WELCOME TO THE FOUNDATION INFORMATION SESSION WELCOME Official

WELCOME TO THE FOUNDATION INFORMATION SESSION

WELCOME Official welcome by School Captains Chloe Taylor Billy Hordern School Captain

INTRODUCTIONS Acting Principal: Mr Christian Smith Assistant Principal: Mr Stuart Mc. Coombe Learning Specialist: Mr Michael Georgiadis Learning Specialist: Ms Dylan Garnham-Rea Foundation Depart. Leader: Ms Alison Baeck Office Manager: Mrs Judy Smith Outside Hours School Care: Their. Care

PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME Bellbrae Primary School is committed to providing the best possible learning opportunities for students. We believe every child is unique and every child has the right to reach their full potential in a safe and supportive learning environment. We value the expertise, passion and dedication of the teachers and support staff at Bellbrae Primary School. We are dedicated to guiding and supporting all staff so that they will provide high quality learning experiences for students. We look forward to working with you in providing your child with a fulfilling, exciting and rewarding program

SCHOOL VISION A community of critical thinkers and innovative learners. SCHOOL VALUES Aspire Responsibility Respect Resilience

Warm Up Getting to know other families With the other families on you table, discuss the following: - What is your child excited by coming to school? - What is your child anxious about coming to school? - What are you, as a parent, looking forward to your child engaging at school? - What are you, as a parent, anxious about your child coming to?

OVERVIEW OF SESSION q. Developing a Home-School Partnership q. Foundation at Bellbrae Primary School q. Preparing for School q. Establishing Routines q. The first day and week – strategies q. Attendance q. Getting Involved q. A typical school day for your child q. Curriculum q. Homework q. Family – Teacher Communication q. Key Dates

DEVELOPING THE HOME-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP Partnership = the cooperation and collaboration of people working together with a common purpose Feel safe Valued Listened to

FOUNDATION The first year of school is vital in setting the foundation to developing Life-Long Learning habits. • • • Resilience Bucket Filling Academic Development Social Development Emotional Development • • • Learning to: be in a big group co-operate, share, take turns, belong, form friendships explore through play and other activities experience the senses and the environment feel safe, content away from primary care-giver understand routines and responsibilities understand the basics of reading, writing and numbers follow instructions communicate with others complete tasks

FOUNDATION CLASSROOMS q 60 -66 students q 3 classes q 20 -22 students per class q Classrooms will continue in the main building q Foundation teachers will be confirmed by the final transition session on Tuesday December, 10 th.

TYPICAL FOUNDATION DAY 8. 45 am Classroom doors open 8. 55 am – 9. 00 am Warning music 9. 00 am – 11. 00 am Learning Session 1 - Reading - Writing - Speaking and Listening 11. 00 am – 11. 10 am Snack Eating (Supervised) (Substantial Snack or Mini Lunch) 11. 10 am – 11. 40 am Recess Play (Supervised) 11. 40 am – 1. 40 pm Learning Session 2 - Maths 1. 40 pm – 1. 50 pm Lunch Eating (Supervised) 1. 50 pm – 2. 30 pm Lunch Play (Supervised) 2. 30 pm – 3. 30 pm Learning Session 3 - Inquiry and Specialist Subjects 3. 30 pm Dismissal - We encourage parents to wait outside the classroom - After school care students are collected

CURRICULUM The Specialist Program includes: • Visual Art • Indonesian • Performing Arts (Music, Dance and Drama) • STEM • Each week the students will also visit the Library

UNIFORMS • School Uniform Policy • School Colours are Red and Green • Coastal Uniforms and Torquay School Stuff stock all uniform items • Coastal Uniforms are here today to purchase or order • Pre-loved uniform items available from school ($2 per item) • Sun. Smart Policy – A Bellbrae Primary School Sun. Smart hat is to be worn for all outside activities during term 1 and term 4

BUDDY PROGRAM • Your Foundation child will be paired with a Yr 6 student as part of the Buddy program • The Buddy program is a support to our Foundation students and a leadership program for our Yr 6 students • A Buddy is an older friend and mentor who will help, guide and show our Foundation students • Our Buddy’s take their leadership role very seriously. Foundation students will meet their buddy later in the year.

WELLBEING • Our Wellbeing and Welfare programs are based on the School Wide Positive Behaviour Framework and includes the Respectful Relationships initiative. • A welfare officer is also employed at the school to assist students. This support is offered through a variety of programs, including 1: 1 sessions and small group sessions.

PREPARING FOR SCHOOL LIFE - TRANSITION Transition Session 1 2019 Prep Information Session School Readiness Session Thursday, 24 th October 9. 30 am – 10. 30 am Immersion Session Thursday, 24 th October 9. 30 am – 10. 30 am A session for Foundation families to learn about our school and the Foundation program. Tuesday, 13 th November Timetabled sessions for all 2020 Foundation students involving a 1 hour language and fine motor screening. You should have received your allocate time this morning. Wednesday, 20 th November Transition Session 2 Transition Session 3 9. 30 am – 10. 30 am Immersion Session Tuesday, 10 th December 9. 30 am – 1. 00 pm Orientation Day for all kinder children attending Bellbrae Primary School in 2020 to meet their new teacher and classmates. This is the designated orientation day across most Victorian Primary & Secondary schools. BBQ for Foundation Families – Tuesday, 10 th December

Preparing for School Involve your child by: • labelling all their school uniforms together • buying their school bag in advance, so that they can practise packing and unpacking their lunch box (knowing snack and lunch) • a practice school day, where they can have lunch from their lunch box, play ball games, and sit and draw • some days with friends when your child can get used to being separated from you • Visit 20 Challenge: Visit Bellbrae Primary School as many times as you can

Preparing for School Teach them to: • take shoes on and off – please consider Velcro • put on and take off their outer clothing - jumper, shoes and socks • flush the toilet and wash their hands by themselves • put things away after finishing an activity

Establishing a Routine Before school starts: Get up and dressed during week days Choose and try out the lunch box Let your child practise undressing and dressing for the toilet Have things ready the night before – ask the child what they may need for school *reader satchel, diary, library book, drink bottle and lunch box (fruit snack).

The first day and week! Help your child put their bag away and put their name tag on Feel free to take photos Remind your child of your picking up arrangements Smile, give a quick hug, goodbye and leave

Strategies to help parents and children starting school Firstly, we all need to be understand that separation anxiety is completely normal upon starting school or entering a new phase or transition in a young person’s life. Mild anxiety can arise when a situation becomes ‘unpredictable’ or ‘unfamiliar’. As Foundation teachers, we see this quite often and we have successful techniques we offer to parents that do work in the first year of school. Make conversation light and fun on the way to school. Confirm pick up arrangements. At school, keep your tone light and breezy. If your child is upset, make a physical handover to a Foundation teacher. The Foundation teacher will initiate your goodbye, so you can leave quickly. These techniques are successful when there is a partnership between the teachers and the parents.

Helpful Hints Expect a period of ‘settling in to school’ Prepare for early bedtimes Provide a good breakfast Make school mornings positive Listen to any concerns your child may have about school but do not dwell on them or exacerbate the concern Aim to make Wednesdays a rest day Arrange play dates to network with other parents Arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher if you have concerns Use the holidays to prepare - visit playground

ATTENDANCE 0 -10 This is within the normal range. The child can take advantage of the teaching and learning opportunities available to them. 11 - 20 This attendance rate is below average. A child with this attendance rate could miss over one year of schooling between Foundation and Year 10. 21 - 40 This is a poor attendance rate. A child with this attendance rate could miss up to two years of schooling between Prep and Year 10. To miss two years of school between Prep and Year 10 places significant risk on any student. It goes without saying that regular absenteeism from school won’t do your child any favours. Allowing your child to skip days simply because they “don’t feel like going to school” should not be an option. TARDINESS Bellbrae Primary School provides support and strategies for families to assist maintaining regular school attendance. We encourage any family to contact us or their child’s teacher to discuss their child’s attendance at school.

GETTING INVOLVED PARTNERSHIP q. Parent helpers – classrooms, excursions q. Parents and Carers q. School Council q. Sub Committees

Home Support Home Reading Looks Like: q q q Reading to and with your child Chatting before, during and after the book Teachable moments Fun! Home Reading Diary Other ways to support your child: q q q Pencil grip Modelling correct articulation Everyday Maths & basic skills Reading Eggs Mathletics Magic Words

Family – Teacher Communication q Informal discussions q Parent – Teacher Conferences (make appointment) q Compass q Reader Diary q Diary: - expectation that each students diary is at school every day - Families are expected to check their child’s diary every day - The diary is the best form of communication with your child’s teacher q School Email account

PICK UP AND DROP OFF • Waiting outside of classrooms till bell • Parking is limited!!!!! Plan ahead • Bus travel – please ensure you consult your child’s teacher prior to your child travelling on the bus to and from school

q. School Materials: -purchased by school through Curriculum Levy -2019 = $171 Curriculum Levey includes: workbooks, stationery, classroom requisites, specialist materials (Art, Performing Arts and Indonesian), and Online Subscriptions (Reading Eggs) q. Student placement for 2020 q. Snack and food for school - snack: substantial, nutritional, Nude Food - lunch: substantial, nutritional, Nude Food - no sharing of food policy - allergies: inform office ASAP

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE • Their Care • 7. 00 am – 9. 00 am • 3. 30 pm – 6. 00 pm • Coordinator: TBA - Activities - Food - Levies

CONFIDENTIAL FOUNDATION INFORMATION FORM. • Please return this form to the office ASAP if you have not already.

FINAL TRANSITION SESSION • The final transition session for the foundation students is 9. 30 am – 1. 00 pm Tuesday December 10 th. The BBQ will be held from 12. 30 onwards with students and their buddies. The students will be ready to be picked up at 1 pm.

KEY DATES First Day for Foundation students in 2020 Thursday, 30 th January 2020 Term Dates Term 1 March Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Thursday 3 Oth January – Friday 27 th Monday, 14 th April – Friday, 26 th June Monday, 13 h July – Friday, 18 th September Monday, 5 th October – Friday, 18 th December Please note: Foundation students will not attend school on Wednesday’s for the first term. Parents will sign their child up for 1: 1 Maths and English sessions throughout the Wednesday’s during term 1. • Please see weekly newsletter for further dates

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE Feel free to ask any further questions