Kindergarten

Things have been a little different for everyone this year. Each year we usually have many opportunities to welcome your family to our school in a more personal way. This year we are being more flexible and creative with our transition to ‘Big School’.

Message from our Principal:

Welcome to our wonderful school!

A warm welcome from Pacific Palms Public School to you and your family. As a parent you naturally want the best for your children, preferring a primary school which has a positive ethos, where children are happy in their schooling, where expectations are consistently high, and where children emerge well-prepared both academically and socially for the challenge of the secondary phase of their education.

At Pacific Palms Public School we look to meet these high standards. We aim to provide a school environment where children feel secure, where they are involved and excited by their learning and where they expect to work hard and enjoy success.

In welcoming your family to our school community, I would stress that we believe the education of your child to be a partnership and I express the hope that, together through mutual support and participation, we can ensure your child is successful and enjoys their time at Pacific Palms Public School.

Melissa Merchant - Principal

In our learning community we:

· encourage effort, personal excellence and a positive attitude to learning,

· enhance self-esteem and personal wellbeing in a safe and caring environment,

· promote an atmosphere of tolerance and harmony,

· have high expectations for all.

This orientation program gives future Kindergarten students a wonderful opportunity to discover what big school is like, while also allowing for teachers to start to get to know each child before grouping them into classes.

Four consecutive morning sessions (from 9:30-12) allow for plenty of time for your child to begin to build confidence in the class and school setting, enabling a smoother transition when it is time to come to school officially as a Kindergarten student in January!

Happy Start Dates:

Friday 12th November

Friday 19th November

Friday 26th November

Friday 3rd December (Teddy Bear's Picnic)

Each week bring: Hat, water bottle, fruit or vegetable snack and packed lunch.

Please wear: casual, comfortable clothes with covered shoes and shoulders.

Save the uniforms for the first official Kindergarten day in 2022.

Due to current restrictions drop-offs and pick ups will be at the front gate in front of the hall. Experienced and friendly staff and the student leadership team will be there to welcome you and escort your children to the Kindergarten rooms and teachers, Mrs Hunt and Mrs Dorfling.

The Buddy System is a valuable process in our Kindergarten Orientation program to help Kindergarten students settle into school as quickly and easily as possible. Each Kindergarten child will be assigned a Year 6 buddy.

During the first few weeks of Kindergarten, buddies will be getting to know the new students. The ‘Buddies’ will be there to support Kindergarten students in the playground if necessary.

Buddies will take on the responsibility of caring for their kinder friends. It is an important part of their personal growth and will encourage confidence and increased social skills. The program also provides opportunities for the development of effective leadership skills in the Year 6 children, while providing support to Kindergarten children as they learn to understand the new school environment.

'School readiness' is more than being clever with letter, words, numbers and reading. These skills will be supported and taught at school.

Emotional and social maturity are the key components of 'readiness' and are aspects of child development that cannot be rushed. They will develop naturally for each individual child in their own time.

Children who are developmentally ready to learn will more easily thrive, flourish and enjoy the challenges of school life.

If there is any doubt of your child's readiness and they are born between January 1st and July 31st 2017, parents and carers have an opportunity to have their child enjoy another year at home. They can mature and enjoy play-based learning at home and in early childhood settings; beginning Kindergarten in the year they turn 6 years old. Your child can still participate in Happy Start if unsure and you can make your own decision with the support and advice from trained early childhood professionals before the end of this year.

Both Kindergarten teachers are Early Childhood and Primary teachers with training in early childhood development and are available by contacting the school. Preschool teachers who are trained in Early Childhood development and know your child are also great people to assess school readiness.

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment is a Literacy and Numeracy assessment conducted for all Kindergarten students in NSW. This assessment identifies students’ Literacy and Numeracy skills on entry to Kindergarten. Many children come to school already engaging with the world around them and showing mathematical knowledge and a love of books and stories. No preparation is necessary.

While your child has their 'meeting', parents/ carers will meet the executive school staff to chat about your child and school.

For more information, please read the following link: Best Start Fact Sheet

You will receive a letter to advise your child’s Best Start Interview time and date in late Term 4 2021.

Big Childcare provides high quality before school care, after school care and vacation care for primary school students aged 5-12 years.

Hours of operation:

6:30-9am- Before school

3-6:30pm- After school

Please contact April on 0434 176 938 (during operating hours) or email on pacificpalms@bigchildcare.com for more information.

Big Childcare Website: https://bigchildcare.com/about/

The school office is the heart of Pacific Palms Public school. Here you will be greeted by our professional and friendly staff to assist your family and child in the caring way they do best.

The Administration office and phone hours are:

8:30am-3:30pm

Our School Administrative Manager is: Robin Rowe

Our School Administrative Officers are: Karen Dickson and Angela Edwards.

Parents are encouraged to keep informed about school events.

Our newsletter is emailed three times a term to the nominated email address on your enrolment form (if your email changes at any time, please advise the school.)

To assist parents, we have ‘Class Dojo’ as a communication system with families. This allows us to send and receive messages for specific classes and individual students.

Families will receive an invitation to join ‘ClassDojo’ from the classroom teacher.

Join our Pacific Palms Public School page on ‘Facebook’ to ensure you receive important information and stay up to date.

Link to our school Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/855254194593370/

The P & C Association operates the canteen as a service to students and families; any profit from canteen sales is returned to the school through identified programs that the P & C committee has selected to support. The canteen operates a healthy food canteen within guidelines provided by the NSW Department of Health and the NSW DoE.

Our canteen operates Monday, Thursday & Friday.

Orders for lunch can be made online using the Qkr! app. (instructions included in Kindergarten pack).