“Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away.”

– Dr Seuss

“As children make transitions to new settings (including school) educators from early childhood settings and schools commit to sharing information about each child’s knowledge and skills so learning can build on foundations of earlier learning. Educators work collaboratively with each child’s new educator and other professionals to ensure a successful transition. In partnership with families, early childhood educators ensure that children have an active role in preparing for transitions.” (The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia)

At St Peter’s Girls Early Learners’ Centre we are committed to ensuring that any child leaving our community has a smooth transition to their new environment. We feel this is an essential part of a child’s foundation to their education. We aim to work in partnership with the new educational setting where information is communicated to the educators to provide a seamless transition for both the child and their family.

Next term, a group of ELC girls will be joining the St Peter’s Girls Reception Learning Community in the Junior School. Many of the girls’ journeys at St Peter’s Girls first began when they attended playgroup as a young toddler or the two year old program in the Stonyfell Room. Over the past few weeks, the girls have been reminiscing about the special times that they have had throughout their time at the ELC and the special friendships that they have made along the way. The girls have engaged in transition visits where they have had the privilege of meeting their new School teacher, Meg Karvonen. The girls have returned to the ELC after their transition visits beaming with excitement and eagerness to share their experience with their teachers and peers. Transition visits are extremely important for the children to familiarise themselves with their new environment, teacher and peers. It is also a wonderful opportunity for the children to have time to discover School life and begin to recognise new expectations.

The ELC children are formally welcomed into the St Peter’s Girls’ School community at a School assembly and presented with a very special gift from a member of the School leadership team. When communicating with parents and families of children involved in this presentation in the past, they have placed high importance of the sense of community and belonging that this gives the children when entering a new environment. Children and families’ sense of belonging in a setting is strengthened by the transition practices that identify and place the child at the forefront.

On Monday 26 June, the ELC girls ‘moving up the path’, along with their peers and teachers, attended the School assembly, another component in their transition journey to School. Ms Suzanne Haddy, Head of Junior School, presented the girls with their special gift of a school bag and hat to celebrate their transition. We were thrilled to share this special moment with them and, as you can see by the photographs, the children were beaming with pride. We wish all girls a wonderful start to School next term and look forward to hearing more about their continued journey at St Peter’s Girls.

Kirsty Porplycia