Wellbeing Hub

Supporting Successful Transitions in Junior Secondary

The transition from primary to secondary school can be a big leap, filled with new responsibilities, schedules, and expectations. During the holiday period, you and your child can continue to prepare for the transition to Year 7. 

You may like to consider: 

• Familiarise your child with their new school environment by practising the travel route, discussing the transition booklet (link here), and meeting other families with students in the same school.
• Create a study area at home and assist with packing and unpacking the school bag to practise organisational skills. Use tools like planners or calendar apps to help them visualise their week.

• Label school books and resources clearly to assist your child to locate and organise items as they move from classroom to classroom during the busy secondary school day. 
• Link with school and community services and programs, e.g. local library, sporting activities, arts programs, disability-specific services. 

• Embrace achievements, and approach any bumps along the way as learning opportunities. Open communication with the school staff can also provide additional support for any concerns, such as navigating class changes, building self-advocacy, or developing study skills.

These small steps can help students feel confident and equipped for success, both academically and socially, as they transition into junior secondary. For further information, click on this link: Fact sheet for parents/carers. 

Check out this new book

Written by Rebecca Sparrow and Madonna King - Out of the Box  

As we focus on helping students transition successfully and build skills that last, we’re excited to recommend Out of the Box by Rebecca Sparrow and Madonna King. This insightful guide is a fantastic resource for navigating the unique journeys of neurodivergent students.

Rebecca Sparrow and Madonna King have teamed up and written a book which is a one-stop guide to navigating neurodivergence. Out of the Box offers best-practice advice on navigating diagnosis and ongoing challenges, such as finding friends and learning at school. It also provides vital advice for teens, including driving, living independently and applying for jobs. This essential guide provides hope, insight and practical help for the neurodivergent child's journey and the parents, teachers, friends and family who share it.

Reluctant Readers: Encouraging Holiday Reading

For many students, especially those who find reading challenging, the holiday break is a time when reading takes a back seat. Here are some ideas to keep reading enjoyable and engaging books during the break:

• Find Books on Their Interests: Let students choose books related to their hobbies or favourite topics, from sports and video games to animals and travel. Libraries often have fun, themed reading sections or e-books available for loan!
• Keep It Low-Pressure: Emphasise that reading can be enjoyable and doesn’t have to be schoolwork. Graphic novels, audiobooks, and magazines all count as reading, too!
• Set a Reading Challenge: Make it a family or friend activity. Even setting a goal to read a short book or two over the break can spark excitement and make reading feel like an accomplishment.