Curriculum Development at HPS
By Tracy Thornton (Assistant Principal)
Highton Primary School: A Smooth Transition for All Students
Highton Primary School is committed to providing comprehensive support for students as they navigate their educational journey. Our transition programs are designed to ensure a seamless move between grade levels and from early childhood to primary school.
Kindergarten to Foundation
To ease the transition from kindergarten to Foundation, we offer a range of initiatives. These include kindergarten visits, a four-day orientation program, and a parent and carer information session. Our Year 5 buddy program further assists new students in settling into their school environment.
Through-School Transitions
To support students as they progress through the school, we implement a comprehensive transition program. This includes:
- Step-up lunches: Students explore different classrooms with their current class, fostering familiarity.
- Transition sessions: These sessions are designed to support students as they prepare for the next stage of their schooling. These sessions provide opportunities for students to spend time in the next grade level, meet future classmates, and engage in collaborative learning activities. During the term, students will spend an hour in a classroom at the next year level. For example, Foundation students visit a Grade 1 classroom, Grade 2 students join a 3/4 class, and Grade 4 students spend time in a 5/6 class. These sessions are informal and focus on open-ended, collaborative learning experiences. In early Term 4, students may also be placed in class groups for transition purposes; however, please note that these are not final groupings for the following year.
The final transition session will take place in the second-last week of term. At this session, students will spend an hour with their 2026 teacher and classmates. This important step allows students to get to know each other and gain a sense of how literacy and numeracy programs are connected across the school, helping to build confidence and a smooth start to the new school year.
Year 6 to Year 7
The school works closely with local secondary schools to ensure a smooth transition for the year 6
students. They receive visits and information packs from the schools they are interested in, and they participate in the state wide transition day as well as other school-specific events. The graduation ceremony is a special occasion that celebrates their achievements and memories at primary school. The students are involved in planning and producing the graduation, where they receive various awards for academic, citizenship and encouragement.
Transferring Students
Students joining us from other schools are warmly welcomed and supported through transition sessions with their new classmates.
Class Placement -Parent Consideration Request (Optional)
Parents are invited to provide insights into their child’s placement for next year. Please click here for details and the form.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's transition, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or myself.
Kind Regards,
Tracy Thornton
Warm regards,
Tracy Thornton
Assistant Principal / PYP Coordinator