Our new online enrolment process makes it easier and faster to enrol your child at your local school.

To apply online, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

• live in the local enrolment area of this school.

You can only enrol online if you are in area. If you are out of area you are encouraged apply to your local school. Schools may accept enrolments from outside their designated area if places are available. Such applications are subject to department policies and a letter outlining valid reasons for an out of area application should be sent to the school.

click here to be directed to our online enrollment site

The first day of kindergarten will be THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY. The four school days preceding this will be allocated for the Best Start assessment,

Due to COVID19 restrictions we are currently not able to have parents on the school site. This may change so we encourage you to keep up with notices sent via School Enews.

We will be having a staggered start time so that we avoid too many adults and children in the one location. We will let you know after Best Start what time to bring your child.

THURSDAY 4 February - Kindergarten first day.

Staggered start Staggered finish

Class 1 8.50am 2.40pm

Class 2 9.00am 2.50pm

Class 3 9.10am 3.00pm

Friday 5 February

Staggered start Staggered finish

Class 1 8.50am 2.40pm

Class 2 9.00am 2.50pm

Class 3 9.10am 3.00pm

School starts at 9am and finishes at 3pm. You can drop your child to school from 8.30am when a teacher is on playground duty.

At the start of the year we will have a staggered start and pick up time to help with social distancing.

Please be on time to collect your child. It can be very upsetting for children if their family member is late to collect them.

1. Read through all the information on the Google Site and school web site.

2. Download all the necessary apps - especially the Five Dock PS app and QKR!

3. If you are a new family to the school, keep the allocated times for the Zoom session on 26 October and 23 November free (we will send you a link just before the session via the Five Dock PS app)

4. Book in a time to collect the information pack from school on November 5 (an online booking system will be sent to you via the Five Dock PS app)

5. Book in a time to see uniforms on Thursday November 26 (an online booking system will be sent to you via the Five Dock PS app)

6. Book in Best Start time.

7. Collect uniforms from school Thursday 3 December

8. Ensure you have registered your child for what Scripture, Non scripture or ethics group you would like them to attend. Here is the link

9. Be prepared for the first day Wednesday 3 February

Over the summer break purchase black school shoes with velcro and allow your child to wear them a few times. We suggest you do not leave this until the week before school starts as it is always a very busy time for shops and with COVID19 guidelines in place you may be waiting for a long time for a fitting.

Every two weeks Ms Dawkins publishes a school newsletter that includes a calendar, all the dates will be in there. Class teachers will also post important dates on Dojo and office staff will regularly update the school app.

We can never be 100% certain who will be teaching Kindergarten as teachers may have changes to their own lives during the summer vacation. After the Best Start assessment we will let you know who your child's teacher will be.

This is a question we get asked a lot and it is very difficult for us to answer as more than likely we will not have a deep understanding or knowledge of your child. Every child is unique and their learning will progress at different rates. How a child is now will be very different to how they are in 3 - 6 months time. You are best to speak with your early childhood educators and other family members and friends that have older children and who will give you honest feedback. Take some time to read about school readiness for tips and advice.

The main way to communicate with your child's teacher will be via class Dojo. You will be able to send messages and ask questions. It is important to remember that teachers are not available 24/7 to respond and it can get really overwhelming if a lot of messages are sent. We ask that you look to your support network to answer a question or access the school website to locate information you are looking for before contacting the teacher. We understand that starting Kindergarten is a journey for all of you, especially our new families. We are here to support you and ease the transition.

Crunch and Sip: During morning session in class.

Recess: 11:00 - 11:25am

Lunch: 12:55 - 1:05pm (Eating time in class) - The teacher will supervise eating time in the classroom.

First half lunch: 1:05 - 1:25pm

Second half lunch: 1:25 - 1:45pm

We encourage independence. Please pack food that is easy to open with minimal packaging. Children will need to eat during allocated times only. We ask that you please pack food which is NUT free.

Please provide you child with a reusable water bottle. With current COVID-19 health regulations, child are not allowed to drink from bubblers. Water bottle stations are available for child to refill their bottles.

Any child that is sick is expected to stay home until they are well enough to return. After three days absent a medical certificate will need to be provided to your child's class teacher. Proof of a COVID19 test will also be required if you child has flu like symptoms. A screen shot of test results need to be sent to the school.

Parents and carers are expected to inform the school within two days of an absence and provide an explanation via the Enews app digital forms section or via email.

Teachers are trained to support children learning English. We also have additional support teachers on staff that can provide specific support for children.

Any child that is anaphylactic, diabetic or asthmatic must have a recent health care plan signed by your child's doctor. Please provide a copy to the school. The specific health needs of your child will be communicated to any teacher that works with your child. If your child has any other health needs it is important that these are noted on the enrolment forms. Please contact the school if you have any concerns.

It is very important that you inform the school if your child has a diagnosed disability or you are working with a health care team to investigate a concern. We will need a copy of any recent reports and we ask that you contact the school to arrange a phone call. If your child will be enrolling into a mainstream class please contact Ms Nicole McGee, Kindergarten team leader. If you child is enrolling into a support class please contact Mr Joel Redman, Support Unit team leader.

Developing connections across the school community is something we really value and encourage at Five Dock PS. With COVID19 restrictions we are all going to need to 'think outside the box' and adjust to the current and changing situations. It is important to stay up to date with what is happening and utalise social media as best you can. In the past each class has had a parent volunteer to establish a 'What's App' group to chat, ask questions and arrange play dates. Meeting up at a local park is a great way to form connections, keeping in mind the social distancing required.

At Five Dock Public School we always encourage respectful relationships that are supported by clear and consistent communication. We will provide multiple copies of reports and all parents/carers can keep up with school events and news by reading our newsletter and reading Enews / school app alerts.. If at any point your family situation changes please contact the school office to update details and let inform your child's class teacher.

All schools will be expected to adhere to government advice and regulations. If needed we will move to a remote learning environment. Class teachers will send home a weekly learning grid and communicate with you and your child via Class Dojo, Zoom and/or phone calls. The learning grid will be sent via school Enews and be on a Google site.

The Kindy teachers will also collate a hands on learning package that will include simple resources to use at home. We will co-ordinate a time when you would collect the resources.

At the end of term one we hold three way meetings. This means that parents/carers, the class teacher and your child participate in a meeting to discuss learning. Your child will explain what their goals are and the teacher will let you know how your child is progressing in academic and social areas.

At the end of term two and term four you will receive a formal written report that will address all learning areas and social progress. The reports will indicate what your child can do and provide some ideas of how to move your child forward with their learning.

Teachers will use formative and summative assessment. Formative assessment is ongoing, every day and includes observations and feedback from students, Summative assessment is formalised assessments such as written assessments.

COLA - Covered Outdoor Learning Area

DEAR - Drop Everything and Read

KLA/LA - Key Learning Area

OOSH - Out of School Hours

P&C - Parent and Citizens Committee

PSSA - Primary School Sporting Association

SRC – Student Representative Council

CAPA – Creative and Performing Arts

EAL/D – English as an Additional Language or Dialect

FACS – Department of Family and Community Services

HSLO - Home School Liaison Officers work with school communities to encourage all students to attend school regularly.

IEP – Individual Education Plan

LaST - Learning and Support Teacher. A learning and support teacher helps students with disability or additional learning and support needs.

SLSO – Student Learning Support Officer