The Wellbeing Page 

Transitioning to a New School Year

Our students have settled into 2024 magnificently. We welcome many new students who have moved to SMPS from other schools and our Prep students, for whom school is a very different experience altogether! 

It can take a little while for some students to settle into a new school year, or an entirely new school. The following suggestions may help you to support your child to settle comfortably and confidently into school:

• Talk positively and confidently about starting and attending school. Focus on the good things about their day. Try to show your child that you are excited for them to go to school - often children match our energy and will pick up on our hesitation 
• Say goodbye confidently – saying a quick, confident goodbye may help them to feel secure and reassured that you trust that they will be okay at school. Remember our children often mirror us, so appearing confident, happy and excited for your child to attend school will help them settle in 
• Walk away as soon as you have said your quick goodbye - we understand that this can be difficult to do for parents! Try to avoid hesitation or going back for one last hug if your children find morning separation difficult - this can make it more challenging for them to walk away from you. 
• Trust the staff - our school is full of kind, caring and experienced staff who will look after your child all day. Saying goodbye with a smile at the gates can show that you have trust in the teachers, and encourage your children to have trust in them too.
• Label your child’s belongings - At school, children are responsible for their belongings and labels can help them with this. Labelling everything, including clothing, can help reduce anxiety for children, school staff and yourself. Having labels can prevent losing items, so they can concentrate on their learning and friendships rather than finding their uniform. It will also help your children feel included, especially at recess while hats are mandatory in unshaded areas
• Communicate with your child – Read the Parent Calendar, and take time to tell your child what might be happening at school that week. Ask your child about their day. This is a great way to build confidence, and to find out how they are feeling as they settle in. If you have any concerns talk with your child’s teacher, who will provide further insight to their day.
• Avoid overloading your child – when children begin school, they tire easily. It may be worth considering fewer extracurricular activities such as swimming, music or dance lessons, until they adjust to their new routine.

For Prep parents, you can find more information about supporting the start of school here: https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/other-resources/factsheets/transition-to-school