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Catholic Early EdCare pairs up with Brisbane Catholic Education primary schools
Freya Lucas
May 30, 2023
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School readiness takes on many forms, and preparing for a smooth transition to school starts well before children enter through the front gates on their first day.
A partnership between Brisbane Catholic Education primary schools and their Catholic Early EdCare counterparts is one way that the young children involved in the program are getting ready for “big school” with the support of children in Year Five.Christ the King School Graceville runs a buddy program with young children from Julia Cumming Community Child Care Centre Graceville that aims to help the incoming Prep (first year of Primary school) students to feel comfortable in the school environment.
As part of the program the preschoolers and their Year Five buddies interact with various people and places in the school, visiting the library, engaging in gardening activities, enjoying playtime together, and participating in a variety of other programs and events.
“If the children feel safe and happy, this increases their confidence and helps with a smooth transition, which means on their first day they can let go of all worries and are ready to be learners,” Christ the King Principal Damien Sullivan told The Catholic Leader.
“It’s a great way our future students can get to know our campus, connect, and make friends with our current students, which we find makes their transition to Prep a lot less daunting.”
Fellow Principal Tony Barron heads up Star of the Sea School Merrimac which offers a similar program, and believes that early engagement in formal education is part of the groundwork for future student success.
The school is in partnership with local Catholic Early EdCare kindergarten, Star of the Sea Kindergarten, and preschoolers are welcomed into the school environment from Term Two in the year before they begin school, attending on a weekly basis.
A four week Pre-Prep program – Little Stars – takes place before their official orientation begins in November.
“We find this proactive approach helps them settle in, be more confident, and familiar with their new surroundings, peers, and staff members,” Mr Barron shared with The Catholic Leader.
Giving the children an opportunity to play and get to know the school community helps them to realise that school is fun, he continued, and this in turn means they are excited and enthusiastic about their first day.
Catholic Early EdCare Program and Practice Manager Kirsten Holland has welcomed the partnerships with the various schools, saying that children “learn best about their world through engaging in play-based experiences and building strong responsive relationships with others”.
“As part of our transition to school programs, the kindergarten children really enjoy their regular visits to our co-located schools and getting involved in community activities including sports carnivals, book week celebrations, and liturgies.”
To read the original coverage of this story, please see here.
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