Strategy 1: Connecting with families

Scone Public School had to think outside the square for our 2021 Kindergarten students’ transition to school. We value making connections with families and welcome active participation, familiarisation and availability however present guidelines restrict parents and community from entering the school. With our focus on connection, we engaged with families in a different way this year. We took the opportunity to utilise our new local TAFE Connected Learning Centre to run Kindergarten orientation workshops for parents.

All workshops were booked into via an online booking site to allow adherence to number restrictions and ensure strict hygiene and physical distancing guidelines were followed.

Staff presented to small groups of parents throughout the day on a variety of topics and introduced our school mascot, Bluey the blue tongue lizard.

How does this strategy support children, families and educators?

Our families have engaged well with this approach and feedback has been extremely positive. Parents are embracing the changes, feel welcomed and that their children are supported to begin a successful learning journey with us at school next year.

Strategy 2: Take home packs

Families are provided with take-home packs that include:

• a USB with the video social story titled ‘A Day in the Life of Kindergarten’, a video that our current Kindergarten students enjoyed helping us make.
• a countdown to school calendar. This calendar runs from September 2020 through to February 2021 and includes important organisational dates for families. Each month has its own theme and related activities that can support children feel ready for school.
• pamphlets such as Getting ready for school and Helping your child with literacy and numeracy at home
• Kindergarten information book
• images of our school mascot, Bluey the blue tongue lizard.

Our 2021 Kindergarten students are also fortunate enough to receive the ‘Rotary Readiness Pack’, a pack donated by our local Rotary Club. Included in this pack:

• a booklet with lots of play based learning ideas for parents
• materials to support the learning ideas such as a white board, markers, peg games, playdough, pipe cleaners and dice.

Strategy 3: Zoom

The school community has become familiar with many online platforms during COVID-19 learning from home lessons. We have launched a virtual tour via Zoom for our prospective parents to walk through the school. Parents have been encouraged to share this tour with their child so they are able to become familiar with the school environment that they will be a part of next year. This virtual tour will also be attached to our school website for current parents and future potential parents to view.

Check out the 360 Virtual School Tour of Scone Public School.