Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2014 Chat

First transition session for DD tomorrow morning!!! She is a bit meh about it all :lol: More excited that she gets to go home afterwards with her BFF as mummy and the boys will be at music.

We've been looking at uniform. I'd buy something now except we're a bit strapped (please pay us, customers!) and I'm trying to decide if I should pay the extra for the school dress or buy the cheaper one from Target. The school is ok with the Target ones, I've checked.

I'll buy her size 6. I think ;)

She has had three "play dates" so far, but we missed the first, so she's only had two. They were just an hour of playing in the prep room. Tomorrow is the first transition session. Tbh I'm not sure how different it will be - we'll see.

Went to the prep info night last week and got a nice handout, our bible apparently. She will be off on Wednesdays for all of Feb, that must be a common thing.

We will find out her teacher at the end of the third (and final) transition session. She has one tomorrow, one next week and the final the week after. Then nothing til first day of school!

44 prep enrolments at her school so far. Two classes at this stage. They maybe split into three or have a P/1 composite if they get more enrolments but the principal doesn't think they will.

All happening!!!

Well she loved it and most of the kids had at least part of the uniform on :D I don't need to buy anything as it's all hand-me-downs from DD1. I did however get her a new school bag today and she was so happy. She met her buddy and they got along fabulously. She seems like a lovely girl.

We have 4 prep classes and we are at capacity with a waiting list - 84 kids in all I think.

That's great she loved it Nai!

We can use target/kmart/ big w too which is handy as dd1 has put holes in all her track suit pants. I got a few free lost / unnamed things from the uniform shop to put away as her dd is in prep with dd1 so that will help with spares and snow will be good for ds.

DS had his third transition today at his school, he starts at the end of January 2014 and is super excited and beside himself with excitement, it's going to be a long summer for him as he wants to start NOW!!

The existing reception children 'welcomed' them today, they had a mass and an official welcome and then the existing receptions came and took them all by the hand and welcomed them - had a song and dance and it was beautiful, made me feel pretty awesome about our school community. DS had the biggest smile on his face all day long.....!!!

We bought his uniform from the school shop today, he is mostly still in size 3, 4 in tops, so the smallest size (4) is huge on him, makes him look cuter though :)

Feeling emotional though, its our first starting school, so its a funny mix of feelings - pride, happiness, fear, and all the emotions that come when your LO is joining the big wide world of school. And DS doesn't turn 5 until late April, just made the cut off, so he is literally the smallest and youngest preppy...

**Sigh**

Darl there is already a thread started so I'm going to merge them
Xx

We had our last one today, dd2 is in a different class to the ones she was with for most of the sessions but she didn't like the teacher so I am not upset about it, she already adores her teacher she runs to say hello every time she sees her when we pick up dd1. She is so excited about starting next year too but she is saying she will really miss her kinder teacher.

Today was DS1 2nd transition day. There are 3 classes 2 are just prep and a prep/1 class. DS1 is in a class with 1 child he knows from kinder and 1 from mothers group, but not with the kids he asked to be with!! There are 4 from kinder in the other class with 2 of them being kids he asked to be with. Have asked for him to be changed but will see not a major issue but 1 of the kids we will walk to school with etc as live a few doors down.

We looked at uniforms think will need to get him the size 4 shorts as 6 will fall down as do not tie up!! and size 6 polos as figure was a better fit.

He was very excited today and they decorated library bags!

1 more day to go and a BBQ next week.

I don't think my DS will be doing any transition days :(

They don't really do transitions at our school. They had one orientation day, but we missed it, so I am taking her in next week for a morning and that is fine with the teachers.

Seeing as the name for prep/reception/kinder is changing to Foundation, is everyone happy if I change the title?

No because we are F-W! Not as bad as F-O though :) the coordinator says the will call it foundation W but it's already shortened on the paperwork.

Our school hasn't said anything about the change... But I'm fine for it to be changed here :)

So dd has finished her transition. Her teacher is the new one, who has been put on full time this year, she was doing CRT last year and filled in for one of the prep teachers on LSL and has been put on full time - all my teacher friends tell me that is a good thing! One of the two prep teachers is moving on to another class, so it is still just two prep teachers, two classes at this point.

DD is in class with her BFF, which is nice, and some other kids from kinder. On her last session she received her library bag, which is becoming her favourite bag to cart all her treasures around in. She also got a calendar for January so we can count down to the start of school. And we got her uniform, yay!

She tried it all on for Grandma and Grandpa today and looks so cute in it. She is ready for it!!

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Darl there is already a thread started so I'm going to merge them
Xx

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Man, feel like a goose, I searched, I promise I did :)

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Seeing as the name for prep/reception/kinder is changing to Foundation, is everyone happy if I change the title?

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Is that just for Victoria? Haven't heard anyone refer to it as Foundation here in SA - Prep/Reception here (pre Grade 1), where as Kindy/Kinder is totally different (eg a couple of days a week)

All states are going to be the same I believe!

Naomi lol that's ok!!!

Not here. We are staying as transition, and nsw is staying as kindergarten for the time being I believe.

8 weeks to go! DS asks me just about every day.

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Is that just for Victoria? Haven't heard anyone refer to it as Foundation here in SA - Prep/Reception here (pre Grade 1), where as Kindy/Kinder is totally different (eg a couple of days a week)

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Foundation is the national curriculum level for pre grade/year one so while states may call this year what they like (reception/prep/etc) these teachers across the board will be thinking/planning at foundation level according to the new national curriculum that's being phased in

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8 weeks to go! DS asks me just about every day.

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My DS does too Kim, it's going to be a looooooong summer for him, roll on Jan 28th. I've taken the day off work so I can drop him off properly without a rush, attend the welcome morning tea and spend some time having a sook! Then I might take myself out for lunch for surviving the pre-school years!! :rofl:

I have not heard ANYTHINg about a name change and we get tops that say i am a ---------- (name of school) Prep 2014.

Haven't heard about the name change yet. But then again it maybe the 'school' dj's going to.
Had a third transition day today, 4hrs. He did really well and the teacher was very pleased with him, shes ordered in a special chair & table for dj (and another boy) for eating time, as Dj is a food ninja. Next week is final transition and a meeting for us mums and dads. Which is nice as Dj will be busing it to and from school so we wont get to see any one. Still need to get his unifrom we're lucky as we can get black pants/shorts from where ever so its just polos so im getting two polos and a jumper for starters as term one is two days, day off two days then com winter i'll get more plus long sleeved cotton shirts for under. And pants i'll get from bigW or Kmart and shoes can be black. I have a pair with orange that he'll wear ... Only need to figure out bathers for him.

The good thing is its not nut/egg free so i can send him to school with homemade mayo in his lunch. Or make cakes with out worry (his birthday is the first cab off the rank) i think he'll miss his kinder aside he's quite attached to him.

I haven't heard anything about a name change either. I'm in Qld.

Hi Ladies!! How funny- I remember a few of you ladies from our BB groups :) I havent had a chance to read through the whole thread here yet, but i will later today :)

DS is starting Kindergarten next year too. He will be going to a small country school too- 17 kids in total for primary school- I think 3 kindy kids :) He will be in a combined kindy/year 1 class. I think it will be good for him to have that one on one style class, he gets a bit overwhelmed by lots of people. We wont have a chance to do any orientation as we are moving to the new town between the school year finishing and starting. I have been talking to the ladies at the school and we have an orientation pack and things like that to look through. I am a bit excited!! It will be a big change for him, moving as well as starting school. His only concern is if he gets to wear a red shirt (red is his fave colour lol) and thanks to sports days we have the red shirt covered!! Phew!!

I am looking forward to sharing our journey together :) And lunch box ideas lol healthy lunch box food!! I will need help there :)

Hey SB, nice to see you here! DD1 is excited to be going to big school with her brother, and I did have her uniform so I thought, however the 6's I had for her from her brother don't fit (not long enough) so I have to go buy some 10's for her brother (even though they will be too big) and give his 8's to her. Frustrates me how they make the sizes wider but not very much longer. I don't have '"wide" children, but I have extremely tall children, so DD1 will be swamped in all this material around her sides, just to make sure its long enough to cover her belly!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to next year for her.

Oh and for lunchbox ideas - my kids get the same every day (boring) - 3 pieces of fruit, yoghurt, sandwich and some rice crackers. If I've run out of fruit, sometimes I wrap up a boiled egg or a carrot or popcorn or something like that. I used to send muesli bars, but got told off from DD1's kindy because they were too unhealthy, so now the lunches are pretty plain and simple.

Hi everyone, I have a little man excited to start big school too. DD started last year, and loves it, so he's feeding off her, which is great, because TBH, I don't think he's going to be all that academic, lol. He's more of a hands on learner than a school and books kind of kid!

Hi Mrs F :) Yeah, lunch box ideas.. no yogurt allowed, no museli bars, no popcorn, no eggs, no nuts, no bloody food lol I am actually thinking the poor kid might get tuck shop lunch every day lol

I have to wait to til we move to get the uniform- sounds fun :)

Dd1 has yogurt, two pieces of fruit, and either air popped pop corn/ energy balls or homemade cake that is sugar free and uses coconut oil. They have brain food, snack and lunch and the school suggests they have 6 things which dd1 us adamant about having not sure if dd2 will want that much. Dd2 is going into her sisters size 6 uniform its too big but didn't want to get 4's. Now ds wants to be at school to but he is 2 years off going.

We have all the summer uniform now, just need the winter but I figure we have a few extra months to work that out. Our school pool has been a godsend though!

DS loved his orientation day, he finally got a bit of excitement happening about going to school. He knows a few students from his daycare and our neighbour as well, so he is set. I still have to buy a list of supplies and then name everything. We got a rather thick folder of information telling us the dos and don'ts along with a copy of the school policies. They are great in that they are nut free and will also put his name and picture in the canteen so can watch that for us as well. We went to their fete and he asked if the lollies were gluten free of his own accord so I think he should be fine providing the staff know what their looking for. I figure for packed lunches he will have cruskits with spread or ham (ice pack in the lunch box), yougurt, 2 pieces of fruit, plus a container of chopped fruit for crunch and sip time and water. I haven't thought outside of that at the moment. I'm expecting to fill in a lot of late notices in the first few days :shakehead:

Why can't they take yoghurt StarBright?

Arimeh, that's what happened to DD1...stoopid sizes...all these mums buying tiny uniforms and mine starts school in a size 10 - just make em a bit longer will ya?! Wait until you have to buy jumpers :wall:

Our lunches are pretty simple. We don't have any restrictions thank goodness, but my little guy isn't really an adventurous eater anyway. Sandwich, cut up veges (capsicum/cucumber/carrot/celery), plain rice crackers, hummous, cheese, frozen yoghurt tube, popcorn, apple, watermelon..or variations thereof. I send 4 things a day. Any more and he wouldn't eat it.

But Kim, if you make them longer, then the little shorties like my little miss will trip over their tails!

Ahh lunch box ideas. I'm already stressed enough about kinder lunches for DD... And she's only there half days lol.

What about the actual lunch box, what are people using?? I need a new one for DD. Where can I look?

So, food. I'm thinking I need to find some sort of bliss/energy ball that DD likes, plus some sort of home made museli bar, just to mix the fruit/sandwich/cracker thing.

I make my own yoghurt - how can I send that to school? Does anyone use those sinchie things??

For lunches, I generally give DD a sandwich (simple things- ham/vegemite/cheese/cream cheese/cold sausage), a serve of fruit/vegetables, a packaged snack like shapes/rice crackers or tiny teddies and a home made snack like a pancakes/nut free muesli bar/biscuits/sweet or savory muffin or cinnamon/cheese and vegemite scroll.

That's pretty much the staples of things I make and freeze, usually one sweet and one savory home made thing each week gets made and frozen for lunches. If I don't give her a sandwich (which is only occasionally), she gets some cabinossi/cheese/crackers. She also occasionally gets some yogurt or home made custard.

We need to send a brain snack (fruit only), recess and lunch. DS loves vegemite sandwiches so his lunch box will likely consist of Strawberries/Pear/Orange/Apple/Peach then rice crackers, cheese, popcorn, carrot/cucumber sticks and the sandwich. Fortunately DS requests the same lunch most days so wont be too fussed if it doesn't change much, as long as he has his usual choices

I am waiting till the school sales after xmas to check out the lunchboxes available, hoping to find something with a few compartments to fit all the above - I think the nudie ones might be suitable.

OP - I bought some of the reusable squishy snack packs for home made custards and yoghurts that I make with my TMX, they are really good, so would be suitable to send yoghurt in (as long as the kids bring them back home!!)

DS forgot to eat his fruit on 2 of the 3 transistion days, I'll have a word to his teacher when he starts in Jan to ensure she reminds him to eat, once he is used to recess and lunch he'll be fine, but might need a reminder the first few times. I am planning on starting to use his lunchbox at home for a few weeks before so he is used to knowing what to eat for brain food, recess and lunch etc

Also need to teach him to tie his shoelaces. But I am not buying his school shoes until just before incase he grows. The school gave us a list of things to make sure they know how to do. He can do the rest - needs to practise opening packets himself a bit more, however most stuff will be fresh rather than packages so not a huge issue at first.

We went through two nudie ones as they break easily, have swapped to another brand that has lated 6 months and still going. Can't remember the name will have a look, about half the class has the same one. We are a rubbish free school so lots of compartments are good.

Tupperware have some pretty good lunch boxes and different sized containers.

BR - I'd be interested to know what they are :)

Yes BR, I'm looking for lunch boxes too.

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Tupperware have some pretty good lunch boxes and different sized containers.

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Except DD can't open them. I send her to kinder ATM with a Tupperware sandwich keeper, one of the bowls that comes with a lid (in a set of four, pink green yellow blue? Matching tumblers and plates, those ones), plus snack cups and the container that's a little bigger than snack cups. DD can open the sandwich keeper and the bowl with lid, can't open the other ones. And can't put the lids back on any of them. Can get the sandwich keeper closed again but none of the others.

Sigh.

I'm hoping after Christmas there will be some more options available for lunch boxes.

I have no idea what we can and can't take, if there's a nut free policy or anything. Hmm.

In other news, DD's new teacher has contacted us saying that it we want to meet her before the end of the year and chat about how DD's transition has gone, we can do that. So we are seeing her next week. I think that's cool.

I wouldn't send DS with tupperware. It's too expensive to lose. And I highly doubt it would make it to lost property :(. He had a tupperware drink bottle, clearly named and not even in great condition at kindy - never seen again. If it was just lost in the room, then it would have been returned as they are always moving furniture about. So I can only assume it's been stolen. I have a few systema containers (often 1/2 price at woolies/coles). DS can manage them easily. And a smash lunch box. It's lasted really well & is a great size. I intend to get another one of those next month.

I agree re: Tupperware way too easy to lose! The systema and smash ones have lasted well here. Systema are easy for dd2 to open as well.

For now, my 2 girls just take all their food in zipper lunch box bags (cooler insulated inside). Lunch boxes didn't last long and broke fast.

DS has the same for next year.

Lunch ideas/what I pack: 1 fruit for snack, cheese stick, sandwich - either Vegemite and cheese, jam or plain Vegemite, fruit bar, snack bag biscuits, dip it, bubble bar, apple purée, popper and a drink bottle. DD1 goes through phases of wanting salad instead of sandwiches.

We don't have a canteen so can't skip lunches now and then lol