Transitions

Transitions are times when children move between and adapt to different spaces or places and with different people, experiences, expectations and routines. The term encompasses regular transitions across a day and those that occur at significant times in children’s lives such as starting in an education and care service or starting full-time school. 

Children may experience a range of transitions including: 

• moving from one grade or room to another 
• going from inside to outside time, or from play-based experiences to a routine activity or group time. 
• starting full-time school 
• participating in before and after school programs when at full-time school 
• starting High School

Not many adults experience the range of transitions some children deal with regularly. While adults can find transitions challenging, we sometimes have unreasonable expectations of how well children will cope with the changes they are experiencing. On the other hand, we can be sensitive to the impact of transitions for some children and take simple steps to support them in managing change.

Kindergarten Transition
Starting school is an exciting and important milestone in any child and family’s life. We would like all our newest students and families to feel welcome at St Mary’s and feel a sense of familiarity and ease with their learning environment and their new teachers and peers, as they step into their classroom on Day 1 of Kindergarten.

You are your child’s first and most important teacher. Your child comes to school with knowledge, skills and strengths which they have developed with your guidance. As they take this next step into school, you will continue to nurture their growth and love of learning.

It has been wonderful to meet all the 2022 Kindergarten students over the past two weeks as they attended their orientation days. We look forward to welcoming these children to St Mary’s next year and pray that their time with us is a rich and rewarding experience.

Below are some resources which we hope families find useful in helping their child transition into “Big school”.

• The NSW Department of Education offers practical, tips and helpful resources for parents to help your child thrive in this transition. 
• This downloadable 'Transition to Kindergarten' document from Kids Matter - an Australian government mental health and well-being initiative for early education and primary school children - has tips on the different skill sets and other things to think about with your child starting school.
• The Australian Government’s Learning Potential website and app provides useful resources for parents of pre-school children (and ongoing!), to support your child's learning at home. Find resources such as 'Is your child ready for big school?'; 'Play is the way to learn all day'; and 'Reading to your child'.
• This article also offers some expert tips and steps parents and carers can take to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible, particularly around preparing your child with important school-ready social and self-care skills.
• Some valuable advice and links for parents/carers about getting their children ready for 'big school' from Little J and Big Cuz - the first animated kids show to feature Indigenous Australians and their culture.

High School Transition
The move from Primary School to Secondary School is also a big milestone in the life of students too. While this can be an exciting time for young people and their parents, it can also be a bit daunting.The more informed and involved you are in your child’s preparation, the more likely the transition will be positive. From day one your child will experience many changes, each of which brings questions and new things to do:

• More subjects
• More homework
• More challenging school work
• The responsibility to get to classes in different rooms on time
• The need to manage themselves, their learning and equipment
• Using lockers and carrying books between classes
• Adapting to different teaching styles

With the help of family and school staff, students usually adapt quickly to their new environment. Our K-12 Pathway High school, Carroll College, works with us to help make this transition easier.

This week Mrs Jacqui Heffernan and four student leaders from Carroll College met virtually and spoke with our Year 6 students about what life in High school looks like. They provided information about the programs offered at Carroll College, what would happen at the Year 7 Orientation day and then answered many questions our students had about High School.

Today many of our Year 6 students are attending their Year 7 orientation day at Carroll College. We are sure they will enjoy their day meeting their new teachers and peers, learning their way around the College and enjoy getting to experience some of their new subjects. 

Below are some resources which we hope families find useful in helping their child transition into High school:

Raising Children

Reach Out Schools - Transition to Secondary School

Celebrate International Day of People with Disability

International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations observed day celebrated on 3 December each year to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. This year's UN theme is: Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. By acknowledging this important day, we can take action to remove barriers for the 4.4 million Australians with disability and contribute to positive change in our classrooms and our community. IDPwD is an opportunity for us to share and listen to the stories and experiences of people with disability to increase our awareness and understanding. We encourage all students, their families and carers to join the conversation about the issues experienced by people with disability to help grow inclusion. Together, we can work to see all abilities and create an inclusive Australia. Together, we can actively remove barriers for people with disability and encourage them to reach their full potential all year round. 

Check out the IDPwD website for more information

God bless and take care.