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Starting Kindergarten
This information is for parents/carers who
are considering enrolling their child in kindergarten at Manly
Village Public School. Further details and information can
be also obtained from our school office (02) 9977 3066.
Introduction
Starting school is an extremely important step for both you
and your child. But how do you know if your child is ready?
The Starting School page of the Department
of Education and Training website provides guidelines
to assist you in determining your child’s readiness for
school.
Once you have made this important decision, it is our goal
at Manly Village to ensure that your child feels happy and
safe from his or her very first day.
To achieve this goal, we have implemented an extensive information
and orientation programme, an ongoing buddy system, and a
welcoming approach to your child’s first day of school.
Information Days
Manly Village Public School conducts two information sessions
per year. One during the day and one in the evening. The day session comprises:
- a performance by the current kindergarten students.
- talks by the Principal, Kindergarten coordinator, teachers, parent representatives
and school captains.
- a tour of the school enabling
you to view the classrooms, library, hall, playground and
other facilities, and observe students performing their
daily activities.
- morning tea, giving you the opportunity to have informal
discussions with the Principal, some of the teachers and existing parents.
The evening session comprises:
- talks by the Principal, Kindergarten coordinator, teachers, parent representatives
and school captains.
- a tour of the school enabling
you to view the classrooms, library, hall, playground and
other facilities, and observe students performing their
daily activities.
- refreshments, giving you the opportunity to have informal
discussions with the Principal, some of the teachers and existing parents.
We believe our information sessions provide an excellent
opportunity to discover for yourselves the many opportunities
we will provide for your child. You will also gain a "feel"
for the wonderful community you and your child will be joining.
We encourage both you and your child to attend.
Orientation
Program
We offer an extensive Orientation
Program at our school to make your child’s transition
from home/preschool as easy as possible.
Once you have enrolled your child, he/she will be sent an
invitation to attend our Orientation Day. The day begins with
a welcome concert performed by current kindergarten students.
Your child will then be escorted to a kindergarten classroom
to participate in some classroom activities, while you are
given further practical information such as uniform requirements,
information on the various parent committees, bus travel etc.
At the end of the classroom activity, your child will be
presented with a fun take-home pack and will join you in the
playground (weather permitting) for morning tea.
Later in the year your child is invited and encouraged to
participate in our Transition Visits. For a two hour
period each morning, your child will join their future classmates
in some kindergarten activities in the classroom. This has
been a very successful and appreciated initiative as children
have the opportunity to become familiar with their future
classmates, the type of activities they will be doing when
they start school and the layout of the school and its amenities.
This will lead to your child feeling happy, safe and secure
in his or her new environment, and ready to start school.
While your child is in the classroom during the transition visits, we set up stands in the playground, such as an office stand, a canteen stand and a uniform stand so that you can find out more information about our fantastic school.
Buddy System
The Buddy System is another initiative which has been embraced
by our school community over recent years.
On Orientation Day, your child will be introduced to his
or her "Buddy". The buddy will be a child from one
of the older primary classes (usually years 5 or 6), whose
role is to be a friend and look after him or her in the playground,
once he or she starts school. Please note that if your child
has been unable to attend Orientation Day, he or she will
be assigned a buddy on the first day of school.
This system provides dual benefits:
- Older children learn leadership and mentoring skills and
have the opportunity to nurture their younger buddy.
- Kindergarten children will have a familiar face, someone
to look after him or she when you are not around, someone
to take him or her to the canteen, and someone to play with
during those first few weeks until he or she begins to establish
his or her own group of friends.
First Day of School
You will receive information about what happens on the first day of school well prior to the first day so that you and your child can feel comfortable at school from the very first day.
The following practices have been introduced to make your
child’s first day at Manly Village Public School as stress
free as possible:
- Several student and parent helpers will be there to assist
you with any queries and guide you and your child to the
appropriate areas.
- Your child’s buddy, which he or she has already met
on Orientation Day, will be there to meet your child and
join him/her for morning tea and lunch.
- You are invited to stay for "Tea and Tissues"
and meet other new and existing parents, and the Principal.
How Do I Enrol?
Please contact the school office on (02) 977 3066 to arrange
for an enrolment form to be forwarded to your address.
Once you have completed the enrolment form, return it to the
school, together with a copy of your child’s birth certificate
and up to date immunisation records.
Please note that lodging your enrolment form at the school
early will ensure your child receives an invitation to the
Orientation Day and Orientation Visits.
Page
updated:
7/07/08
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