By Dongyun Kwon
Christmas Hills Primary School invited Kangaroo Ground Preschool children to visit the school as a part of a transition program on Tuesday 28 November.
25 children, aged four or five from Kangaroo Ground Preschool, had a chance to experience the primary school’s programs while looking around the school’s facility.
Christmas Hills Primary School principal Maria Parks said the program was to allow the young students to get ready to go to primary school before they get into it.
“As we know, all children develop differently and this experience sets them up for success going forward in the first year of school. They can get familiar with the other students, the layout and the programs of the school,” she said.
“It is also a great opportunity for us to develop relationships with local preschools.”
The kindergarteners joined in for an IT class where the primary school students were learning programming as well as a basketball class run by Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club.
The transition program is not just for preschool children, but also the primary school students to develop leadership skills by sharing their experiences and consolidating their learning skills.
Christmas Hills Primary School students Beau, Selena and Ever actively explained their programming skills to the preschool kids during the IT class.
Ms Parks said the school tried to tap into the local community.
“We have the Tiger Paws run by Richmond Football Club in which students can have football drills and learn about healthy eating and respectful relationships every Monday, Eltham Wildcats comes and runs basketball class every Tuesday, Eco Explorers runs bush kindergarten. We’ve got our garden program as well,” Ms Parks said.
“We also incorporate technology. We have a STEM teacher who comes and teaches STEM once a week to our students.”
The kids also had picnic lunch before they participated in afternoon programs which were organised only for them.
Ms Parks took a story reading session with the book ‘The very cranky bear’ and a dancing session with the song ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’.
Afterward, the kids divided into two groups and took turns in craft activities of drawing and making bears inside the classroom and a planting activity to make a small Christmas present for their parents.
They also looked around animal farms and experienced picking up eggs from the cage.
Kangaroo Ground Preschool Educational Director Tracey Woodford said it was a great opportunity for kinder kids and their families to know different options for schooling.
“This morning, we’ve been to Wattle Glen Primary School and then come out to Christmas Hills Primary School,” Ms Woodford said.
“We’ve got one student coming here [Christmas Hills Primary School] next year. It’s really nice for him to be able to show his kinder friends where he’s coming to school next year.”
“I’d love to encourage people to come up and have a look around for the right school for their child,” she said.
