Why Prep?

The Queensland Government has introduced a Prep year of full-time schooling for children who turn five by June 30 in the year they start school. Our Prep program gives young children the best start to school by helping them make a smooth transition to Year One and setting them on the path to lifelong learning.

Our Prep Classes:

Prep classes comprise up to 25 students. At Tolga State School we have one Prep class and one composite class, Prep/Year One.

Our Prep teacher is Miss Melinda Hosking and teacher aide, Mrs Margaret Splettler.

Our Prep/Year One teacher is Ms Kay Monteith and teacher aide, Ms Bronwyn Spencer.

What do children learn in Prep?

The learning experience in the Prep year will help your child to –

ü   Take on responsibilities

ü   Become more independent

ü   Respect other people

ü   Cooperate with others

ü   Make sensible choices about their health and safety

ü   Develop their oral language skills

ü   Develop their understanding of literacy and numeracy

ü   Learn how to be thinkers and problem solvers

ü   Use their imagination and creativity

ü   Learn about their environment

 What will children be doing at Prep?

 Your child will be –

 §       Investigating interests

§       Making choices

§       Talking with teachers and other children

§       Planning with their teacher about the things they might do and carrying out their plans

§       Designing and making things

§       Singing, dancing and painting

§       Listening to stories

§       Playing games indoors and outdoors

§       Climbing, balancing and jumping

§       Planning and sharing in make-believe play

§       Using computers

§       Taking part in everyday experiences like gardening, cooking and tidying up

§       Writing and copying signs during their play

§       Learning about size, shape, weight and measurement as they construct things indoors and outdoors.

Parent Involvement:

As a parent you play a vital role in your child’s education. By getting involved in the school you can help your child make a smooth and happy start to their education.

You can do this by –

·       Introducing yourself to your child’s teacher

·       Sharing information with your child’s teacher regarding your child’s developmental history

·       Attend parent information sessions

·       Regularly talk with your child about their day

·       Make available a variety of materials and containers for measuring such things as water, grain and sand

·       Collect interesting and unusual things from home for our collage trolley. The children will love using these things to create many imaginative and creative things.

 Uniforms:

Prep students will wear the Tolga State School uniform with the addition of a red hat. 

The uniforms and red collars will be available for purchase from our school tuckshop.

Children’s Requirements:

 The following items are required by all children for the Prep year –

ü   A school hat [named] available for purchase through the school tuckshop

ü   Drink bottle for class [labelled]

ü   A spare set of clothes [named] to be kept in your child’s bag in case of a toileting accident

ü   Four Scrap Books – we like to combine a record of your child’s artwork in these books, which you will get back at the end of the year – something for you to treasure in later years

ü   Towel with name

ü   A box of tissues donated from each family to be used by all children throughout the year

ü   Ream of A4 photocopy paper

ü   Two display folders

ü   Four whiteboard markers

ü   Reading record book

ü   Two blank Cd’s  [Prep/Year One class only]

ü   One Bottle Clag Glue

ü   One packet [24] Coloured Pencils – Tri-grip

ü   Back pack [big]

ü   Lanyard [Prep/Year One class only]