Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2015 - Chat

[Khaleesi]

Seems to be a lot of late starters.
DD2 is no where near ready academically, she has no interest in learning.
I'm hoping once she turns 5 march she'll want to start learning.

[JLeigh29]

Yes, there are definitely more late starters than not. DS will be more than 12 months younger than some of his classmates I'm guessing.

I forgot to say...he's enrolled at our local primary school for kindy this year and will continue on there if we're still here. If not, he'll go to the local primary school back home. Not sure what kindy he'll go to back home if we end up moving this year as we had to give up our place at the community kindy he'd had his name down at from 8 months....wherever we can get in I suppose

[wysiwyg]

WYSIWYG - I would enrol your DD into your local primary school so at least she's in for this year and them change as needed. It won't harm her any to move when/if needed...

We probably wouldn't think of moving until 2016 anyway but more likely 2018, but it now being only next year it has caused us to think a bit further ahead.

DD is excited about the whole prospect of school as am I as will significantly improve our finances. Childcare is across the road from the school so the drop off/pick up to the two locations shouldn't be much bother at all. Depending on work plan is to use before and after-school care on days DS is in childcare.

Not quite sure what to do about the whole Wednesday's off for the first 4 weeks (I think it is) - at the moment I don't know any other parents whose kids are going there (I asked at childcare and there were only I think two names apart from DD who they thought were intending to go there - and weren't ones I know - that was somewhat surprising to me as the school is across the road from childcare) who could maybe do a looking after the kids swap with but have a while to work that out. Not sure if will be able to change work days as could well be working four days a week anyway and not sure if could get a swap for DS in childcare. DH reckons is a big con not having school everyday (I somewhat agree) and we should pick a school that doesn't do this (sometimes I wonder about the reality he lives in :-)) at least having the whole day off is better than weeks and weeks of short days in my opinion - although reading the 2014 thread it seems like quite a few schools will start with a couple of short-days anyway. I suspect DD will be the sort of kid who is gutted to have to come home, and annoyed can't go those first few Wednesdays.

I assume OHSC generally doesn't do anything to cover those Wednesdays and short days etc?

[Bloom]

My DS1 will be starting in 2015 in prep. He will be 5 and 3 months. I think he will love it! This year and last he has been doing 5 days a fortnight 8:30-2:30 kindy. I love the play based focus of kindy and I'm a bit anxious about too my academic/learning pressure in prep. (That said, he is just so thirsty for knowledge - obsessed with numbers, maths, spelling and learning new words - all of his own accord, so I don't think he will have any problems!).

[wysiwyg]

Not quite sure what to do about the whole Wednesday's off for the first 4 weeks (I think it is) - at the moment I don't know any other parents whose kids are going there (I asked at childcare and there were only I think two names apart from DD who they thought were intending to go there - and weren't ones I know - that was somewhat surprising to me as the school is across the road from childcare) who could maybe do a looking after the kids swap with but have a while to work that out. Not sure if will be able to change work days as could well be working four days a week anyway and not sure if could get a swap for DS in childcare. DH reckons is a big con not having school everyday (I somewhat agree) and we should pick a school that doesn't do this (sometimes I wonder about the reality he lives in :-)) at least having the whole day off is better than weeks and weeks of short days in my opinion - although reading the 2014 thread it seems like quite a few schools will start with a couple of short-days anyway. I suspect DD will be the sort of kid who is gutted to have to come home, and annoyed can't go those first few Wednesdays.

I assume OHSC generally doesn't do anything to cover those Wednesdays and short days etc?

I eventually found out about this, by chatting to a mum at the park (as the school website gives no information at all really about hours ) - they don't do Wednesdays off but do a 2:30 finish for about 10 weeks apparently (sometimes the whole of the first term) - OHSC will cover this but charges alot more for this prep-gap hour. Anyway I think that will work better for us anyway as OHSC covers us.

Is there a specific time of year places start doing open days or something (state schools)? The website for the school seems particularly useless. I am only considering one, but I would kind of like to know a little about it, at least feel like have done my due diligence.

[black_rose]

If daycare isn't an option ask what other parents are doing at orientation if you get to meet them, maybe you could do the child swap? I know a few mums take their kids to work others have pkay dates.

[~*familyof3*~]

So I have just realised dd will have kindy next year!! Im so not ready She on the other hand cant wait

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

EDITED - posted what I wanted to write about foundation 2014 in here... I am having one of THOSE days... lol

DD2 is kind of excited about school next year, she is 5 in January so should be smack bang in the middle age wise, she is going to a very small school and at this stage they have only 2 prep enrolments including her.
DD1 is at this school and is exceeding all of our expectations so I am very happy with the tiny class size (23 kids in total at school this year) and am looking forward to seeing how they go in a class together next year (well actually the next 5yrs).

She has started using a program called Study Ladder that DD1 uses at school and home, she was getting annoyed that DD1 had 'homework' and she didn't so I signed her up for that and she loves it, we also gave her a 'homework' book with some random letter worksheets etc in them so she feels included.

[wysiwyg]

So we had an info evening at childcare where school was discussed and also talking to lots of other parents school for next year is on peoples mind, and I have an open evening next wee. I was wondering if anyone else has read the "2012 Annual Report to the School Community" for schools they are looking at? (It might just be a VIC thing)?

A few things bother me about our chosen school (chosen based on proximity alone currently) based on the report -

1. In the report there is a section on "Student attitudes to school Results" the results are lower than the median and are at the bottom of the range (for 60% of Victorian schools)
2. There is a similar section on parental satisfaction, and one on staff satisfaction and both give results that are lower than the median and outside of the range (for 60% of Victorian schools)

The school does very well on the tests but the student attitudes and staff attitudes I find a bit worrying.

I think you can get all the reports (2013 ones are available for some schools on the VRQA site

[*TripleJ*]

DS starts prep next year and I have no clue where to send him I was going to look at schools but I have to wait till school holidays are finished I know I should have done it earlier but we just moved here and this is my first time so I had no idea what to do I think I'm a little late to the party but he'll be going to a state school

[Melbournemumma]

DS1 starts Puerto next year. I cried when I enrolled my baby at school. He'll be going to the local public school which is across the road from his kinder. He's so excited.

DH is in the army and as far as we were concerned DS1 would only be at this school until the end of grade 1. However I've recently decided to apply for uni next year and we are now considering staying where we are until I finish uni. This means that all 3 boys will now go to this school with DS3 starting prep in 2019

[wysiwyg]

We haven't enrolled yet - as first you have to send in proof of your address (if you are renting which we are not you have to show a years rental agreement from Jan 2015, which seems a bit ridiculous given the way most tenancy works - IMO, also really what does it prove, you can still move in MAR 2015 and keep place at school) - I sent in our proof three weeks ago - so waiting for forms. I have a few issues with the way the school communicates with those who are not yet part of the 'club' but not enough to put me off.

DD is also very excited - I am excited too, the only thing that is likely to make me cry is the having to prepare lunches!!!

Triple J - with state schools if you are in the zone they have to take you, no matter how late you apply, I wouldn't worry too much about being late.

MM - exciting about the uni, I don't know how long DD will go to this school - as we can't really afford to stay in this area forever, plus we want to do a year travelling round Oz at some point, so things will be somewhat fluid.

[Emma09]

I enrolled my DD a fortnight ago!!!
So exciting for her, sad for me as she is my only.
Mixed emotions.

[briggsy's girl]

We handed in enrolment firms just before the holidays. Dd is super excited. The principlal came out and introduced herself to dd then took her (us) on a your, including prep room, computer room, library etc. it was a really good experience for dd. Sh e needed to see how big a school really was as she kept thinking kinder es huge. Having the principal come out and talk to dd directly (we had met her at info night) was great. We had already picked up a really positive vibe from the school, and this just confirmed it.

This school isn't our nerest public school. We have one quite literally a stoned throw away. But we aren't sure we will be living here long term, and the feedback about the local school was enough to put me off. They are apparently really good with kids that are struggling academically, kinda ok with kids that are struggling socially, not at all great with the kids tht are average or excelling. The school we have chosen has a few extras that really appealed to us (Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden program) etc), a wonderful approach to integrating children that are shy/struggling with friendships etc. I was just really impressed. And dh was happy. He is very laid back about things but was adamant dd wouldn't to go to the local school and his reaction to this one is very positive and vocal so I'm encouraged

Downside to dd seeing "her school" is that she is finding kinder a bit "less than challenging" and wants to go to school. Now. RIGHT now!!

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

We enrolled DD1 back in Feb and she's very excited to start!

[~Hestia~]

These term holidays has had Moo asking if this means he 'is a big school boy now?' too cute. We all can't wait for big school! Our chosen school is not the closest either but 115 kids compared to over 600...was a no brainer for us. The principal is amazing and we have taken Moo in a few times now for tours, she is happy to bring him through as many times as we like, she is going to visit him at kinder (because he goes to a different one that isn't local so knows no one from the school community) and she has offered more transition days for him in the later terms. We have had a big chat about his personality and anxiety level when faced with new and strange situations and this should hopefully do the trick come the new school year!

There will be tears...from me

[wysiwyg]

I still haven't managed to enroll - they now want proof of ownership - and they won't accept an Annual Rates Notice which is what everyone else accepts and want to see the Contract of Sale (which only proves you bought the property at some point in time not that you are current owners) - I don't think is appropriate to ask for the Contract of Sale - there is alsorts of info in there which is of no concern to them - ok I could black it all out but on principle they are asking for the wrong thing - so I am waiting on info back from the Department of Education as to whether they can actually demand that.

This is all for the local state primary!

Their attitude to prospective parents sucks, the communications have all been quite rude - I am hoping it is just like when sometimes you have to put up with a rude receptionist but the doctor is really nice.

[Olive]

Really!!!! That's ummmm crazy lol!!

DD2 is really excited now about school, I'm certainly glad we didn't send her early, she's really grown up emotionally (and physically) and I know she's going to settle in beautifully.