Orientation Program

Starting school is a very important time for every child and for parents. It can also be a very emotional time for many as it marks the first step that children take into the outside world alone.

To ensure a smooth transition from home to school, we run an intensive orientation program designed to help children feel comfortable and confident in their new environment.

The Orientation Program includes:-

a). Personal interviews with every child, parents and/or grandparents. These are aimed at building relationships so that children feel safe and secure at school. The interviews also provide significant information for the new teacher in terms of recognising individual personal skills and strengths that can be extended in the classroom.

b). The Orientation Day

i). Parents are presented with a special package that incorporates a booklet of school information, brochures, fact sheets and forms.

ii). Parents are introduced to the school executive, school counsellor, kindergarten teacher and parent volunteers.

iii). Members of our school community describe roles and responsibilities of school helpers, P&C representatives, fundraisers, canteen volunteers, uniform people and these parent volunteers explain what they do to help us.

iv). The new kindergarten children are introduced to their buddies who then take the new children for an orientation walk around the school.

v). Parents are advised of basic school policies, our beliefs and values, and our student welfare policy, and the philosophy of the school, a philosophy which underpins almost all school activities.

vi). Parents and new kindergarten students watch a performance from children in classes K-2. This is a dramatic activity recently staged at the Griffith Duncan Theatre.

vii). Children return to the kindergarten room with their buddies for morning tea.

viii) Parents start networking at their morning tea under the COLA.

c). Subsequent School Visit. Students are invited back to school for 1 ½ hours from 9.30am – 11.00am.

Children will operate in the classroom while parents are welcome to have another cup of tea in the staffroom.

d). Further visits are optional, depending on need.

In some cases the Principal and school counsellor have conducted observations at pre-schools to ensure we cater for the needs of every student.

Orientation Day Message from our School Captain

Good morning ladies, gentlemen, and, of course, our new Kinders. Today I would like to tell you a little bit about how our school helps all children.

Firstly, when new kinders arrive we have the really excellent BUDDY PROGRAM.

My brother is going to be a buddy for the first time. He, and all the other Years 4 children, take this responsibility very seriously. Thomas will not only try to help his buddy Jack settle in, but he will also show him around to help him with any concerns he has. He will have lunch with Jack and play with him until he is confident enough to play by himself with his new friends. Thomas will be there to make his hat for the Easter Hat Parade and to help with anything else that might worry Jack over the next two years. As you can see, our buddies are there for the long term, not just for the first day!

Secondly, Kahibah has an excellent reading program called READING RECOVERY. This is a very successful literacy program that helps children with their reading. My little sister has just finished the course and she can now read on level 22.

Mrs Davis, the READING RECOVERY teacher, is very caring and dedicated just like all the teachers at our school. You may find this hard to believe but I was also in the READING RECOVERY PROGRAM and I have just found out that I have made it into Merewether High School, (A selective high school) and most importantly of all, I just love to read!!!

Kahibah also caters for children who are gifted and talented by offering classes for these children. They are provided with the extra challenges they need.

Indeed there are lots of extras at Kahibah. Every child in the school from Kinder to Year 6 has just performed in our bi-annual operetta. We have two debating teams, choir, a brass and woodwind band, gymnastics, public speaking, swimming and so much more and the one thing you should know is that the teachers do lots of this in their own time. They are also here for the long term to help your children succeed in all areas.

Lastly, I would like to mention that I wasn’t always as smart nor as well-behaved as I am now. In fact I was downright naughty! But I was helped through the bad times and encouraged in the good times by caring staff. Now look at me! I am school captain and I have loads of friends. The things this school has done to help all the other students and me are just terrific. If it wasn’t for the fact that the teachers are not quitters, I would be in one of those schools for badly behaved kids.

Now, I don’t want to blab on and on and on and on because then our new Kinders might get a bit bored and distracted.

I just want to assure any of you with doubts that this is a terrific school that helps all students.

Thankyou

Ben Pittman

This page updated: Tuesday, 2005-10-25