With the rising temperatures and harsh UV rays, this is a reminder that Wangala Primary School is a ‘Sun Smart’ school.  All staff and students must wear a broad-brimmed hat during school hours when outside as part of our policy.  We also encourage students to slop on some sunscreen during the day and recommend you provide your child with their own sunscreen in their bag to do so.  As part of our policy, any student without a hat, or with an inappropriate hat, must report to the ‘Stay and Play’ sheltered space during recess and lunchtime.  Students in these situations may also miss out of any external physical education activities.

As we begin to round the corner to the end of our school year, many of our students and their families will be looking toward their move from primary school to secondary school.  Preparing your children to move schools is an important component of a successful transition.  The following information has been adapted from the Raising Children Network – Australian parenting website.

It’s quite common for children to move schools. It’s also common for them to resist change and feel stressed about going to a new school. So, if your child is moving schools, the best thing you can do is prepare your child for the change.

Here are tips for involving your child and making the change easier:

• If possible, discuss the move with your child well in advance.
• Be enthusiastic about the move yourself.
• Ask your child to talk about, draw or make a list of the things they’re looking forward to about going to a new school.
• Ask your child to talk about or make a list of the things they’re worried about. Take time to acknowledge and discuss each concern.
• Find out about the new school. Talk about the pros and cons of the different school. If possible, visit the new school with your child.
• Find out whether your child knows any children at the new school or if other students from Wangala Primary School are attending the same school. Encourage your child to talk with these children. You might be able to arrange for your child to arrive at school with these children on the first day.
  
  

If you talk with your child about moving schools and let your child express concerns or negative feelings, it’ll help you see the situation through your child’s eyes. It’ll also help you know what support your child needs. And it might reassure your child to see you managing your own feelings about the move in positive ways.

Before moving schools: practical tips

You might like to write a checklist of all the things you need to do as part of moving schools. Then you can tick them off as you get them done. Here are suggestions.

Your child’s old school and community

• Make a digital journal or scrapbook of people, activities and memories from your child’s old school.
• Make a contact list of friends from your child’s old school.
• Donate your child’s old uniform to the school’s second hand uniform.
  
  

Your child’s new school and community

• Talk to the principal/assistant principals of the new school. You could ask about the school’s strategies for helping new children adjust to the school.
• Walk around the grounds and buildings of the new school with your child. This will help your child get to know where the important things are. Your child might even be able to spend a day in the school before you move.
• Make sure your child knows how to get to and from school – for example, where you’ll pick them up and drop them off, which way to walk if they’re walking, or where the bus stops are.
• If English isn’t your or your child’s first language, ask the school about support programs and services that can help.
  
  

On Tuesday, 10^th December, our year six students will be attending their new secondary schools as part of the statewide transition day.  Students back at school will also meet their new teachers spend time in their 2025 classroom as part of our ‘Step Up Day’.  Our 2025 preps, who have had a number of transition sessions to date, will also join us on this day.  This is always such an exciting time for everyone!

Regards,

Steven King

Principal