On behalf of the Pre Primary Turner teaching team I would like to extend a warm welcome to the PPT Teal students and families of 2024!
The beginning of a new year is always exciting, not only for the students but for the teachers too.
Pre Primary, also known as the Foundation Year, is a very
important year in your child's educational journey. This year they will learn the essential early
skills of reading and writing. They will also be introduced to and learn to
recognise and understand our base ten counting system. Learning will also
include music, dance, HASS, Technology, Science, Kimochis and our Keeping Safe
programme.
Our first term focuses on learning routines, expected
behaviours and getting used to our learning and play spaces.
As with last year, both PP classes are sharing a learning space while our new classrooms are being created and will be working closely throughout the year. It can be a little noisy with 2 classes in the one space so please be mindful of settling your child into their space quietly. Parent chats would be better held outside the classroom.
Religious Education is central to our school culture and the
children will participate in developmentally appropriate learning each week.
Importantly they will further develop their social skills and will be at liberty to use play in investigative and intentional learning settings.
It is our goal that your child will feel safe and happy at
school and that they will develop a sense of belonging to their classroom
setting.
A Bit About Me...for those that are new to me!!
I was born and grew up in Dampier in the Pilbara, moving to the South West in my high school years. I studied teaching at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury and Perth and headed up to Kununurra for my first teaching position. I absolutely loved teaching in the Kimberly and in the last 23 years I have taught in Busselton, Australind, London, Karratha and now Dunsborough. I recently went back to Uni for a year to do a Grad Cert in Early Childhood Education. I have taught almost every primary school year level but must admit PP is my favourite!!
I have 2 kids: Georgie - who is going into Year 9 and Archie
- who is starting his first year in highschool – Year 7. It’ll be a bit strange
not having any of my own kids at school with me this year and even stranger
being a mum of high schoolers!! Makes me feel very old!!
First Day.
School begins this coming Wednesday.
The door opens at 8.30am for Gathering time where the
children get themselves ready for the day and can then find a station they
would like to go to. All children should be at school no later than 8.45am.
The children are usually excited or anxious about their
first day but if mum and dad present as confident, relaxed and happy, then the
children will pick up on your positive vibes.
I will read a story on the mat and once the story is over it will be
parents signal that it's time to go if you haven’t already. If any children are
unsettled we will help them out. Please
be reassured that if your child was not to settle in a reasonable time we would
contact you ASAP.
Some ideas to make your child’s first day easier.
Try on/wear uniforms before their first day so that your
child is used to them.
Be packed up and ready to go the night before.
Arrive early rather than late.
Do not over hype your child about going to school. Keep your attitude calm and happy and they
will be calm and happy.
Explain to your child what they have in their bag. Which lunch box is for morning tea and which
one is for lunch. Make sure you pack
food that they will happily eat.
Explain to your child who will pick them up from school and
where they will be (at the classroom door).
Make sure you are on time (3pm) to pick up your child.
Check your child’s shoes to make sure they fit correctly and
that new shoes are not going to give them blisters. I.e. Break in the shoes before school begins.
Pack a small comfort toy if necessary.
They should have;
A morning tea/recess (eg. fruit/bickies/cheese) packed in a
small lunch box and a lunch packed in a larger box. Please tell your child
which lunch box is which. These are left in your child’s bag outside.
A filled, clearly labelled water bottle. This is kept inside
the classroom on the water bottle name tag.
A box of school supplies. You may bring this to school on
Monday 29th or Tuesday 30th and unpacked outside the
classroom.
A hat. This is to be kept in your child’s drawer in the
classroom.
A school bag. This hangs on their named hook outside the
classroom.
Please put a spare pair of knickers/jocks and a shirt and shorts in a plastic bag in the bottom of your child's bag. - Just in case!
They should wear;
- black shorts.
- teal polo shirt.
- a school hat.
- sandshoes and socks or sandals.
Please clearly label all items of clothing with your child's
name. They do go missing!!!
When you get to school;
Show your child where the toilet block is.(Doors to toilet
block visible from reception door). Wash hands ready for the day.
All PP children enter through the main classroom doors in
the morning. In the afternoon, PPT children will be picked up at our back door (located
between the PP room and the Yr 6 rooms closest to the oval). This is to avoid having two classes worth of
parents trying to pick up from the one door.
Hang up bag. There is a name tag on the wall near the hooks.
Find name spot for water bottle on the back shelf of the
classroom.
Find drawer with your child's name on and place their hat in
the drawer.
Find your child’s name tag and help them put it on.
Unpack school supplies box if it hasn't been already.
Select an activity to complete with your child.
Reassure your child that you (or whoever) will be back to
pick them up at 3pm.
If you are not picking up your child please write in the
communications diary clearly outlining who will pick up your child. The communication
diary is for both PP classes and is on the small table just inside the
classroom door.
Leave quietly without a fuss. If you’re brave and confident then your child will be too.
Separation Anxiety
It is quite normal for some Pre Primary students to feel a
little unsettled and anxious during the first couple of weeks of school.
If their anxiety becomes strong please make an appointment
to discuss this with me.
The link below will lead you to a video by Maggie Dent on separation anxiety.
Seesaw
This is OLC’s formal reporting format that we will use over
the year to give you an insight to your child's achievement. This is so you as
a parent are informed of your child’s learning in real time and it will allow
you to celebrate their success and provide you with an opportunity to work
towards their goals at home as well as at school. Don't forget you can have
both parents or any family members (eg. Grandma) access your child's Seesaw
account and that you can access directly with the Seesaw Family app on your
phone, device or computer. The link for
your child’s PP seesaw learning journal will be sent home as a hard copy in the
coming weeks.
Communication
Gathering Time allows for a quick exchange of information but if you need to let me know important information about your child in detail and privacy then please email me. I typically read my emails after school. The busyness of the Pre Primary day does not allow me to constantly monitor emails so if there is an urgent matter please ring reception and leave a message with Mrs Marrell.
My email address: kristie.leahy@cewa.edu.au (I have changed my surname to Turner however my email address is still with my former name. Sorry for the confusion).
Our main form of classroom communication will be via this
blog. A text message via SEQTA will be sent each time a blog post is released.
We will also send some messages and reminders via seqta text message. Emailing
any teacher in the school is firstname.lastname@cewa.edu.au Please keep your
mobile and email updated with the front office to ensure you receive texts and
email communication from us throughout the year.
Please remember to ring the office if there is a change to
pick or drop off routines throughout the day as we do not check email during
teaching hours and breaks.
Further information will be shared at the Parent Information Evening in Week 2.
If you have any information that you think will be important for the first day, please don’t hesitate at all to email me over the next few days as the first day is always such a busy time with lots of people, nerves and excitement.
Bell Times
Doors open/gathering time: 8:30am
Morning bell: 8:40am
Recess: 10:40am - 11:00am
Lunch: 1:00pm - 1:40pm
End of School Day: 3:00pm
Policy for Early Pickups
If you wish to collect your child early from school, you are
required to come to go to the office first and sign your child out via SEQTA
using the office ipad. Students are not able to sign themselves in and out so
please come into the school office with your child upon returning.
Canteen
Canteen will commence in Week 3 and will run on Mondays,
Thursdays & Fridays. If your child would like a lunch order, you can order
online or can be ordered directly at the canteen. PP students are not able to
order/buy recess. It is vital that we have volunteers to enable our canteen to
be operational. This is particularly important with the addition of extra
canteen days this year. Please consider getting involved and helping out. Your
children will love it when they see you in the canteen. Please email
pippa.walsh@cewa.edu.au.
Tissues - If your child can also remember to bring in their
2 boxes of tissues as well, we would be most appreciative.
Important Dates for Term 1
Wednesday 31st January - First Day of Term 1 2024
Wednesday 14th February - Ash Wednesday
Saturday 24th February - P&F Quiz Night
Monday 4th March - Labour Day Public Holiday
Sunday 17th March -Sacrament of First Eucharist
Thursday 21st March - Harmony Day
Friday 22nd March - National Ride2School Day
Sunday 24th March - Palm Sunday
Thursday 28th March - Last Day of Term 1
Friday 29th March - Good Friday
Sunday 31st March - Easter Sunday
We are joined by Mrs Rachel Sweeny as our class EA from Monday to Thursday and Ms Mel Kent on Fridays this year.
I look forward to meeting you all on Wednesday.
Kind regards,
Ms Kristie Turner.
Pre Primary Teacher.
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