Looking Forward

Wow! A new look to the entrance to the Foundation to Year 2 building. Today we welcomed back the builders (under the strict COVID guidelines) to the school to install new glass doors replacing the old wooden doors at the entrance to the building. During the January holidays, renovations were completed throughout this building and now the doors are a welcomed addition.

Swimming

It has been an encouraging scene to watch the Year 6 students heading off to Huntingtower to complete their Victorian Water Safety Certificate, and the students in Years 3 and 4 being able to complete the swimming lessons that had to be abandoned earlier in the year due to the COVID-19 restrictions. 

Hopefully next year we will be able to resume the program to its full capacity, fingers crossed.

Transition

The Transition Program at Syndal South Primary School takes many forms. We have the traditional Pre-School to Foundation Program, whole school transition for the current Foundation to Year 5 students, the selection of 2021 school leaders, and the program that supports our exiting Year 6 students as they prepare for the new chapter of their lives at Secondary School. The purpose of the program is to reduce the anxiety felt by students as to what the new school year may bring.

Our role in preparing our students for the next year will include classroom experiences, becoming familiar with other staff (who may or may not be the teachers in the level next year), and becoming familiar with other buildings or rooms in the school. The program will continue into the beginning of the new year as our students settle into their new learning environments and are provided with induction programs to support their orientation to the new year level.

A reminder that the invitation that was in last week’s newsletter to email me any learning-related concerns, for your child’s placement for next year closes tomorrow -  freeman.helen.d@edumail.vic.gov.au. Emails received after this date cannot be accepted due to the commencement of our process.

Parents can assist their children with the transition process by:

• talking to their child about the new school year
• being positive about the changes they will experience
• listening to the concerns that they may have and help them to develop strategies
• talking to them about making friends
• setting your child up for a successful beginning of the year by maintaining routines over the summer break (especially the last week or so)
• and share any information with the new teacher that will be helpful to them in supporting your child.

We understand that this year students and their parents may be feeling a little more anxious about the transition process and I want to assure you that we will support the students both towards the end of the year but also next year as they re-establish existing relationships and develop new relationships at school.

With the current COVID restrictions currently in place we are unable to run our transition program in the same way as we have in previous years but hopefully, after announcements made this weekend we will have a clearer picture of what can be done in particular about the transition program for our current Foundation to Year 5 students and our exiting Years 6 students heading off to Secondary School. I will have more details available in next week’s newsletter. 

TeamKids

Last Thursday evening Teamkids, our new OSHC provider provided an informative information session. If you were unable to attend I recommend you have a look at the recording of the session, which will be sent shortly via a Compass Newsfeed. 

Robot Day

Finally, I am looking forward to visiting the Years 2 students ‘Robotic Day’ tomorrow. I can feel the excitement building. The students will be involved in several activities throughout the day including creating their robots, coding, outdoor programming, and using the ‘Bee-Bots’.

Enjoy your week.

Helen