Year 6 Transition Program: Making Connections
Rationale:
AIS, Jakarta is a school committed to providing excellence in education, from an Australian perspective,
for students in an international setting. Community based, it is focused on fostering, nurturing and
sustaining professional partnerships between students, teachers and parents in the expressed view of
making the secondary campus, Pejaten, the first choice for parents of students exiting the primary
campus.
The aim of the program titled, Making Connections, is to familiarise Year 6 students with the secondary
campus, its staff and the curriculum and to build a relationship with the Pejaten students to ensure a
smooth transition.
Although AIS is one school, comprised of two campuses in different locations, there is a need to
understand the concerns of transitioning students and to prepare them for change; not only moving
from a senior position in the primary school to a junior one in the senior school, but for the different
teaching programs, expectations and schedules that will be encountered. This program aims to foster
and develop strong connections to ensure that transition is both a smooth and comfortable process.
As we move towards implementing the Australian Curriculum, there is a strong need to ensure that the
two schools are working together to support students on their learning journey, both academically,
personally and socially. Having a structured plan in place will facilitate this transition and help to allay
some of the fears and apprehensions inherent in making the journey between the two schools.
In highlighting the importance of the process of transition, by the establishment of a sequential program,
centred on what serves the best interest of students involved, will serve to benefit all parties concerned.
2012 Transition Program
TERM 1
Session One: Reconnection (Wednesday, Week 2)
It has been witnessed that, in the first term of high school, Year 6 students still have a strong
connection with their teachers and friends from Kemang. While coming to terms with their new status of
being the youngest in the school, they need the opportunity to reconnect with their prior campus.
In Week 2 of the new year, a leadership program will be coordinated by Ms Sue whereby Year 6
students will be given the opportunity to recognise their potential for leadership and how this could be
utilised in the leadership roles offered in Kemang, for example, School, House, Speciailist Captains and
Year 6 Captains.
Activity:
Year 7 students will participate in one of the leadership sessions at Kemang, working with the primary
school students in sharing their experiences of life in Year 7. This will also enable them to reconnect
with their old peers. Students from Pejaten will arrive at recess, work in small groups and then have
lunch together. While the primary school students will wear casual clothes, Pejaten students will be
expected to wear their uniforms. This will give them an opportunity to feel that they have grown and
have valuable experiences to share.
Organisation:
 Sue will send out invitation letters to all year 7 students and arrange the buses and lunch.
 Katrina will accompany the year 7 students to Kemang.
 Katrina and Sue will arrange and coordinate a PMI to reflect on the session
Session Two:
Campus Connections (Monday, last week of term)
Year 6 students will have the opportunity to visit and explore the Pejaten campus to familiarise
themselves with the environment and the staff.
Activity:
Students will participate in a treasure hunt, run by the year 7 students, that will consist of a range of
activities across the school (sport, Science, Math, library and canteen).
Organisation:
 Katrina and the year 7 students will organise the treasure hunt, and to ensure a range of
teachers are involved in the activities.
 Sue to arrange notes, buses and accompany students with Kemang HOS.
 Kemang students will bring their snack.
 Katrina and Sue will arrange and coordinate a PMI to reflect on the session with Pejaten HOS
and teachers involved.
TERM 2
Session One:
Leadership Connections (Monday, Week 9)
It is important for the junior students to get to know the senior students so that they can establish and
build relationships with the leaders of the school. The senior students will also become aware of their
responsibility to support the younger students.
Activity:
Year 11 students, in partnership with the Year 6 students, will participate in a problem solving activity.
This will consist of warm up games (quiz: are you smarter than a 5th grader?), and an activity whereby
they will be challenged to find a solution for safely dropping an egg from a balcony without it splattering.
They will be provided with an egg, straws and sticky tape to create their protective shell.
Organisation:
 Check with Ritu and senior staff on availability of Year 11 students for 2 periods (between
recess and lunch).
 Katrina will organise the materials for problem solving activity.
 Sue and Katrina will work together with staff to prepare quiz questions.
 Sue will organise notes and buses and accompany Kemang students with Kemang HOS.
 Kemang students will bring their lunch.
 Katrina and Sue will arrange and coordinate a PMI to reflect on the session.
TERM 3
Session One:
Curriculum Connections (Monday, Week 10)
Year 6 students will have the chance to trial a range of classes in the high school to help allay their
fears of the unknown.
Activity:
Students will participate in Art, Science and IT classes and practise following a Pejaten timetable. This
will coincide with a parent information session with the HOS.
Organisation:
 Brenton will draft a parent letter extending an invitation to Year 6 parents to attend an
information session and forward this to Kemang for distribution.
 Katrina will coordinate class schedules, Art, Science and IT, and arrange with Ritu for lesson
covers.
 Sue will organise notes and buses and accompany Kemang students with Kemang HOS.
 Kemang students will bring their snack.
 Katrina and Sue will arrange and coordinate a PMI to reflect on the session
TERM 4
Session One:
Sharing Connections (Friday Week 7, 11:30 am)
Year 6 students will have the opportunity to put forward questions to the Year 7 students about any
fears or concerns they have regarding their transition.
Activity:
Three Year 7 students will visit the primary campus to participate in a question and answer forum.
Organisation:
 Katrina will select students and obtain parental permission for them to attend the primary
school.
 Sue will canvas questions from Year 6 and forward these to Katrina to allow the participants to
prepare for sharing forum.
 Katrina and Sue will arrange and coordinate a PMI to reflect on the session.
Session Two:
Cementing Connections (Week 9)
Students will have the opportunity to participate in a fun day of sports to build a positive feeling about
their new school as they reach the end of the school year. It will give them the opportunity to enjoy
games as a member of their House and to build team spirit.
Activity:
Year 6 students will visit the Pejaten campus to participate in Ball Sports Day.
Organisation:
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Sue will organise notes and buses and accompany Kemang students with Kemang HOS.
Kemang students will bring their snack.
Pejaten staff will organise the ball sports activities.
Katrina and Sue will arrange and coordinate a PMI to reflect on the session.
Session Three: Teaching Connections (Term 4, Week 5 and 6)
A Year 7 teacher will visit Kemang to observe, exchange ideas and view primary school routines and
procedures to better align teaching and learning programs across both campuses for transitioning
students. A positive sharing of the strengths and weaknesses of individual students will be conducted in
light of differentiating the curriculum to meet student needs. A copy of the students’ Memory Book will
be provided.