Starting school is a big step for children and their families, with the transition between kindergarten and school being both exciting and a little scary. Here at Hume Anglican Grammar, we aim for a positive start to school, where both home and school work together in a partnership to build a connection between both environments. Our goal is to have our new students feeling safe, happy, and excited about starting school. The Prep Transition Program begins with the enrolment interview, and then in Term 3 the Be Prepared sessions, finishing with three orientation sessions during Term 4. All these experiences enable the children the opportunities to learn about our school, meet their teachers and new classmates and begin to settle in.  

This year, our first Orientation session for our 2023 Preps was held on Thursday, 20 October. This was the first of three mornings our newest students will spend at school. At the first session, the students were accompanied by a parent. They came in for 45 minutes with 14 of their classmates. Parents had an opportunity to spend time playing with their child in the classroom, where they had a chance to talk and discuss their child with the teacher, as well as meeting other Prep parents. 

The next two sessions will slightly longer, with all the students coming together with their class to spend time getting to know each other and familiarising themselves with the learning spaces.

We can’t wait to welcome them again and watch as their confidence and sense of belonging develops. Our extensive orientation program certainly helps to support children in their transition from kinder to school. 

We look forward to the remaining orientation sessions and welcoming both the students and their families to our community. 

Pina Pikos - Head of Student Wellbeing P - 2 (Mt Ridley)