Welcome To Prep!
Prep provides the foundation for your child's success at school by developing:
- the knowledge, understanding and skills detailed in the Australian Curriculum (Foundation Year)
- a positive approach to learning
- independence and confidence
- creativity and problem-solving skills
- physical abilities, including gross and fine motor skills.
In Prep, our teachers support children's learning by making connections between school and their experiences at home, kindergarten or childcare. Prep is a active and exciting introduction and preparation to your child's formal education. Prep students participate in Active Learning in a wide variety of Key Learning Areas - English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science and The Arts. Our Prep students also engage in Digital Technologies, Health & Physical Education and Cultural Pursuits. By the end of this formative school year, your child will have gained skills in:
- speaking, listening, reading and writing
- mathematics and problem solving
- science, exploring interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world
- history, beginning to examine and enquire about the past to develop curiosity and imagination.
- negotiating rights, roles and responsibilities and developing social skills for working and playing with others
- diverse social and cultural practices of people in their community
- making healthy choices
- experimenting with materials in a variety of creative, imaginative and innovative ways
- technology in everyday life
- music and movement.
Is Your Child Ready for Prep?
When children start school they move from a play-based environment to a more formal learning environment. There are many more people and relationships for children to navigate and the physical surroundings are often quite different. Families play an important role in supporting a child's transition to school.
What should you be doing now?
Activities that promote early literacy and numeracy concepts
Here are some fun, everyday activities you can do with your child to help
develop their literacy and numeracy skills:
- play word games when out together, such as
- playing ‘I spy’ in the car. For young children, you can use colours such as ‘I spy something that is red’
- paint and draw — art allows children to express themselves. As your child learns more words you may notice their paintings or drawings become more detailed
- sing songs or nursery rhymes while taking a walk, packing away toys or in the car
- dress up — children can practise their language and communication skills by playing ‘make believe’
- play outdoors — pouring water or sand into containers, scales and measuring containers allows your child to explore numeracy concepts
- do a puzzle — puzzles are a great way for children to learn about sizes, shapes and colours
- play with blocks — concepts of size, numbers, patterns and problem-solving can be explored by playing with blocks. You can help extend your child’s mathematical and spatial concepts by giving them paper, pencil and a ruler for drawing their block buildings
- ask your child open-ended questions — this encourages them to practise expressing themselves and lets them know you value their thoughts
- think out loud — so your child can learn about how you solve problems
- read — reading together can be a special and relaxing time. It can help your child enjoy reading from a young age and give them a head start at school.
More information can be found on the Education Queensland early childhood website.
Enrolling Your Child for Prep
Enrolment packages ae available from our Administration Offices either on the Bridge Road Campus or the Pinder Street Campus. You must produce a Birth Certificate to enrol in Prep. Please arrange this before you phone for an interview. A copy of your child's copy of your child's transition statement from their Kindergarten or Pre-prep centre would be appreciated.
Checklist
Have you had your four year old heath check?
Have you had hearing checked?
Have you had eyes checked?
Does my child have a verified disability?
Does my child have any health issues?
At
the enrolment interview you will be asked several questions relating to
your child to help us determine the best placement for your child. Our
administration team and Special Education Unit team visit Pre-Prep
programs to help with class placement.
Black shoes are a requirement of the school uniform, please ensure you only purchase plain black shoes.