ttss by Wendy Owen

Time to start school Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Welcome to school

Time to start school

What you will find inside Home and school

A smooth start

A new website for parents

Ready for school checklist

NSW Foundation Style writing guide 13 Countdown to school calendar

Life at school

Healthy days

Useful websites

Welcome to school package organiser

www.myschoolkids.com.au

A Special Place You will have received a children’s picture book called A Special Place. This is a ‘welcome to school’ gift for your child. You can read and enjoy it together.

My school kids organiser You will also have received a folder which contains an organiser and useful information to help you manage school life. You can get more information at: www.myschoolkids.com.au

Preparing at home

Education Tax Refund

There are a number of things to plan and organise before school starts. Budgeting for new costs Schools usually provide most things Kindergarten students will use in the classroom, but starting school requires new costs such uniforms and school shoes, so it may be helpful to budget for these items.

If you receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A you may be entitled to claim a tax refund of up to 50 per cent off eligible expenses for your child’s education, for items such as stationery, computers, printers, internet and educational software, so keep your receipts! www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au

Uniforms Your child’s school will tell you about the school uniform items and where to buy them. There is usually a summer, a winter and a sports uniform. The school can tell you which shops supply the uniform or the material to make it. To keep costs down, many schools run a clothing pool where uniform items are donated after children have outgrown them. Financial contributions

Home and school Starting school is an exciting time for children, but it may be a little scary for them too. To ease your mind we’ve put together this booklet. It gives you practical advice, ideas for getting organised and things you can do with your child so you can get off to a great start.

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Schools will ask you for a voluntary contribution to enhance educational and sporting programs. You may be asked to pay for excursions to enhance your child’s classroom learning. Financial assistance If you are having any difficulty with the costs of schooling, you can make an appointment with the principal to discuss your situation. The Student Assistance Scheme can help eligible families.

If you haven’t already enrolled your child, please go to the school to enrol and if your child has any special needs or allergies write this on the enrolment form. Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Travel to and from school

Keeping children safe and happy

Additional care

Your child may be eligible for the School Student Transport Scheme. This provides subsidised travel on trains, buses, ferries and long distance coach services. In areas where there is no public transport, a subsidy is also available for transport to and from school in private vehicles.

Your school will tell you when the school grounds are supervised, procedures for pickups and other ways they ensure children are looked after at all times.

Public schools provide other support staff where these are needed.

Phone: 1800 227 774 or (02) 9891 8900 www.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts Out of school hours care Services that care for children out of school hours and vacation care are often run from schools or near schools. Your school can give you information about these services in your area. Child Care Benefit helps eligible families with the cost of child care for out of school hours care and vacation care. Phone: Centrelink 13 6150 www.familyassist.gov.au

Your child’s belongings

Teachers Teachers in NSW public schools are university trained and professional. They are sensitive to the needs of young children and will be there to help and guide them. Your child’s teacher will let you know the best way to keep in touch with them and find out about your child’s progress. Keep your child’s teacher informed of any changes in your child’s life that may impact on their work or enjoyment of school. School counsellors School counsellors are experienced teachers who are also qualified psychologists with post-graduate qualifications in school counselling. They can help students who are having difficulties at school or home. They can also help families to access services outside of school if needed. You usually need to make an appointment with the school counsellor by phoning the school.

You can: • use a permanent laundry marker to label clothes, hats and shoes, or sew or iron on personalised labels • go through your child’s bag with them each night • check that labels haven’t faded with washing • if something doesn’t come home, ask at the office where your school’s lost property area is.

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Anti-bullying environment All public schools actively prevent bullying by having programs such as peer support that encourage appropriate behaviour and build self-esteem and respect for others. Schools also have plans in place to deal with bullying or harassment and school staff are trained to deal with these situations. You can get a copy of your school’s anti-bullying plan from the school office.

These positions include: • support teachers for students with learning difficulties • English as a second language teachers • community information and liaison officers • home-school liaison officers • Aboriginal community liason officers. Gifted and talented Gifted and talented children have above average potential in one or more areas of intellectual, creative, social or physical ability. Opportunities exist in all NSW public schools for gifted and talented children. Please contact your school to talk with the principal about the programs offered. www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw. gov.au/policies/gats Students with special needs If your child has a disability or any special needs, please inform the principal at least mid-year prior to starting school. The Department of Education provides a range of specialist services to support students with a disability. Students with significant learning difficulties, mild intellectual disabilities and language disorders are supported through the Learning Assistance Program in their school. www.schools.nsw.edu.au/studentsupport

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Activities to try with your child before starting school Below are some suggested activities to do with your child before starting school to make school a little easier for them. Language skills • sing songs together

• give simple instructions to follow, e.g. how to pack their school bag

• help them to hold scissors and cut and paste pictures

• identify pictures in books, magazines, on television or the internet

• encourage play with building blocks and puzzles

• have your child ask and answer questions

• let them play at the park

• encourage your child to join in conversations with a range of people

• play hopping and skipping games • encourage your child to move and dance to music

• write numbers and letters • encourage your child to use a capital letter to start their name e.g. Max • encourage your child to trace, copy and/or write their name Mathematics skills • encourage your child to talk about numbers using words such as many, a lot, more, less • help them to find things in a group that are different, or the same, such as shapes or colours • talk about opposites • involve your child in everyday counting activities such as setting the table

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

• help them to learn to say their full name and phone number

Physical skills

• practise drawing, scribbling or writing with pencils, crayons, paintbrushes on paper or with sticks in sand

• encourage them to tidy up after playing

• have fun with rhymes and jokes

Writing skills

Your child is not expected to be able to read or write before starting school, however, if you spend some time with your child reading and doing other fun activities before they start school, they will be off to a great start. The main thing is that your child feels confident about starting school.

• organise times for your child to play with other children so that they can learn to share and take turns

• make them aware of rules and the reasons for having them.

• read books together

A smooth start

Personal/social skills

Keep playing Play is one of the most important needs children have and play is still vital for children once they start Kindergarten. Children play because it is fun, but as they play they are actually learning. When children play they are using their bodies and their imagination, learning to communicate and cooperate, manage their feelings and understand how things work. They also gain confidence from trying new skills and improving them. Children need time after each school day to relax and play.

The countdown to school calendar on pages 14 and 15 lists activities you might like to do with your child as they count down the days to starting school.

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

You are welcome at school

A new website for parents

Children love to see their parents and carers at their school, whether helping out in the classroom, canteen or being involved in other ways. Research shows that students perform better at school when their parents or carers take an active interest in their school work. Your contribution to the school is needed and valued.

Jump online this January for practical help with everything from preparing for Kindergarten to surviving the HSC – and everything in between.

Ways you might get involved: • help in the classroom • listen to children read

You’ll find homework helpers, fact sheets, videos, articles and podcasts to help you support your child at school.

• help children on computers • help with school excursions • prepare food and serve children at the canteen

www.myschoolkids.com.au

• coach a sporting team. Join a committee • The Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C) at each school is involved in making decisions about the school and how it spends the funds it raises. If you can’t get involved in the P&C meetings you can get involved in the things they organise for the school, such as social events and fundraising. • School Councils consist of parents, teachers, the principal and representatives from the local community. They play an important role in making sure that the whole school community is involved in decisions made about the school.

• NSW Aboriginal Education and Consultative Groups (AECG) ensure communities have input into Aboriginal education and related issues at the local level. • Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of NSW seeks improvement in educational opportunities for children living in remote and rural areas.

english maths

science

technology

homework friendships

You can visit, phone or email the school to discuss any matter that concerns you. If needed, telephone interpreters can be provided by calling 131 450.

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

10 Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten 11

paint shirt (an old T-shirt will do) library bag

water bottle raincoat

lunch box (get your child to choose one they can open)

back pack (may be available from the school)

school shoes and running shoes (try velcro straps if they can’t tie laces)

hat (usually part of school uniform)

school uniform (summer, winter, sports, socks)

Some things you might need to buy

Practise walking or travelling to school.

Organise out of school hours care.

Pick up your child on time.

Take photos!

Apply sunscreen and take a hat.

Tie back long hair or plait hair.

Let your child dress themselves as much as possible.

Be confident about the first day with your child.

The first day

Pack a spare pair of underpants, socks and a change of clothes in a plastic bag. Let your child know these are in their back pack in case they have any toilet accidents at school.

Help your child to pack their school bag.

Make your child’s recess and lunch and pop it in the fridge.

Lay out your child’s clothes, shoes and socks.

The night before the first day

If you have a son, make sure he knows how to use a urinal.

Make sure you have the school’s phone number.

Write your child’s name on everything!

Get organised at home

Open the countdown to school calendar on page 14. You might like to spend some time each day with your child doing the tasks written on the calendar.

January

2011

Fill in a travel pass application if this applies to you (see page 4).

If your child has an allergy, medical condition, takes medication or has any special needs, inform the school as early as possible and make an appointment to see the principal.

When immunisations are due, ask to have your child’s hearing and eyesight checked.

Attend school orientation or transition to school program.

2010

Tick each item when it has been done (not all tasks will apply to you).

Ready for school checklist

2011 Term dates for NSW public schools The school year consists of four terms. Kindergarten students usually start a day after older students. Kindergarten students may start at different times so that the teacher can spend time with each child. Your school will let you know.

Term 1

Check with your school for the starting date

Term 1 ends Friday, 8th April

Term 2

Students return to school Thursday, 28th April

Term 2 ends Friday, 1st July

Term 3

Students return to school Tuesday, 19th July

Term 3 ends Friday, 23rd September

Term 4

Students return to school Monday, 10th October

Term 4 ends Friday, 16th December*

*School finishing dates may vary.

TIPS The school will let you know when you may need to pack items for activities such as sport, art or library. Children are often very tired in the first few weeks of school. Your child needs lots of sleep. Give your child a healthy breakfast to get them through the day. Make sure your child and teacher know who will pick them up each day.

Check your child’s bag each night for school notes and lunch leftovers. Try to establish regular morning routines. Start a home reading routine. Talk to the teacher about helping in the classroom, if you can.

NSW Foundation Style writing guide

a b c g h i j n o p q u v w

e k l r s x y

A B C D G H I J K N O P Q R U V W X

E L S Y

f m t z F M T Z

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Chat to your child about their day at school. Allow your child time to play and relax.

Once they start school, it is very important that your child still has time to relax, play outside and do things that they enjoy. 12 Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

January 2011 countdown to school calendar MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Spend some time each day doing some of these activities with your child 3

Arrange for your child to play with a friend. Talk with your child about friends.

Go to your local library and let your child choose books to borrow.

Let your child cut out pictures and stick them on paper.

Encourage your child to practise writing alphabet letters.

Written by Lynn Garlick Illustrated by Prerna Bhaskar Written Illustrated by Lynn by Prerna

Garlick Bhaskar

A Special

Place

Read the book A Special Place together.

Read A Special Place together.

SUNDAY

Your child can colour each square to count down the days until the start of school.

5 Wednesday

SATURDAY

Go to the park. Take a ball to throw, catch and kick together.

Go for a walk to the school if you live close by. Practise crossing roads safely.

Write your child’s name on all their school things. Involve your child in organising them and recognising their name.

Organise a picnic. Pack a lunch box, encourage your child to open it and eat the food by themselves.

Let your child practise putting on school shoes and walking in them.

Let your child cut and paste pictures from a magazine.

Take your child to the park to play with a friend if possible. Let them drink from a bubbler.

Go for a walk with your child, talk about the things you see.

Let your child practise putting on school shoes and walking in them.

Read A Special Place together.

Australia Day public holiday

Encourage your child to dress in school uniform and you can play ‘schools’ together.

Teachers return to school today.

Ask your child to draw a picture. Write the date on the picture and display it.

14 Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

31 Older children return to school today.

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment

Keep routines

Children enter Kindergarten with different skills and experiences. The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment is a tool to help teachers find out each child’s skills and strengths. Teachers will sit with your child early in the school year to assess your child’s early literacy and early numeracy skills so that they can develop an appropriate teaching program catered for your child.

Kindergarten children can get very tired at night because they are doing so many new and exciting things. For this reason it helps if you keep routines like bath time, meals and reading routines as regular as possible. A good sleep each night and leaving time for your child to play are important.

Saying goodbye At first, you might like to stay for a while until your child feels secure at school. When your child has settled into school, a short and reassuring goodbye encourages independence. Tell your child that you are leaving and who will pick them up at the end of the day. Picking up children at the end of the day

Life at school Kindergarten classrooms are happy, exciting and bright places. Children might complete puzzles with friends on the floor, play in a cubby house, listen to their teacher read a book or sit at a desk to write and draw. They will sing and learn about science, numbers, shapes and patterns. They will work on computers and do many other activities.

16 Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Getting to and from school safely Please remember to cross at the school crossing holding your child’s hand. Streets around schools are very busy in the mornings and afternoons. Please do not stop or park your car on or near any pedestrian crossing and observe all safety and no stopping signs. New child restraint laws now apply for school-aged children, so please go to this website for more information: www.rta.nsw.gov.au

When school finishes each day, your child’s class will gather at a regular place. Your child’s teacher will wait with the children. Make sure your child and their teacher know who will be collecting them each afternoon. Children can get upset if you or someone else picking them up comes late. Check with their teacher about the best time to arrive in the afternoon and where to stand.

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Eating at school Eating at school will be a different experience for your child compared to eating at home or at preschool. There are no places to keep food hot or cold. Children often sit on the grass or on benches and balance their food on their knees. They will also need to be able to open everything that their food is wrapped in and they won’t want to spend so much time eating that they miss out on playing.

Recess and lunch ideas • Cut fruit into pieces (squeeze a little lemon on apples or pears to stop them going brown) and put them in a small container. • Cut up vegetables such as carrots, celery and cucumber and put them in a snap-lock plastic bag. In a separate container put dips or yoghurt to dip vegetables in. • Make wholemeal muffins and freeze them. • Cut an orange into slices and store in a container.

Tips to help your child • Pack food that is easy to open, easy to eat and not messy. • Write their name on their lunch box, water bottle and any other containers. • Include a frozen drink bottle to keep food cold. Wrap it in a tea towel in case it leaks. • Use insulated lunch boxes or cooler bags. • Avoid using plastic wrap because children find it hard to pull apart, paper bags are better for the environment too. • Pack tissues or paper around fruit so it won’t bruise.

Healthy days

• Remind your child to wash their hands before eating and use the toilet at recess and lunch.

Your child needs healthy food for energy and concentration at school. A healthy breakfast will sustain them through the morning and then they need a range of healthy foods for recess and lunch to get them through the school day.

• Pack a water bottle for your child each day and remind them that they can also get water from the taps or bubblers throughout the day.

• Try different breads, such as rolls, pita, wholegrain or tortilla wraps. • If using tomato, slice thinly and place between other fillings to stop the sandwich going soggy. • Cook a little extra dinner and save some for lunch the next day. Quiche, homemade pizza slices, salmon patties, roast vegetables, noodle salads or sausages could be used. A freezer brick or frozen drink can keep this food fresh.

Allergies Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction to foods such as nuts or shellfish or insect bites. If your child suffers from any food allergies it is important that you inform the school principal and canteen. If a child at your school suffers from anaphylaxis, all children may be asked not to bring those foods to school to prevent other children being put at serious health risk. www.allergyfacts.org.au

18 Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

Useful websites NSW Department of Education and Training

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment

Phone: (02) 9561 8000 www.det.nsw.edu.au

beststart

NSW public schools

www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/

Gifted and talented education www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/

www.schools.nsw.edu.au

policies/gats/

My school kids

Allergies

www.myschoolkids.com.au

Teaching and Learning exchange (TALe) Information on learning and helpful resources for schoolwork www.tale.edu.au

www.allergyfacts.org.au

NSW sport and recreation www.dsr.nsw.gov.au

Translated school information

Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations NSW (P&C)

www.det.nsw.edu.au/languagesupport

www.pandc.org.au

Interpreter service: Phone: 131 450

Aboriginal Education Consultative Group

Board of Studies

www.aecg.nsw.edu.au

www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/parents

Education tax refund

My School

www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au

www.myschool.edu.au

Child Care Benefit

Student transport

www.familyassist.gov.au

www.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts Phone: 1800 227 774 or (02) 9891 8900

Help and support

Parenting advice

Kids Help Line

www.raisingchildren.net.au

A free and confidential telephone and online

School lunch ideas and healthy eating www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au www.foodsafety.asn.au

counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds Phone: 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au

Lifeline

Anti-bullying and safety online

24-hour counselling

www.det.nsw.edu.au/antibullying

Phone: 13 11 14

www.bullyingnoway.com.au

Men’s Help line

www.cybersmart.gov.au

24-hour help line for men

www.cyberbullyingforum.org

Phone: 1300 789 978

20 Time to start school – Family guide to preparing for Kindergarten

If you have difficulty understanding this document or would like further information please ring the Telephone Interpreter Service on 131 450 and ask them to telephone the school. CHINESE

VIETNAMESE

SPANISH Si tiene dificultad en comprender este documento o si desea más información, llame al Servicio Telefónico de Intérpretes (Telephone Interpreter Service / TIS) al 131 450 y pídales que llamen a la escuela.

Find information translated into many languages at: www.det.nsw.edu.au/languagesupport/index.htm