Visiting big school: our transition to school excursion

This week our oldest children took a big step towards school with a visit to a real primary school. Here is what the week of 19 to 23 October looked like.

Our excursion to St Bernadette’s Primary School

On Thursday our preschool children walked to St Bernadette’s Primary School in Dundas Valley as part of our Transition to School program. Before we left, we talked about how to walk safely: holding hands, staying together and stopping at the road. The children explored the school and got a first look at what big school is like.

Visits like this make the first day of school feel familiar instead of scary.

The letters r and h

In School Readiness the children explored the letters r and h through letter recognition, tracing and writing. These activities build pencil control, fine motor skills and confidence forming letters.

Threading and shaving cream

The threading table kept building concentration, with children working independently to make patterns. Our shaving cream fine motor activity was also a big hit.

Friendship and helpers

To finish the week, the children talked about everything they had learned over the past two weeks about behaviour and boundaries, and how to be kind, respectful and safe with friends.

Coming up next week

Next Monday we visit Telopea Public School for another Transition to School walking excursion.

Try this at home

• Walk or drive past your child’s future school and talk about what happens there.
• Practise writing r and h in sand, shaving cream or with a finger on a foggy window.
• Ask your child how they can be a good helper at home.

Visit Sophie’s Cottage

Sophie’s Cottage Kindergarten is a small, family-run preschool for children aged 3 to 6 at 9 Sophie Street, Telopea, open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Families join us from Dundas Valley, Telopea and the suburbs around us.

Most families with a 4-year-old coming 3 days a week pay $0 to $60 a week after government funding. Check your cost with our fees calculator, or book a tour to see our School Readiness Program in action.