Kinderlinks

Pre-school to Kindergarten

To assist each child in experiencing a positive start to school, we operate an extensive Kindergarten Transition Program. In May each year, we hold our Kindergarten Open Day. Parents are invited to meet with the Principal, Assistant Principal (K-2), and teachers to learn about our school. Parents are taken on a tour of the school by our student leaders. They also enjoy performances from our school band and current kindergarten students.

We have strong links with our seven feeder prior-to-school services. We established the ‘Berowra Transition to School Network’ which consists of staff members from local schools and prior-to-school services. We meet three times per year to ensure communication is strong and information is shared accurately regarding all children transitioning to school.

The Transition to School Digital Statements are well received by our Kindergarten teachers. Additional meetings and visits are held for students with additional needs transitioning to school. These meetings can involve the Learning & Support Teacher, Assistant Principal (K-2), Principal, the School Counsellor, Pre-School Directors, Early Childhood Educators and Parents.

To help each child experience a positive start to Kindergarten, Wideview operates an annual Kindergarten Orientation Program.

There are two components:

• Kinderlinks Transition to School Program
• Buddy Program for Kinderlinks Children

Kinderlinks Transition to School Program

In November, our incoming Kindergarten students attend our Kinderlinks Transition to School Program. They attend a weekly session for 3 weeks. At these sessions, children become familiar with the teachers, the school grounds and routines. Each child is paired with a Year 5 student who will be their ‘buddy’ the following year. While children attend Kinderlinks, parents attend our Parent Expo, purchase uniforms at our Uniform Shop, and meet other parents, over a cup of tea.

The design and implementation of our Kindergarten transition program ensures new Kindergarten students and parents feel welcome to the school and it enables our new families to establish the foundational relationships as they embark on their learning journey.

Buddy Program for Kinderlinks Children

The Kinderlinks Buddy Program is another initiative which has been embraced by our school community over many years.

At Kinderlinks, your child will be introduced to his or her ‘Buddy’. The buddy will be a child from one of the older primary classes (usually Year 5), whose role is to be a friend and look after your child in the playground, once he or she starts school. Please note that if your child has been unable to attend Kinderlinks, he or she will be assigned a buddy in the first week of school.

This system provides dual benefits:

• Older children learn leadership and mentoring skills and have the opportunity to nurture their younger buddy.
• Kindergarten children will have a familiar face, someone to look after him or her when you are not around, and someone to play with during those first few weeks until he or she begins to establish his or her own group of friends.
• The buddy system benefits continue throughout the children’s school experience via the K-6 Peer Support Program.

Preparing for Kindergarten

There are some things that you can do with your child before they start Kindergarten so that they feel confident and excited about beginning school:

• Read to your child as often as possible. Talk about everything you read. Language, both written and spoken, is the basis of learning
• Show your child that books and reading are important and pleasurable
• Encourage independence and self-reliance as much as possible. Give your child simple responsibilities at home
• Ensure that your child is used to being left with other adults
• Enjoy nursery rhymes, simple poetry and songs together
• Encourage sharing, turn-taking and putting equipment away after use
• Encourage task completion to develop attention and concentration
• Encourage your child to socialise with other children
• Practice eating lunch from a lunch box, including opening packets and containers
• Teach your child to take off and put on their jumper independently
• Ensure your child can go to the toilet independently and blow their own nose
• Practice using scissors, a glue stick, pencils, textas and paint
• Encourage your child to listen attentively and respectfully when others speak
• Encourage your child to ask for help when they need it
• If teaching your child to write their name, encourage a capital first letter and lower-case for the remaining letters.