for the fact that they may miss the child greatly. No longer will they be the main source of wisdom in the child's life: the teacher will have some influence too.

Most parents accept this as part of a long-term process in helping the child move from total dependence to independence. They accept any mixed feelings about their child's independence and may even find that they have some time for new activities.

Age of Starting

Although in Victoria children may enter prep year as young as four years and nine months, they are not legally required to attend until they turn six. Parents may like to think about the age at which they would like their child to start school.

For any number of reasons, for example, slow development or illness, it may sometimes be in a child's best interest to start school at the older age. It is worth noting that early starting does not necessarily lead to greater academic achievement. It is the parents' right and responsibility to make - within the stated limits - the decision about the age of entry to school of their child.
If parents would like information or advice about their child's readiness for school, they could consult :-

* the child's pre-school teacher (who may refer the request to her pre-school adviser);
* the school to which the child would normally go. (The school may then refer to other consultants if this seems appropriate.)

How You Can Help Your Children

Before your children start school you can support their reading development by :-

* spending time with them - participating in, and discussing, many activities;
* providing opportunities for them to explore the world of home and community;
* reading and writing yourself so that they can see these are important and valued activities;
* reading stories to and with them;
* telling stories;
* taking them to the library to select books;
* providing materials that will allow them to explore early literacy, both reading and writing:
Books, books, books and more books!
Paper, crayons, pencils, and paints for drawing and writing.
Toys and games of a manipulative nature, including letters of the alphabet.