Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2015 - Chat

[wysiwyg]

So DD and I did a tour last Wed, was pretty good (apart from the bit where the prinicpal claims they are not unfriendly just have too many people wanting to enroll - she thought all the group were out of zone - I am saving my feedback about how unfriendly they come across for after the parent info evening). Anyway the rest of the tour was good - the teacher said some good things about independence and resilience, it wasn't too academic focused (a concern of mine because they do very well results wise and parents are always on about it). DD was great really interested in everything - didn't ask any questions but she was the only child on the tour, and we have had lots of discussions about it afterwards.

Looking forward to the info evening on the 1st Dec now and the two transition sessions mid Nov.

I may end up not working Dec and Jan as contracts are hard to come by those months - so will be good as will pull DD out of childcare and we can have lots of adventures before she starts, and means I probably won't have to use OHSC for first couple of weeks.

[Snacks]

Hello ladies! We're gearing up for big school next year too. Phoebe will be an older kid but she needed the extra time to be ready. She's still a lot less confident than most kids her age. She's definitely ready now though. We had two weeks of orientation, last Wednesday and the Wed before. She really enjoyed it and apparently had a good chat to a couple of the teachers. I hope the same teachers will be teaching kindy next year as I like them all
Phoebs is getting a bit more pumped about it now - it's seeming a bit more real to her I think.

[beansbeans!]

Today dd had her second and last orientation. I think she is totally overwhelmed by the whole idea. She said the teachers were really kind to her, they all made reference to her about knowing her big sister which was lovely though.
I think she will be fine once she starts, and it becomes familiar, but until then she is rather unsure and overwhelmed.

[leckert]

about a month to our orientations (2 sessions on Thursdays - end Nov & begin Dec). Looking forward to it and hoping DS will make some friends there as none of his childcare friends are going to his school

[briggsy's girl]

We got transition/orientation letter today. Dd has up to five short sessions (an hour to 90 minutes) weekly from mid nov through to early dec. the letter isn't clear whether they expect kids at all/some or just two of the sessions (one is compulsory, the others a bit washy washy in what they mean) so I'll make contact with the school tomorrow. Time to start thinking uniforms and all that stuff. Each prep gets a free hat from the school, and a lot of the stuff I know we can source elsewhere and just add the school logo (which they actually suggest doing). I suspect the only thing I won't be able to get elsewhere will be the school jumper/bomber jacket. I guess that's one advantage of a public school out in the country. Very basic uniform

[Melbournemumma]

We had our parent information evening on Tuesday. Was really good. Noah starts on the 2nd of February with full weeks. Our school doesn't do a gradual introduction. We have 2 days of testing on the Thursday and Friday before that where the kids go in just for their one hour testing session and the straight into it on the Monday. I got teary during the session so can only imagine what I'll be like on the first day. The school is also starting an iPad program for the kids that will go from prep to year 4. It's all getting a bit exciting 😀

[Sagres]

DD1 has 3 orientation days coming up in Nov/Dec. She is a bit unsure about it now but she will be fine. There is a school across the road from her kindy that she is quite familiar with but she is going to another school and she doesn't 'know' it as well. Really it is all about the library for her LOL! The library at her school is bigger and has more books and a teacher/librarian but DD1 doesn't remember it so assumes the near kindy school is better! As long as we wrangle a visit to the library on one of the orientation visits we will be fine

[Snacks]

Yeah, uniforms are expensive, hey! Poor Phoebe is going to be wearing a lot of hand-me-downs.
beans, I agree, I think once it starts and becomes routine it'll be much easier. And they can start building a relationship with the teacher etc.
We start on 4th November, full hours too. Our school usually only has three kindy classes but next year they'll have four, maybe even a K/1 composite as well! It's a big enrollment year. The Best Start assessments will be on the Thurs-Tues beforehand.
Wysiwyg, so great that you can potentially get some time off for the first week/s. I'm really hoping I can swing something like that too.

[~Hestia~]

It's interesting how different schools are, ours has Wednesdays off for the first term. Starting transition in 2 weeks which will be weekly sessions for 3 weeks. Have no idea on uniform costs but they are able to wear any black pants with the school tops so shouldn't be too bad!

[Khaleesi]

We have just finshed 4 sessions with 2 more in Nov & our final class one Dec 9th.
We also have Weds off for the 1st term & 2 half days for their first 2 days.

[wysiwyg]

It's interesting how different schools are, ours has Wednesdays off for the first term. Starting transition in 2 weeks which will be weekly sessions for 3 weeks. Have no idea on uniform costs but they are able to wear any black pants with the school tops so shouldn't be too bad!

It is interesting - I thought it had to be done the Wednesdays or finishing an hour early for the first term - if some schools can manage without needing to do it - why can't others (or is it a state thing or an independent vs public school thing), what are they basing their decision on what to do - on? Wednesdays off would have been a complete nightmare for me, but luckily we have an hour early for the first term which OHSC covers but at a more expensive rate - but still a 2:30 pick up on Tue and Fri which will be non work days is a pain.

Haven't had any info on uniform yet - but can't see it can be that expensive can it?? - seems to be a red polo shirt and shorts or a summer dress. Lots of kids on the tour were wearing runners - DD will be disappointed she wants nice black school shoes.

[*TripleJ*]

We just had our first transition morning went well Jamie wanted me to stay and wanted to go back to his other 'school' he'll be fine once he gets used to it

We aren't going to do uniforms till January coz I have no clue what size he's going to be so best we wait

Signed him up for school banking how exciting lol

They call preps foundation it's weird for me lol and we will have Wednesday's off for 5 weeks then fulltime and he's got 2 friends from kinder going there and I've spoken to a couple of mums mostly ones with kids already in school but one with her first going to school it's so strange not knowing how things work its not super difficult but still weird

I got a tiny bit emotional and just nervous I think mostly for him though coz he looked really upset when I left him there

[~Hestia~]

wysiwyg I suppose it shouldn't be too bad in general, depending on the school. A friend of ours will be attending one of the private schools here and as such have more uniform items to buy. Including the nice black shoes! Our school allows black runners so that's easy

Not sure what they base the decision on regarding the day off or shorter hours...good question. Our principal said she thought Wednesdays off would be easier for working parents to manage but didn't explain why they do it at all.

Triple J glad the first session went well!

[Khaleesi]

We have to wear the black shoes except on sport day where they can wear runners.
We also have a summer & winter uniform plus our sport uniform.
Our winter skirts/skort are $50 plus the shirts are $30, the stockings are $10 & the is jacket or jumper is $40
Our summer dress is $25.
Sports uniform is $45 for jacket, $25 for shorts or pants & $30 for the shirt.
Then we have the bag $45, library bag, $15 & school hat $15.
It all adds up very quickly especially when you need to buy at least.2 of each item for the summer & winter uniform.
Plus we buy clarks at the start of the year for $100ish

Im very grateful that DD2 has lots of hand me downs for next year so my only expense will be shoes, bags & sports uniform.

[wysiwyg]

My mum reckons that shouldn't pull DD out of daycare on 12th Dec (as looks like I won't have job) as will impact her transition to school. I think that is nonsense - we are away for two weeks so then is just Jan really - (Jan at daycare they have a lot less children and don't run the full kinder program anyway). DD is a very flexible child, I don't think will bother her at all. (I can't afford to keep her in, but mum said would pay, but I was looking forward to it being just the two of us for 2 days a week in Jan) Thoughts?

[Dollyroux]

I think she would be fine, I don't think it would impact her at all. (Non-childcare)Kinder kids won't be doing anything in that month so I can't see how DD would be at a disadvantage.

[Olive]

Was going to say the same as dolly

[Sagres]

I was going to say the same thing, my DD won't be doing anything between finishing Kindy in December and starting school next year and it had never occurred to me that it would be any issue. Don't pay for it if you don't need it and enjoy your summer with her