Bankstown Public School
Kindergarten 2014
Dear Parents/ Caregivers,
Welcome to Kindergarten and your child’s first year at school. We are extremely happy
with the way you have prepared your child to start school. This can be seen in the way they
have settled into the daily routine and their eagerness to participate in all activities.
The following information outlines the teaching programs for the year in each Key Learning
Area.
ENGLISH
Reading
In Kindergarten we teach the conventions of reading, ie, the reason for reading, reading
from left to right, the return sweep, letter/sound relationships, matching text to
pictures, recognising sounds, sight words, sequencing pictures and words, high frequency
words, etc. Children are matched to their text level and instructed at their level.
Please do not compare your child with another in the class as each child progresses and
develops differently. It is important that we praise each step that they take, no matter
how big or small. It is also very important that you read to your child every day
either in English or in their home language. It is also very beneficial to practise the
sight words with your children as this will help with their reading and writing skills.
Writing
Writing is taught every day where possible. The children are taught the conventions of
writing again, at their own level, through whole class activities, group work and individual
help.
Handwriting
During handwriting activities the children are encouraged to sit in the correct position,
hold the pencil correctly and form the letters correctly. They also practise the following
activities to develop their fine motor skills:
*finger exercises
*pattern-copying
*craft
*lacing/bead threading
*play-dough modelling,
*puzzles
*pin pricking
*chalkboards
*tracing
Talking and Listening
*news
*talking games
*listening to instructions *retelling stories
*drama
*listening games
poems/rhymes
*developmental play
It is important that you talk to your child especially when you go places or are doing things
together. This will broaden your child’s knowledge and vocabulary.
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics is taught daily by two teachers in Maths or class groups. Classes have been
formed according to the Best Start Assessment. It is important that you use the language
of Mathematics with your child at home (e.g. counting out place settings, positional
language – top, left, under etc, shapes, colours, time, length, patterns etc.) either in
English or in their home language.
CREATIVE AND PRACTICAL ARTS
Children participate in various activities (e.g. Music, Dance, Craft, Visual Arts) to develop
their fine motor skills and build on their creativity.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
This includes
*Physical Education (3 times a week)
* Drug Education,
* Child Protection
* Hygiene
*Social Skills (e.g. Please, Thank you, May I…., You are welcome, etc)
*Road Safety
*Healthy/unhealthy food
*Anti-Bullying lessons
It is important that you discuss and enforce these practices with your child at home.
HUMAN SOCIETY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT
Term 1 – School Days and About Me
Term 3- Animals and Aboriginal Studies
Term 2- Families
Term 4- Weather and Plants
SCIENCE
Primary Connections Science
*Staying Alive
*Weather in my world
TECHNOLOGY
School Website: The school’s website contains information about our school and each
grade. Students can log on to the website to look at photos, find out news about current
events at the school or to find out what’s happening on their grade. There are also links to
other educational sites which can assist with homework.
The website address is:
http://www.bankstown-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/
Student Portal: Students can log on to the Student Portal using their username and their
password. This information will be given to parents very soon.
https://student.det.nsw.edu.au/
EXCURSIONS Please encourage your child to attend all excursions or visiting
performers. The experiences have been designed to enrich your child’s learning and to
generate talking and writing in the class and hopefully at home. If you are able to help out
on an excursion please let us know as we will need parent helpers for most of the
excursions (no toddlers allowed on the excursions).
We will let you know of excursions well in advance so your child is able to attend.
HOMEWORK
Homework in Kindergarten is not compulsory although it is always good practice for Year 1
and beyond. The children are encouraged to practice the letter/ sound of the week, their
sight words and read a book. This should take no more than 10 minutes and not cause your
child any distress. Please remember, this is your child’s homework so perfect writing and
drawings are not expected.
Homework will begin in Term 2 although your child’s teacher will send home Term 1 sight
words very soon for your child to learn.
Home Reading will begin in Term 2. Please make sure the children look after their Home
Reading Books as they are expensive to replace and a cost of about $10 will be charged if
the book is lost or damaged.
BEHAVIOUR LEVELS
At Bankstown Public School we believe that we all have the right to learn in a safe
and clean environment. We want our feelings and our possessions to be respected.
We expected every child to display good manners appropriate behaviours.
Appropriate behaviours are recognised by student’s progression up through the
behaviour levels (Green, Bronze, and Silver) till they have achieved GOLD which
represents self-discipline.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR KINDERGARTEN
*School starts at 9.00am and finishes at 3.00pm.
* If your child is late to school or needs to leave early, you must go to the front office and
receive a slip. This slip is then given to your child’s teacher. This information is directly
sent to the Department of Education who will monitor the attendance of your child. It is
of VITAL importance, and also the law, that your child attends school regularly and on
time.
NO PARENT PARKING in School grounds. This is enforced for the safety of your
children!
*We encourage children to be healthy therefore a healthy snack (a piece of fruit - cut up
if you know your child has difficulty peeling it) and lunch (a sandwich or roll) would be
appreciated. We try to encourage children to drink water, it is cheaper and healthier.
PLEASE avoid giving your child peanut butter and nutella as we have a number of
kindergarten students who have serious allergies.
*Please label all belongings.
*NO HAT! NO PLAY! Children need to have their hat everyday.
*Children should be in bed no later than 8pm
*Please allow your child to gain independence.
*Absence Notes – if your child is away please make sure that they bring a note with their
name, date of absence, reason for being away and is signed by a parent or caregiver. These
notes are required by the Department of Education.
*We have Library lessons every week. Borrowing for Kindergarten will start soon.
Please make sure the children look after their Library Books as they are expensive to
replace and the cost of the book will be charged if it is lost or damaged.
PARENT HELPERS
If you have some spare time and would like to be a Parent Helper please let us know.
Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher regarding any issues that may arise. (You
can ring the school to make an appointment).
We feel that an open communication will result in the best educational experience for your
child.
We are also considering the establishment of a Parents and Community group (P&C) in
2014. This is a great opportunity for parents to support their child at school, support the
whole school and help raise funds and organise activities for Bankstown Public. More
information will be provided throughout the year.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Due to a number of kindergarten students who have serious allergies we are unable to
celebrate birthdays at school with cakes or lollies.
IN ADDITION
Your child will need to bring:
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A healthy lunch every day.
A healthy “snack” for afternoon break/ playlunch.
A piece of fruit/ vegetable for Crunch and Sip
A drink/water
 A school bag labelled with their name and class.
 A school hat.
 A paint shirt (an old shirt will do).
 A library bag.
 A raincoat for wet weather.
 A box of tissues.
 A bottle of hand wash
 Spare underwear (just in case!)
PLEASE make sure that your child’s clothing, lunchbox, drink bottle and other
belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name and class.
Finally, we would like to thank you for your support. We look forward to a very happy and
successful year.
Kindergarten teachers
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Miss M. Pennisi: Kindergarten Blue
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Miss M. Astone: Kindergarten Orange
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Miss L. Kopec: Kindergarten Purple
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Mrs I. Long: Kindergarten Green
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Miss H. Sutton: Kindergarten Yellow
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Miss H Kuzmanovska.: Kindergarten White
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Ms C. Yousif and Mrs Vartuli- ESL