Starting School

at

Brookvale Public School

An Outstanding Education for Your Child

Starting school represents a big change for children. Anything you can do now

will help to make your child’s entry to school a happy and enjoyable

experience. Over the next few weeks try to get your child:

Putting on and taking off socks and shoes (tying shoelaces, buckling and

unbuckling shoes). Wearing shoes in.

Dressing themselves, and in particular putting on and removing jumpers,

rain coats and paint shirts. If your child will be wearing a jacket

practise zipping and unzipping.

Using a handkerchief or tissue (how to blow their nose).

Recognising the difference between morning tea and lunch.

Feeling happy without you for several hours.

Using toilet paper without help and flushing the toilet.

Washing hands after going to the toilet and before eating.

Knowing their full name and address.

Opening and closing their school bag, lunch box and drink bottle.

Independently completing tasks of which they are capable eg putting

their own morning tea and lunch boxes in their bags.

Recognising their name among other names and if possible, writing it.

Playing with other children, encourage turn taking and fair play.

Listening carefully/waiting patiently when adults are speaking.

Following clear, simple instructions.

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL

Your child will have many experiences and learn lots of new skills in their first

year at school. Children do many different things during the day which may be

called “play” but which are an important part of their learning.

Mathematics

Weighing and measuring, recognising and comparing shapes and sizes, grouping

and labelling, pattern and problem solving. Counting, recognising and writing

numbers 1 – 30 and beyond.

English—Speaking & Listening, Reading & Viewing, Writing & Representing

Your child will be encouraged to listen, talk, read and write. Many art, craft

and music activities prepare children for reading and writing. They help

children to control their hand and eye movements and to look and listen

carefully. Other language work includes listening to stories, acting out stories

and telling and writing stories for the teacher. Children also participate in

talking and listening activities. Parents should encourage children to continue

to speak their first language at home. If children can speak their first

language well, it makes it much easier for them to learn English.

Human Society and its Environment

Children talk about themselves, their families, people and places around the

world, different environments and go on excursions.

Science and Technology

The use of technology to design, make and create. Some of the topics they

may cover include: animals, day and night, weather, seasons, growing and

changing.

Creative Arts— art, drama and music

Drawing and making patterns, painting with fingers and brushes, making

models, water play, singing, dancing, listening to and making music, creative

expression through drama and movement.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

WHAT CHILDREN DO IN KINDERGARTEN

Remember to be cheerful and confident. When you are confident,

your child will pick up on this feeling and feel confident too.

Everything is alright if you say it is alright!

Arrive on time so that your child is not rushed and has plenty of

time to put their own bag and lunch away and be part of the routines

that will be part of each day.

Label everything that belongs to your child.

A schoolbag (of suitable size) with the child’s name on the inside and

perhaps a familiar sticker on the outside so that your child will be

able to recognise it quickly among the other bags. It should be a

good size to fit their lunch box, drink bottle, jumper and work they

will bring home from school.

A lunch box labelled with your child’s name. Fruit break, Morning

Tea and Lunch may be packed separately for easy access. A drink

bottle with your child’s name on it. NO glass bottles please. NO soft

drinks.

Please do not give your child money to bring to school in the first

few weeks unless it is included in a lunch order.

A hat (clearly marked with your child’s name) to wear outside.

A raincoat and a jumper both clearly

marked with your child’s name.

A separate set of underpants and socks in a

plastic bag.

A handkerchief or tissues in their pocket.

THINGS TO DO ON AND BRING ON THE FIRST DAY

ARRIVAL

On the first day, please bring your child to school at the correct time.

(9.00am) After your child goes to the classroom, say goodbye and tell

your child that you will be waiting outside the room when school is over.

If your child is upset or hesitant to leave you, try not to worry. Tears

are often for the parent’s benefit and stop as soon as he/she is out of

sight. It is easier to calm the child if you are not there. Tears usually

stop after five to ten minutes after you leave. Please encourage your

child to unpack their own recess and lunch boxes putting them into the

appropriate crates and hang up their own bag. They then know what to

look for and where to look later in the day.

BUDDIES

Each child will be paired with a Stage 3 buddy on the first day. Our

Stage 3 buddies eat with the Kindergarten children at recess and lunch

for most of first term and help out if their Kinder buddy needs a

reassuring hand in the playground or in class. During the year the

buddies enjoy a number of class and playground activities together.

CRUNCH ‘N SIP (FRUIT BREAK)

Each day, at approximately 10 a.m., the children are encouraged to eat a

small piece of fruit or vegetable and drink water in the classroom. This

strategy assists physical and mental performance and concentration in

the classroom. This gives kids a chance to refuel, a bit like putting

petrol in a car. This initiative is active in primary schools across

Australia.

RECESS (MORNING TEA)

The children have a short break from 11:00 am

to 11:25 am each day. During this time they eat

their ‘little lunch” with their buddies, have a

drink; go to the toilet and then play. Children

usually have a small piece of fruit, cheese or

yoghurt. If you wrap it separately from Big

Lunch, please place it in a named container.

Please label it with your child’s name clearly

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

LUNCH

At Brookvale, the lunchtime schedule is reversed and children play first.

Stage 3 buddies will collect the Kindergarten students from the classroom

at 1 p.m. They will then take the children up to the play area and stay with

them. At eating time, Kindergarten students will eat together with their

buddies.

HOME TIME

All students are dismissed at 3 p.m. It is necessary that you collect your

child promptly in the afternoon. Children become anxious if they are kept

waiting. An adult or an older brother or sister must pick up your child.

Children are not allowed to go home by themselves. There will be a ‘sign

out’ sheet for the first few weeks at home time. If your child is attending

After School Care, the staff will come to the Kindergarten classrooms to

collect the children for first term.

On the first morning the Kindergarten teacher should be informed about

the afternoon arrangements concerning your child, for example: if they will

be going to after school care and on what days,. If arrangements are to be

changed eg a different person picking up your child, different after school

care arrangement, please always tell the teacher.

NUT ALLERGIES

To ensure the health and safety of all of

our students, we strongly discourage

children from bringing any nut products to

school. Please keep this in mind when preparing

school lunches and refrain from including

any of the following products: peanut

butter, Nutella, muesli bars, Snickers, pesto,

nuts of any kind.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Literacy - Reading and Writing

There are many activities that you can do at home for your child that

are not expensive.

Magazine activities—cutting and pasting:

Finding pictures starting with a particular sound

Using scissors to cut letters out and paste onto paper

Make words with the letters from magazines

Find pictures of a certain colour and group them together

Message making activities (’writing’):

Using chalk to write and draw on blackboard or concrete

Using whiteboard markers and a whiteboard

Using texta or coloured pencils to write

Colouring pictures in colouring books

Drawing a picture story using texta and pencils

eg after you

have read a

story they draw

WHAT CAN I DO FOR MY CHILD AT HOME?

Games with cards:

Pick up pairs

Pick me up a ‘3’ or ’a’ etc – specific number or letter/sound

What is the beginning sound in ’dog’ (picture flashcard)?

Play Snap, Fish, Memory

Reading Stories:

Talk to your child about the book before they start

Look at the front and back cover, the illustrations, the author

Ask them what they think the story will be about

Read the story

Talk about the illustrations, the story, ask questions about the

story

Ask your child to tell you what happened in the story to see if they

can give you a sequenced account of it

Mathematics

There are a number of activities that you can do everyday to help your

child learn about Mathematics.

Numeracy:

Biscuits in a packet

Cutlery on the table

WHAT CAN I DO FOR MY CHILD AT HOME?

Space:

Talk about 2D & 3D shapes—names and features

Look for shapes in buildings, toys, books etc

Experiment with shapes – which shapes roll, which shapes stack

Talk about directions and position eg

through, on, under, beside

Cut out shapes with paper

Make shapes with play dough

Measurement:

Cooking

In the bathtub

Sandpit

Temperature – eg cold, hot, hot-

ter

Time:

Days of the week

WHAT CAN I DO FOR MY CHILD AT HOME?

Brookvale Public School is a small community-centred school in the heart

of Brookvale.

The school is continually evaluating its programs and teaching practices

in its pursuit of excellent education outcomes, particularly in literacy

and numeracy. We are sensitive to the uniqueness of children at all

stages of their development. We strive to give all children the

opportunity to achieve their potential in a secure and caring

environment. We are committed to providing quality education for all and

to equipping children with the necessary skills to succeed in our rapidly

changing world.

The school's philosophy is actively demonstrated by a dedicated, caring

staff and an involved and supportive school community.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress at any

time throughout the school year, please contact your child’s teacher

initially.

In the first few days of school all Kindergarten children will complete

the Best Start Assessment. Towards the end of Term 1 each parent will

receive a summary of the test results. You can request an interview with

your Kindergarten teacher after these results are received if you wish.

A Kindergarten information evening will be held early in Term 1 for

parents to hear a variety of information regarding the curriculum,

classroom routines, learning expectations and school events. This is also

an opportunity for parents to get to know one another and discover ways

in which they too can participate in their child’s Kindergarten life at

Brookvale.

Progress reports are sent home at the end of semester 1 and 2.

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

We are looking forward to seeing you on:

Date: Thursday, 30th January 2014

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Where to meet: at the Kindergarten COLA

Pick up time: 3.00 p.m.

Teachers

will be at school

from Tuesday,

28th January to answer

any queries

you may have.

Please feel free

to contact

us via the

school office.