Organise some play dates with anyone you know starting Kindergarten at West Ryde PS.

Have some picnics with your new lunchbox - make sure you know how to open, close, unpack and repack everything!

Get used to your new uniform by wearing it around the house. Don't forget to practise wearing your new school shoes too!

Drive or walk past West Ryde Public School so it feels a little familiar. Give us a big wave when you go past!

Do a practise run of getting up and ready in time for school. Make the morning of your first day/week feel familiar before you even start!

Start using school language to make it all feel more familiar:

- Fruit break (or Crunch & Sip) - 10:00am students can only eat fruit or vegetable snacks in the classroom

- Recess - 10:55am-11:20am snack time and playground play

- Lunch - 1:00-1:20pm eating time for lunch in classrooms followed by playtime on playground 1:20-2:00pm

Don't use school as a model for undesirable behaviours. Saying "you won't be able to do this at school" or "you'll get into lots of trouble at school if you behave like this" makes it a scarier place for children. 

Speak positively about school and your memories of school. 

Set your alarm to wake up on time.

Parents - wake your child up with a 5 minute warning. "It's time to get up, I'll be turning the light on in 5 minutes and you'll need to get dressed."

You might chat to them in those 5 minutes about how exciting today is while they slowly wake up. 

Don't let them have longer than 5 minutes!

Get into your new uniform straight away.

Have a healthy breakfast ready.

Parents - let your child choose a nice breakfast the day before so they know what is coming. It's one less unknown for your child on a day full of unknowns.

Pack bags the night before, but add anything else together now.

Parents - teach your child how to pack bags and fit everything in. Make sure they know what's in their bag. You might help them the first few days with each day your child becoming more independent in packing their bag themselves.

Don't forget to take some photos at home!

Leave for school - on the way there talk about fun things you remember from school (no horror stories!). Talk about what will happen in the afternoon when we all go home.

Take a photo at our First Day of School banner.

Talk about the positives of school.

Make the day really clear - discuss the morning routine, what happens at school, what happens at pick up time, and what you will do together in the afternoon. 

Go into the starter classroom. Walk straight to the teacher and introduce your child.

Give them a quick hug and remind them of their routine for pick up time (e.g. you will meet me in the playground with the other mums and dads).

Let the teacher hold your child and walk away quickly. Don't give more than one hug, don't hang around and don't try to peek through the windows. It sounds painful but it will help your child settle faster (we promise they do settle). 

Main pick up location for the first day: under the 'BIRD COLA'. We will walk students out and have them stand with their teacher until a parent picks them up. Please don't crowd the stairwell as we need to have all students come out. 

Do not be late - the first few days your child will be very anxious that you will be there at the end of the day.

As the week goes on you might try other pick up locations (or even later in the term):

- Kiss & Ride (you cannot leave your car so students must be able to open the door and buckle in on their own)

- Aftercare (must be booked in advance)

- After school activity (see the office for a full list, students must be signed up in advance)

Whenever pick up arrangements change, please email the school.

As teachers are watching to make sure all students get picked up, this is NOT the time to discuss how your child went. 

If there is something we need to discuss we will let you know and ask you to hang back until pick up is finished. 

Otherwise you can assume your child had a wonderful day!