School is off to a flying start at St Mary of the Angels Guyra for the class of 2031.
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Seventeen local kindergarteners started school last Wednesday – and, teachers say, they’re raring to go.
Charley, Peter, and Izzie are enjoying their first few days. They’re learning to write (starting with “n” and “m”); putting numbers in order; and making lots of friends.
“They’re a really good bunch of kids,” teacher Matthew Frizell said. “They all get along. It’s a close-knit community, which is always nice.”
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This isn’t the kindergarteners’ first taste of school. A transition to school program – one day a week for the last year – prepared them for class: pre-reading and writing, basic mathematics, and getting to know how school runs.
“We’ve had no tears; they know the routines; and they’re straight into the classroom, ready to work, from Day One,” principal Sharon Wittig said.
The big difference is going to school every day.
“Even though they’ve had that transition program, the kids – and the teachers – are exhausted by the end of the week,” Mrs Wittig said. “It’s a big move!”
It’s a full-on learning program once they start kindergarten. The government sets benchmarks for literacy and numeracy, so the kids spend two hours every day on phonics and reading strategies, and eighty minutes on maths.
“It’s exciting that they’re so interested and keen to learn,” Mr Frizell said. “They’re willing and eager.”
They’ll also do all the subjects they’ll do in Year 6, including history, geography, and science – plus, in the Catholic system, religion.
“It teaches them about themselves, and how we would like them to live and function in society,” Mrs Wittig said.
The youngsters are also learning technological skills from the start. Mr Frizell uses an interactive whiteboard – a far cry from squeaky chalk on blackboards – and the kindergarteners have iPads, donated by the P&C.
Next year’s kindergarteners are also going to school. Transition class starts on Wednesday for a baker’s dozen of four-year-olds.
Numbers are growing, however, and places are limited, Mrs Wittig said. People who want to enrol their kids should see the school early to put applications in. Call 6779 1661.