The Transition Program

Our Philosophy

The Transition Program aims to foster a positive, supportive relationship between students, their peers and their teachers to enhance their emotional, social and academic wellbeing.

 

It supports Years 7 and 8 students as they transition into an environment of increased independence, where they are encouraged to become lifelong learners who embody the College values as ethical, compassionate and empowered global citizens.

Key Events in the Transition Program for

Years 7 and 8

As students move into the Senior School, they participate in various key events that support their journey. 

 

YEAR 7

  1. "Transition 7" Evening – This is held in the middle of the year preceding Year 7 so that students and parents begin to get to know others in their year group.
  2. Orientation Morning – This is held in late November. Students take part in a variety of activities until lunchtime. Parents attend an information session followed by morning tea. Additional information about the various activities and opportunities available in our College community, including the booklist and House Day (which occurs prior to the start of the new academic year), is provided.
  3. Computer pick up and padlock and locker allocation – This takes place in the week prior to the start of Term 1. Students come to the College to collect their computer and receive their padlock and allocated locker.
  4. Start of Year Preparation and House Day – This occurs on the day before Term 1 commences.
  5. Year 7 Parent Information Evening – This is held early in Term 1. Parents meet with the Head of Transition and then with their child’s classroom teacher.
  6. Year 7 Overnight Team-Building Camps – These take place in Week 4 of Term 1. Each Year 7 class in turn goes away for one night for a wonderful opportunity to get to know other class members and their teacher.
  7. Three-Way Interviews – At the end of Term 1, each student and their parents meet with their Class Teacher to review the term to see how well they are settling into their new environment. During this interview, students will establish their academic goals for the coming year.

MOVING FROM YEAR 7 TO YEAR 8

  1. Locker management training – During the year, Year 7 students learn to manage their lockers effectively in preparation for Year 8.
  2. Information to Parents – Late in Term 4 parents are provided with information about their child’s Year 8 class, an electronic Transition Handbook, details regarding the Year 8 Preparation Morning at the start of next year, and further details about various College activities.
  3. Peer Support and “Meet the Year 8 Tutor” sessions – In the final weeks of the academic year, Year 7 students will meet these people who will be very important when they start Year 8 the following year.

YEAR 8

  1. Year 8 Parent Information Evening – This is held early in Term 1.
  2. Peer Support – This takes place during Terms 1 and 2. Year 11 students work with Year 8 students in their House to build positive relationships and establish the team spirit that will drive their learning in future years.
  3. Year 8 House Camp – In order to support the transition from Year 8 to Year 9, students work with their Head of House to develop a sense of team spirit and collegiality through a series of challenges in a bush setting.
  4. Course Counselling – This takes place mid-year. Students will attend an information session that outlines the possible learning options for Year 9. They will be given a personal learning pathway planner which they will be encouraged to discuss with their parents before meeting with their tutor to identify the most appropriate learning options for their personal goals.
  5. Movement from Year 8 to House Tutor Groups – Early in Term 4 Year 8 students move into their House Tutor Groups. Small groups of students in Years 9–12 from the same House make up each Tutor Group. They continue in these vertical Tutor Groups with the same Tutor for the rest of their journey through the Senior School. The new House Tutors assume full pastoral care of the students at this time, under the watch of our six Heads of House.
  6. End of Transition Celebration – At the end of Year 8 students showcase their learning journey to the community as their skills, talents and personal attributes are honoured and celebrated by their teachers and peers. Through this process students become recognised as young adults and are now expected to take personal ownership of their learning and development.

Important Dates in the Transition Journey 

TERM DATES 2021

Term 1              Tuesday, 2 February – Thursday, 1 April

Term 2              Tuesday, 20 April – Friday, 25 June

Term 3              Wednesday, 21 July – Friday, 24 September

Term 4              Monday, 11 October – Thursday, 9 December

 

THURSDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2020 – ORIENTATION MORNING

All 2021 Year 7 students and their parents are invited to All Saints' College for the morning. Students will be introduced to a number of people with whom they will have contact during the school year, including their classroom teacher, the Head of Transition, their Head of House and student leaders. Parents are provided with details about the Transition Program and its activities.

The morning is planned so that parents and students can familiarise themselves with the Senior School, and they will be given information which will help with a smooth transition from Year 6 to Year 7.

 

Details of the program are in the invitation to the Orientation Morning.

Parents: 8.45am–10.30am

Students: 8.45am–12.55pm

 

PADLOCK AND LOCKER ALLOCATION / COMPUTER ROLLOUT

Year 7 students have their lockers allocated to them before the start of the school year. This allows students to organise their books and materials in their lockers before school commences. This removes some of the pressure on the first day and means that students are less burdened with full school bags on this day.

 

The padlock demonstrations and locker distributions take place in Classroom C5 at the following times: (Please refer to the map on the inside rear cover):

7V – 9.00am, 7W – 9.30am, 7X – 10.00am, 7Y – 10.30am, 7Z – 10.45am.

 

Following the padlock demonstration, parents and students move to Level 3 of Building 8 to collect the student’s computer. The 7V computer collection and training sessions will start at approximately 9.30am.

 

Year 8 students can collect their locks on this day from D7, and locker allocations will be displayed in the C Block locker room.

 

MONDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2021 – YEAR 7 HOUSE DAY

This is a rewarding day and a fun experience for all Year 7 students. It is a great way to start the school year together and it helps to alleviate any concerns before the first day of term.

Students first meet with their Tutor/Classroom Teacher in their class groups and are given their Student Diary and timetable. Following this, Year 7 students go on to participate in House activities with their Head of House. The day’s activities provide an opportunity to meet others in their class and House, and to start to develop House and College spirit.

 

8.30am–10.00am:    Year 7 start-of-year preparations in C Block

10.00am–2.00pm:    House Day

 

What to wear: Summer PE Uniform with House shirt

 

What to bring: A hat, College bathers, towel and sunscreen; morning tea, lunch and a water bottle; writing equipment.

 

TUESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2021 –  FIRST DAY OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR 

  • Students wear formal summer uniform.
  • Students meet with their Class Teacher/Tutor in their classroom by 8.25am.
  • From there students go with their Class/Tutor to the Indoor Sports Centre for a College Assembly
  • Parents are welcome at this celebration of the start of the new school year, where Year 7 students will be welcomed into the Senior School through a short, formal ceremony.
  • What to bring on the first day: computer and pencil case. Students should have already organised their books in their lockers prior to the commencement of Term 1.