Information for parents of 5 year old new entrant children starting school for the first time
Enrolment Procedures
It is encouraged that children are enrolled early as there are a number of aspects of the enrolment that take some time. These include:
· Processing of application
· Determining of special character status of parents which normally involves a correspondence with the minister of the church the family attends
· Interview with Principal and New Entrant teacher. This usually also involves a tour of the school
· Arranging of pre-entry visits to assist students in their transition into school.
· Other paper work required, including the sighting of birth certificate, work permit if applicable and an immunisation certificate from your doctor.
School Entry Visits
Children are invited to visit the new entrant room for up to 4 times during the morning programme. This gives the child a good understanding of the things done at school which will greatly assist in their developing a positive outlook on school.
Managing at School
There are a number of things that your child will be expected to do for themselves.
•Blow their nose
•Go to the toilet and wash their hands. Please teach boys how to use and where to stand at the urinal (practice this on your school visits too)
•Take their sweatshirt off. Please ensure they can recognise their clothing by labelling it clearly.
•Dress and undress themselves for swimming (all clothing should be named so we can return it to its owner if lost)
•Open their lunch box and drink bottle
•Open packets of food e.g. muesli bars, chips (snipping the corner off the packet is helpful)
•Unwrap their sandwiches (gladwrap can be tricky). You may like to have picnics at home to practice.
•Pack their school bag. You can support this by having your child do this at home too. Some school bags have clasps that are hard for children to open. Check this when you are buying a new bag for school. Always buy a larger bag as it is easier to pack.
•Take responsibility for shoes and clothes they have taken off during the day. If buying new shoes please choose easy fastening options such as Velcro as laces are difficult for young children.
Children get very tired when they start school. We recommend that if they are tired you collect them for the afternoon on one or two days in the first weeks.
Adelle Galloway would be very happy to discuss any of the above with you if you are in some doubt.
Levels of development
In addition to the above practical aspects of life at school for a 5 year old, the following shows the expectation we have from a developmental perspective. Many children when they start school can do most of these, and it certainly provides them with a very good start.
We strongly believe that children need to develop independence in packing and unpacking own bag and managing their belongings. You can help by insisting children
•Carry their own bag
•Hang up their bag and coat
•Put their reading folder in the classroom
•If you are intending to buy a backpack for school make sure it is big enough for a lunch box, drink bottle, reading folder, library books, sweatshirt and swimming togs.
Please leave children’s bags hanging so it becomes their responsibility to pack and collect them.
Teachers expect children to be at different stages in their development when they start school.
•Foster a positive attitude towards trying new things and asking for help.
•It is important that your child can recognise their name.
•If you are teaching your child to write their name, only use a capital for the first letter. It can take a long time for children to relearn a skill like writing their name.
•When children are using crayons, pencils or pens check that they are using a three finger grip (you can buy special rubber formers to go onto pencils to get them used to the correct grip)
•Children are taught the letters of the alphabet out of order at school. Parents often comment that their child knows the alphabet but many know the alphabet song in order only.
•Being able to count to ten is useful to start school with.
•Many children know all their colours by the time they start school.
•Children need lots of practice using small safe scissors. Left hand scissors are available for left handed children.
•Being able to sit still and listen. You can help in this by teaching your child to sit quietly while you read them a story.
If your child can do most of the above, the experience of school will be much more positive than if they have to struggle with some aspects that the other children do not find difficult.
Preparing for the First Day
•Offer a positive attitude to school.
•Be careful not to overstress the importance of starting school. Children can get over excited and have unrealistic expectations.
•Pre entry visits make the transition to school easier.
•Walk around the school and let your child play on the playground at the weekend so your child becomes familiar with the new environment.
•Please talk to teachers about any special needs or health concerns your child may need help with.
The First Day
By showing you have confidence in your child’s ability to cope you will instil confidence in them.
•Keep calm and smile as you say goodbye
•Goodbyes shouldn’t drag out. Say goodbye and go. Use the bell as your cue to leave.
•It’s OK for your child to cry. It’s their way of expressing how they are feeling.
•Never sneak away. Your child may feel you are abandoning them.
•The teacher will take good care of your child in your absence.
•We will phone you if there is a problem with your child settling.
We look forward to partnering with you as your child makes this milestone move to school. We want your child to enjoy school in all its aspects as then success will be much more assured.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a good web site hosted by the Ministry of Education which gives lots of information to help parents with pre-schoolers. Much is just good practical advise, and I suggest you have a good look at it. It can be found athttp://www.teamup.co.nz/earlyyears/default.htm