Transitioning into Prep
Transitioning into prep begins long before the enrolment forms are given to the school, and continues well into the first year of schooling. Transitioning is all about having your child adjusting and feeling comfortable in the school environment. The more familiar they are with the layout, routines and 'ways of being' within the school environment, the fewer the barriers and blockers to learning.
Transitioning of students commences with simple things like the Principal and other school staff visiting our nearby kindies so that our faces become familiar. We also take as many opportunities as possible to invite the pre-preps into the school to join in our special events, such as Book Week, The Teddy Bears' Picnic, and sporting carnivals.
Then there are the more formal processes that Gowrie State School have:
- A prep parent information session - usually held in Term 3.
- Transition sessions, where the incoming preps can interact within the prep classroom - usually held in Term 4.
- Interviews with the parents of incoming preps so that we can discuss your child's learning needs - held in Term 4.
- Kindergarten Transition Statements - exchanged between kindies and the school with parental permission.
Our students come from the local area and from Toowoomba, however we work closely with Itty Innovators - our local kindy and childcare centre - that is just across the road!
Itty Innovators Early Education is Gowrie Junction's own long day care with a funded Kindergarten program. At Itty Innovators Early Education, they consider children to be at the core of their approach. They treat each child as capable, ready and willing leaders of their own journey.
Extended transitions:
Some students require additional support when transitioning due to various individual circumstances. Discussions between the school and families may see students access a short term, part-time learning program. Alternatively, additional transition days and experiences are often utilized. If your child is needing an alternative arrangement - in prep, new into the school, or into High School please make an appointment with our Head of Curriculum - Learning and Wellbeing.
Year 6 into High School:
Throughout the whole school year our Year 6 teachers and students work very hard to prepare themselves with the skills needed to function at high school. Throughout Semester 2, our students begin a transition program with our local feeder high schools, Wilsonton State High School and Highfields Secondary College. This program involves Gowrie State School students participating in:
- Visits from various WSHS and HSC staff and students
- A range of sessional transitions experiences, half day and a full day transition
- Follow up visits from WSHS and HSC staff
- Enrolment interviews with WSHS and HSC staff (parents and students)
To encourage connections between Year 5 and 6 children from the various nearby schools, the cluster schools hold Sporting Gala Days throughout the year.