In Queensland, Prep is the first year of schooling. Prep is a full-time program and children attend from Monday to Friday. At Gilston, school begins at 9:00am and finishes at 3:00pm.
Prep provides the foundation for your child's success at school by developing:
- the knowledge, understanding and skills detailed in the Australian Curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history (Foundation Year)
- a positive approach to learning
- independence and confidence
- creativity and problem-solving skills
- physical abilities, including gross and fine motor skills.
Starting Prep is an important time for all concerned. Children are often excited by their move from kindergarten to school, and families are aware of their children growing up. For many children and families, along with the excitement goes a sense of anxiety — a sense of not being exactly sure what will happen and what school will be like. At Gilston, we aim to alleviate some of this anxiety by offering an informative and enjoyable Prep Transition Program in the year before children start school.
Prep Transitions
Transition to school is an active process of continuity and change as children move into the first year of school. The process of transition occurs over time, beginning well before children start school and extending to the point where children and families feel a sense of belonging at school and when educators recognise this sense of belonging.
At Gilston, our Prep Transition process usually begins in Term 2. Throughout the year, we host numerous events to get children and their families within the school grounds and experience some of the people, events and environments they will encounter when they start school. This all culminates with our 'Gilston Geckos' Transition Program where children spend time in the Prep classrooms and meet some of the Prep teachers.
The feedback we have received from the families involved in the Prep Transition process has been very positive, with children and their parents feeling excited and at-ease about starting school.
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