Welcome to the Pre-Primary at Orana Catholic Primary School. We look forward to meeting you and your child.
We will endeavour to promote interesting and stimulating learning experiences that cater for the developmental needs of each individual child. We would like to work together with you to make your child's transition from home to full-time Pre-Primary a positive and enriching experience.
Your child is embarking on a learning journey through which we will facilitate their growth as a whole person. We will nurture your child's social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual development in a safe and enriching environment. Play is the most valuable part of this learning journey. Your child will have new and exciting life experiences.
Children attend five full-day sessions each week.
Orana uses an electronic attendance register for recording absences as well as students arriving late and leaving early.
Absences
If your child is/children are going to be absent from school on any given day, parents/carers must send an email to admin@orana.wa.edu.au or use the link on the school website before 9am. Your child's absence will then be considered an explained absence. Parents/Carers who phone the school to advise of a student's absence will still be required to send either an email or a written note to the school when your child returns.
Late Arrivals
Any child arriving at school after 9am must be signed in through the Office by a parent/carer so that the time of the student's arrival can be recorded electronically. If a child arrives late at the classroom without signing in, they will be sent back to the Office to do so.
Early Pick Up
Any child needing to be picked up prior to the end of the school day must be signed out through the Office so that the time of their departure can be recorded. Children who have long-standing, regular appointments are required to be signed out on each occasion.
Our school day begins at 8.50am and concludes at 3.10pm. Please ensure you are punctual for these times. Please contact the school office if you are delayed.
The F-10 WA Curriculum sets out the core knowledge, skills and general capabilities important for all West Australian students to live and work successfully in the 21st Century. The Curriculum subjects currently available are: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Technologies, Languages, Health and Physical Education and The Arts. They complement the key learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework (COAG 2009).
Students explore the similarities and differences created by God in people, their families and their friends. Students identify from Bible stories that Jesus belonged to a community and related closely with his family and friends within that community. They retell Bible stories about Jesus and how he used words and actions to teach people how to relate in loving and forgiving ways with God and one another.
Students represent information about the Church as a religious community, guided by the Holy Spirit to follow the life and teachings of Jesus. They provide examples of how the Church community develops a relationship with God through prayer, the celebration of Mass and other liturgies such as Christmas and Easter.
Pre-Primary incorporate this into our planned integrated programme. Incidental 'God talk' allows flexibility and spontaneity. Pre-Primary will be responsible for coordinating a prayer service for the school community during the year.
Orana uses the app Seesaw for Parents to showcase your child at work and play. It is like a little window into the various activities your child experiences at school and acts as a digital learning snapshot of his/her happy moments and learning tasks. As we add content, you will receive a notification on your device. An invitation to join your child's new class will be sent once school starts.
On your child's birthday, we will have a little celebration amongst the children. Birthday treats to share are discouraged as we promote healthy eating; however, if you would really like to send in a treat, it must be wrapped, individual and from a commercial kitchen/premises (Due to COVID-19). You may wish to bring non-food items instead, such as; bubbles, a book to share with the class, etc.
- An Orana school bag, labelled with a key ring for quick identification (A small case or bag is not suitable for holding shoes, jumpers, work, notes, etc)
- School hat to be worn at all times while playing outdoors throughout the year
- A spare set of clothes (does not need to be uniform)
- Morning tea, lunch and a water bottle
- Library bag on library day - bag will be given to your child on the first day of Library
Pre-Primary children participate in the following specialist learning areas:
50 Minutes per Week
- Auslan
- Music
- Digital Technology
- Physical Education
30 Minutes per Week
- Health
No child should arrive at Pre-Primary unaccompanied by a parent/carer. If it is impossible an adult to accompany a child, parent/carers can authorise a third party (adult) to accompany the child. The Pre-Primary child is required to wait with the accompanying person.
Any person visiting the school outside of regular drop-off and pick-up times is requested to enter the school through the front Office. Visitors will be issued with a pass and are required to register their attendance. General drop-off and pick-up times are referred to as being before 9.30am or after 2.30pm.
Parent/Carer involvement is an integral part of a child's learning and helps to foster relationships between home and school. We would like this time to be a positive and enjoyable experience for you and your child. Please keep all information and observations of children's progress and behaviour confidential. You will receive a confidentiality agreement which you will be asked to sign and return to school.
Parent/Carer duties may include:
- Helping children with puzzles
- Reading stories to small groups
- Preparation of activities
- Working with a small group of children during activity time
- Helping tidy up after activity time
- PMP
We would appreciate help with our laundry roster. It will be placed on the Pre-Primary noticeboard every term. The laundry includes aprons, tea towels, hand towels and occasionally other items. The washing will be sent home with your child on a Friday and should be returned on the following Monday.
We would appreciate help with making playdough. A roster will be posted on the Pre-Primary notice board. A recipe and a container will be provided weekly to our rostered parent.
The Pre-Primary children are required to wear the school sports uniform. During summer months, all children wear the sports t-shirt, and sports shorts. During winter, children are required to wear the school tracksuit. Sneakers are to be white; blue or a combination of blue and white. A school bag, hat and socks are also a part of the school uniform for Pre-Primary. Please ensure that all clothing and footwear is clearly labelled. A spare set of clothes (does not need to be school uniform) is essential for emergencies throughout the year. Please refer to our Parent General Information Handbook.
The teacher needs to give full attention to the arriving and departing children. If you need to inform teachers of anything, please write it in the daily communication book or should it be personal, please either send an email or write a note and send it through the folder system.
Our email addresses are:
PPB: Laila Di Lena laila.dilena@cewa.edu.au
PPW: Shania West shania.west@cewa.edu.au
- Praise your child's efforts and ask him/her to tell you about his/her day at Pre-Primary
- Help your child to learn to tie shoelaces and fasten buckles and buttons
- Encourage your child to recite poems, nursery rhymes, songs he/she has learned at Pre-Primary
- Encourage your child to write his/her name in the NSW Foundation Font. Block letters are not suitable
- Encourage your child to develop their independence and be responsible for their belongings