Prep Parent Information Booklet

PARENT INFORMATION Prep

Academics

Curriculum

At MCC we follow the Australian Curriculum, through the lens of a Christian Worldview.

Prep Classroom Teacher

• English

• Mathematics

• Science

• HASS (Humanities & Social Sciences)

Specialist Teachers (1 hour per week)

• Technologies (Digital & Design)

• HPE (Health & Physical Education)

• The Arts (Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, Media Arts)

• The Arts (Music)

Term 1 offers a smooth transition with a gradual increase in formal learning

Literacy Programs

Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Program

• segmenting, blending & manipulating spoken sounds orally

Sounds-Write Reading & Spelling Program

• segmenting, blending & manipulating sounds using their assigned written spellings

Preparing for Prep at Home

• Practice waiting for turns to speak by having regular family conversations

• Practice sharing by playing cooperative games with other children

• Provide opportunities for upper body gross motor – wheelbarrows, monkey bars, etc.

• Provide opportunities fine motor – name writing (capital at start), cutting, etc.

• Encourage independence – toileting, getting dressed, packing and unpacking own bag, etc.

• Helping our students to be READY TO LEARN.

Learning Enrichment

At Mackay Christian College we believe in an inclusive approach where students can learn effectively within their classrooms, alongside their peers. Learning Enrichment is about partnering with teachers to provide quality support strategies, adjustments and modifications to enable an equitable education for all.

Whom do we support…

• Students with a disability or learning difficulties

• Students that speak English as a Second Language

• Students that require extension

How do we support…

• Regular Classroom Observations and Teacher Conferencing.

• Develop Individual Education Plans for students with disability.

• Facilitate small group interventions for social skills and literacy.

• Analyse data and recommend targeted teaching strategies for ESL students.

If you have any concerns about your child’s development, please discuss helpful options for early intervention with their teachers or with the Learning Enrichment Team.

The Ready to Learn Process

Mackay Christian College utilises the Responsible Thinking Process (RTP) founded on the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) to help guide our behavioural education strategies. A Ready to Learn Centre (RTLC), supported by a team of Facilitators, is accessed by students to help them learn how to modify their behaviour. We believe that behaviour is a concept that is taught just like any other subject and sometimes students need time and space to get their head around the impact of their behaviour. RTLC is such a space.

One of the misconceptions about RTLC is that it is for ‘naughty’ students and is therefore a punishment and detention room. This is not true; rather the RTLC is a space to reflect and learn responsibility, self-control and devise strategies for positive life choices.

The Ready to Learn Process (based on Edward Ford’s Responsible Thinking Process) works when teachers can give those students, who are disruptive or unsafe, the opportunity for self-reflection in a non-controlling and supportive environment. Students who act as disturbances in the classroom or playground, need to develop the skills required for getting along with others and following the rules.

What is the Ready to learn classroom (RTLC)?

• RTL is designed to help students consider what they would like to achieve without violating the rights of others

• RTL is a form of behaviour education; it is not about control or management.

• Students may be referred to speak with an RTLC Facilitator if they are continuously choosing to disrupt or be unsafe in the classroom or playground.

• If students are referred to the RTLC they are at the point of being disengaged from learning, the process is designed to assist the child to refocus and reengage.

• It is designed to look at the whole student.

• RTL is designed to EMPOWER teachers.

• RTL exists to RESTORE relationships.

• RTL informs college and parents.

• RTL takes a COLLABORATIVE approach to behaviour education.

Students may also be referred to RTLC to utilise the “Chill space”. CHILL’ is a space in the RTLC room made available to all Junior School Students. The purpose of this room is for students to have some time away from other students, self-regulate and re-focus, while being monitored and supported by Ready to Learn & Learning Enrichment Support staff. Generally, students will spend ten minutes in the ‘CHILL’ space before being prompted to return to class to ensure minimal classroom learning is missed. ‘CHILL’ is a positive choice, and we encourage students to continue choosing to use this space when they feel the need.

Right-relationships is one of the foundations of Christian education. Creating, fostering and strengthening a heart-to-heart connection between staff & student, and student & staff, is how we achieve the best outcomes for our students. RTL is the process that has been implemented to ensure that right relationships remain the culture of Mackay Christian College.

Head of Junior School

Prep Setup

• we have 4 Prep classes

• each class has a teacher and an aide

• classes are deliberately smaller

• to support students transitioning into formal education

• to learn about each child and identify target points for intervention and support

• Prep has their own separate playground

• Prep students gradually join in school activities and play with older students & classes

Hours

8:00AM Supervision Begins

End of every semester report card

Parent-teacher meeting Term 1 & 3

Fortnightly Wrap (Newsletter)

Email teachers

Phone call to office

MCC App – information and attachments

MCC Facebook Page (Official)

TASS Database – Parent Lounge

Start of Year Meeting Opportunities

• Friday 20 January: Open Classroomsmeet the teacher and collect books to cover

Monday 30 January: Meet and Greetmeet with teacher & information session (e.g. class routines, homework, volunteering)

MCC Treasures

Tuckshop open daily, orders in by 8:45am, online orders via My School Connect App

Parent Association meets monthly. All welcome.

House Families

your child will belong to one of our House Families (Averill, Dennis, Evans, Young)

OSH (Outside School Hours) Care

Before and after school 6:00am-6:00pm

Vacation Care

6:30am-5:30pm during school holidays

Registration and Information Booklets available at reception