This term I have moved from kindergarten teacher into a new part-time role as ‘School Transition Coordinator’. In this role I am able to work with families who have children enrolling in kindergarten the following year. I organise events for precollegeers and their parents to visit our college and learn more about our amazing program and what we can offer families. Kindergarten specific Information Morning Teas and Kinder Fun Days have been scheduled for Terms 3 and 4 this year. Starting college is a very exciting time for families and my goal is to make this transition process as smooth as possible. We hope that this time can be an opportunity where families can connect with each other and our college community as they join our CCSC family.
We are fortunate at our college that we understand the importance of project and interest based learning for our students. This is an integral part of early childhood education in settings for 0-5 year olds. Our college offers a continued pathway for this style of learning from precollege into kindergarten at CCSC. I am passionate about helping to bridge the gap between the two settings for our future students to ensure there is open communication between past, present and future teachers of our students. Precollege teachers can provide us with valuable information about future students and their learning styles which can then help teachers prepare for students coming to CCSC. In my role, I will endeavour to visit as many future students as possible at their precolleges. This is an opportunity to connect with students in their comfortable current setting and helps us to get to know our new students so we can plan for their entry into our college.
Having students come and sample our kindergarten program the year before college is a highly valuable experience. It allows students to build connection with teachers and each other and helps to reduce any anxiety or concern the students may be feeling about the ‘unknown mysteries’ of college. Our Term 3 Kinder Fun Days have been a great success and the students have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to try out a typical day in kindergarten at CCSC. They start college being familiar with the students, staff, classrooms and our surroundings. Often, once students come to a Kinder Fun Day and get a taste for our college they want to start straight away and they can’t wait to begin the new year!
As part of this new role, I have the opportunity to get out amongst the community to discuss our college with the public. Servet Uzunlar (our community coach) and myself have visited over 50 community sites such as precolleges, community, neighbourhood and youth centres. It has been very valuable to get feedback from the community in regards to some great things they have heard about our college. Many people know someone who attends CCSC, or they have heard about our new additions such as multi-sport and netball. We have also had feedback that many people are unaware of the many facets of our K-12 college and all the changes that have have taken place over the past few years. It is important that members of the community understand what we offer and have the correct and updated information, so they can make informed choices about enrolling at CCSC.
Any families requiring information regarding starting kindergarten in 2018 can contact me via email at peta.fell@ccsc.nsw.edu.au
Leave a Reply