Starting at Laburnum Primary School

http://www.laburnumps.vic.edu.au

 

 

 

Laburnum P.S. is a child safe school and all staff, visitors and volunteers are expected to play an important role in ensuring a child safe environment. The school’s child safety practices, including the child safety Code of Conduct, can be found on the school website under Our School/Planning and Policies, or by contacting our office. All visitors, including parents who are here after 9:15 am or before 3:15 pm (except for assembly) are required to report to the office and follow any COVIDSafe practices in place, including using QR Codes. Volunteers are required to have a current Working with Children Check and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

 

 

Welcome

 

Laburnum Primary School offers a caring and supportive environment and a comprehensive educational program, evidenced by an excellent reputation within the local community and beyond.

Every Prep student is special, so we aim to help your child settle into our school community and build those skills, attitudes and values they will need to fully participate in school and beyond. We endeavour to develop each child’s talents and mastery of all educational areas, to enable them to reach their full potential.

Whilst we are very proud of our reputation for high academic achievement, our programs are designed to cater for the individual needs of all students. Significant emphasis is placed on the traditional learning areas of Mathematics and English. We also focus on developing the whole child and many opportunities are available for all our students to shine in a range of areas, including the performing and visual arts, sports, language and leadership. Next year it is anticipated that we will have an enrolment of approximately 710 children in Prep to Year 6.  Excellent programs will be provided in all learning areas of the Victorian Curriculum, with specialist programs planned in Visual Arts, Library, Music, Physical Education, Literacy Intervention and Languages (Spanish).

Our students enjoy outstanding facilities; all air-conditioned classrooms with wireless technology, a stadium sized hall, a modern community centre, a contemporary resource centre, a heritage listed performing arts centre, a school-funded STEM centre (The Lab) and large playing grounds sited next to Blacks Walk in Blackburn.

 

Laburnum both enjoys and appreciates a high level of community satisfaction and support, with parental involvement and participation being encouraged across all aspects of the school program.

 

Please feel free to communicate with the school at any time to discuss any areas of concern or interest. We value open communication between parents and teaching staff as the foundation of home-school partnerships that support the best possible education for each individual child. At the beginning of the year, our newsletter will detail who to contact if you have specific questions or concerns.

 

This booklet gives you information that will assist in making your child’s transition to school easier and more enjoyable,  specifically for families of Prep students. As well, Laburnum's A - Z of Useful Information is designed for any new family, with comprehensive details about school organisation. A list of all staff is published in the first newsletter in February.

 

We sincerely hope that your association with Laburnum Primary School is a happy and rewarding one for your family.

 

Dr Kim Dray

Principal  

 

    

 

Prep 2022

 

                           

 

 

Contents

 

Dates To Remember  - Orientation Program and Starting School 2022

Preparing Your Child For School

What Your Child Will Need

On The First Day

Prep Parents Communication and Involvement

 

 

Important Dates and Times to Remember

 

 

Transition and Orientation Program 2021 - 2022

 

Your child is invited to participate in a total of five orientation sessions. These will be online sessions due to current Metropolitan Melbourne restrictions. Access arrangements for children and parents may change and we will update you as needed.

Term 4, 2021
Thursday 11 November 6.30pm – 7.30pm in the Staff Community Centre - TBC	2022 Prep Information Evening (for parents) More information will be on the school website
Session 1:  October 14 Online via Webex  Session 2:  October 28 Online via Webex    Session 3: November 11 Online via Webex     Session 4: November 25  Online via Webex	PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF TIME Webex information will be sent to parents via email  Your child will be allocated to either Group 1- 4 or Group 5 - 8 at the following times Group 1 - 4 12.05 - 12.25 pm Group 5 - 8 12.30 - 12.50 pm
Tuesday 7 December TBC Onsite 9:30- 12:30	Prep Orientation Day for enrolled 2022 students. Meet the teacher.

 

 

 

 

Term Dates for Preps in 2022

(for other years, please see our online Term Dates and Student-free Days page)

 

	Starting Date	Ending Date
Term 1	Tuesday 1 February or Thursday 3 February	Friday 8 April at 2:30 pm
Term 2	Tuesday 26 April	Friday 24 June at 2:30 pm
Term 3	Monday 11 July	Friday 16 September at 2:30 pm
Term 4	Monday 3 October	Tuesday 20 December at 1:30 pm

 

 

February 2022

 

Week 1 of school for Preps:

Tuesday 1 February or Thursday 3 February	Prep students attend school either Tuesday or Thursday from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Parents will receive a letter in December informing you of your child’s class and which day they are to start school. From 1:30 pm onwards on these days, a parent-teacher meeting can be scheduled with the class teacher. Teachers will walk the Preps to the dismissal areas at 12:30 pm. Please wait for your child in this area.
Wednesdays in February	Children will not attend school on Wednesdays during February. On these Wednesdays, teachers schedule individual Entry Assessments** with every Prep student (which are undertaken by every Victorian government school) and LPS phonological screening.
Friday 4 February	Students attend from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. Teachers will walk the Preps to the dismissal areas at 3:30 pm. Please wait for your child in this area.

 

**Your child will meet with their class teacher for an Entry Assessment. 

 

From Monday 28 February, children attend school Monday to Friday from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm.

We ask that you remember to please leave prams and strollers outside the building.

 

 

Bell Times

 

8.50am	Students can access classrooms and get ready for the day
9.00am	School Commences
9.00-10.00am	Session 1
10.00-11.00am	Session 2
11.00-11.45am	Lunchtime break
11.45-12.00pm	Lunch (Eating time in classrooms, supervised by teachers)
12.00pm-1.00pm	Session 3
1.00-2.00pm	Session 4
2.00pm-2.30pm	Afternoon Recess
2.30-3.30pm	Session 5
3.30pm	School Dismissal
3.45pm	OSHClub bell

 

On the last day of Terms 1, 2 and 3 school dismissal is at 2:30 pm.                   

On the last day of Term 4 school dismissal is at 1:30 pm.

 

 

Preparing Your Child for School

 

“The beginning of something is always very important.

Especially when it’s young and needs time to grow.”  (Plato)

 

These words attributed to Plato, the famous philosopher and educator; remind us that infancy and childhood is a precious and unique time in the lifespan.  The words challenge us to remember that childhood is the beginning phase of life, and that time is needed to nurture, guide and support children as they grow.  Childhood is a time for exploring, finding out and learning about yourself and the world.  It is a time where sometimes children push the boundaries a little too far or test the limits.  It is a time when we give permission to children to not have to be perfect.  Often it is a time for trial and error, and hopefully along the way, a time of enjoyment and happiness.  Hopefully, it is also a time with many opportunities for children to build a positive sense of well-being and acquire skills and abilities to work, play and live alongside others productively. (Kathy Walker- What’s The Hurry?)

 

As the time gets closer for your child to begin school, there are a number of things you can do to help your child make the transition from kinder to school easier. Remember, school is quite different from kinder or pre-school.

 

Here are some suggestions:

• Come and visit the school so that they know where it is in relation to home. In the holidays, bring a picnic and have it in the school grounds. Have a play on the Prep equipment and point out the buildings and play areas. Practise using the drinking taps.
• Work out how your child will get to school - perhaps initially with you or maybe with another adult or older child. Have a few ‘practice’ runs.
• Make sure your child knows where he/she will meet you after school. At Laburnum, the teachers will bring students out to the designated dismissal area.
• Make sure your child is accustomed to spending time away from you. Sudden separation can be alarming if they are unused to you leaving them and returning to pick them up.
• Actively encourage your child’s independence by allowing them to carry their own schoolbag from Day 1.
• Make sure ALL clothing and possessions are CLEARLY NAMED with your child’s full name, (e.g. John Smith or J. Smith) and ensure that your child can recognise their name.
• It is important that your child can independently put their belongings in their own bag. 

It would be helpful if your child could:

• know their name, address and telephone number
• manage their clothing and footwear without help, including being able to tie up shoe laces
• go to the toilet and wash and dry hands (ensure boys know how to use a urinal)
• put on and take off their art smock
• open, close and pack their school bag

Make lunch manageable so that your child is able to:

• eat their lunch from a lunch box
• open and close their lunch box
• unwrap food (although we encourage ‘nude food’ please)
• unscrew a drink bottle lid

Many of these are small things, but the ability to manage them helps students feel independent and ensure a more comfortable start to their school life.

 

Resilience

Some strategies that help build resilience include:

• Resist offering to draw things for your children when they ask or say, “I can’t draw this”.  Encourage your child to have a go themselves by saying “it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t look exactly the same”.
• If your child says they can’t do something, try asking questions such as “How else might we try?” “What else could we do?” “What might work?”
• Doing something with rather than for your child develops a child’s self-belief in their ability to achieve more complex tasks. You can say to them “Let’s do it together” or “You start and I will help a bit”.
• Provide your child with opportunities to practise skills, such as going to local parks, climbing, running etc.
• Using reflective listening strategies (“How did that make you feel?”) can help your child acknowledge their emotions and explore some options to solve any problems.

Mostly importantly, your child needs to see that you expect school to be a happy place.  If there is no unnatural fuss, your child will accept school as a matter of course.

 

 

What Your Child Will Need

               

Each child will require essential Items for classroom use. Parents will receive information regarding the purchase of a starter pack, including required materials such as pencils, workbooks, glue etc. The school organises these. Please write your child’s name on the front of the workbooks only and return on the first day of school.

 

Please ensure that you have paid for your starter pack at the office so that a box can be delivered to your child.

 

In addition, the following items will need to be provided. They should be brought to school on the first day and are available to be purchased through the school or uniform supplier.

1. An Art Smock - made of hard wearing material and clearly named.
2. A SunSmart hat - covering face, neck and ears & clearly named (wearing of these hats is School Policy from mid-August to end of April.)
3. A Library Bag - A waterproof bag large enough to hold big books (approx. 35cms wide by 43cms long.)

 

 

On the First Day  

Tuesday 1 February or Thursday 3 February 2022

 

At Laburnum, we make every effort to ensure that your child’s transition to school is as smooth as possible.

On their first day, the Prep children will be welcomed into school at 9:30 am for a half day that will finish at 12:30 pm. The allocated day will be included in the class information pack you will receive in December. Parents are asked to leave the classroom when they have made sure that their child has a nametag and has settled into an activity. On this day, you will also have a 15 minute “get to know you” afternoon meeting with your child’s teacher.

 

From their second day, all children should be in their classroom and ready for learning by 9:00 am.

 

During Term 1, the Prep teachers will walk the children to the designated dismissal area where parents may collect their children. No child will be dismissed at this time unless personally collected. If your child is attending After School Care or being picked up by someone other than you, please inform the class teacher.

 

If for some reason you are held up, please phone the school so your child’s teacher can be informed, as Prep children can become concerned if a parent is not there at pick-up time.

            

 

Adjusting to School

                               

Starting school can be an exhausting experience for small children.  The school environment is often much busier than home and more complex than pre-school.  You can assist your child to adapt to these changes by implementing the following suggestions.

• Ensuring that regular and suitable sleeping hours are observed. Having a quiet time on return home from school may also be beneficial.
• Encouraging your child to talk freely about the events of each day. It is important however not to force the issue if your child does not wish to speak about school.
• After the first day, bring your child into the class when the 8:50 bell sounds. Let them unpack their own bag, say goodbye to your child promptly and actually leave. (Parents are requested not to come into the school corridors at dismissal times)
• If your child has older brothers and sisters at school, encourage the older siblings to allow the Prep child to play with other Prep children. This will enable your Prep child to establish friendship patterns with their own peer group.
• For Term 1, consider reducing the activities your child does after school and on weekends.
• Although Out of School Hours Care will be necessary for some families, try to limit this in the first few weeks due to the very long day it creates for children.

It is also quite common for children to experience disagreements with other children as they learn to mix with a large group of children of various dispositions. Whilst it can be distressing to hear that your child has quarrelled with one of their peers, please be reassured that these quarrels are usually short-lived and soon forgotten. The school has a detailed student wellbeing plan and teachers follow up incidents of this nature.  However, if you are concerned or the issue is ongoing, please speak to your child’s teacher.

 

It is also important to note that sometimes children initially appear to have adjusted well and later become unsettled. This is a normal part of the transition process and is usually a phase that passes.

 

 

Prep Parents Communication and Involvement

 

Regular communication from Laburnum is provided to ensure that parents are kept up to date and involved with upcoming events in the school community.

 

     1. Communication

• Fortnightly LPS eNews - link is emailed to all parents/carers
• Regularly check the school’s website laburnumps.vic.edu.au (which also hosts the LPS eNews archive)
• Parents are strongly encouraged to sign up to the Sentral Parent Portal for essential messaging and contact with teachers via Sentral mailboxes, as well as accessing Student Reports
• Parent-teacher meetings in Terms 1 and 3
• Mid-year written report (end of Term 2)
• December written report (end of Term 4)

If you wish to speak with the class teacher please organise an appointment, as teachers are unable to have interviews with you at the door at 8:50 am when they are supervising their class, or after school on our meeting days. Either email the teacher via Sentral, or call or email our office to arrange this laburnum.ps@education.vic.gov.au

 

2. Education

• Early Term One - Parent Information Evening.
  This evening will involve an overview of the curriculum and classroom procedures.

• Parent Helpers Workshops - A program for parents wishing to volunteer in the classroom. These are mandatory courses if you wish to help in the classroom and are advertised in our newsletter.

3. Involvement 

Wider School Community

• School Council
• Parents Group
• Fundraising Events – advertised in the newsletter
• Working Bees

Class Level

• Coffee mornings
• Informal get-togethers organised by Class Parent Representatives on a regular basis
• Parent Helpers for class activities including:

- Assisting on excursions

- Special activity days at school e.g. Grandparents Day.

- Literacy and numeracy tasks in class

 

Please note: Parent Helpers are asked to sign in at the office at the beginning of their session. Helpers will also need a current Working with Children Check (see A – Z section for information) and must have completed the Parent Helpers Workshops if they are assisting in class. Full vaccination against COVID-19 is also required for anyone working in the school, including volunteers.

 

The Five Year Old at School

• Is not usually communicative about school life.
• Is more interested in the teacher’s immediate recognition than taking things home for parent’s approval.
• Enjoys routine and adjusts well to activity programs which allow freedom of movement and yet maintain sequence of separate activities.
• Usually completes a task, although attention may wander to watch another child.
• Will finish a task when asked by the teacher and help put material away before moving to the next activity.
• Rest - often resisted if imposed.
• Enjoys stories with repetitive action and phrases, particularly when dramatising after reading.
• Likes to identify letters, words and numbers.
• Works in short bursts of energy - varies his/her postural positions.
• Demands the teacher’s attention NOW.
• Given alternatives he/she makes a conforming choice - but can be influenced to change.
• Is “good” because he/she likes to please.

[taken from Gesell’s book - The Child From 5-10]

 

Success is not just academic, although a child becoming literate and numerate is very important.  Success is about developing a positive sense of self, of being able to take on new tasks, communicate with others, express needs and work and socialise effectively.   - Kathy Walker “What’s The Hurry?”