Transition

Transition Programme

At Dannevirke South School we value the importance of a successful transition for new entrants to start school. We believe that a smooth and well-informed transition to school empowers children to achieve greater social and academic success.

The Transition Programme takes place in Room 1 with Miss Hutchings. This is a programme run for the next 8-10 students due to start at our school. Four Year olds will be given the opportunity to spend up to 4 months at South School every alternative Tuesday/Thursday morning. There will be no more than 8 students attending the programme at any given time. We start at 9 am and go through to the end of morning tea at 11.20 am. Once they have completed the morning, students will then be returned back to their early childhood centre or picked up by a parent/caregiver.

The purpose of this programme is:

To ensure that the transition to school process is a positive experience for students and their parent/caregivers.
To ensure that children and their parents/whanau are supported through the transition to school process.
To ensure consideration is given to individual and cultural needs.
To facilitate opportunities to develop and maintain positive and open relationships with the early childhood centres and REAP facilitators which serve our school community.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in contact with the school office.

In the Transition Programme we do a range of activities to help students achieve these goals.

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Transition Brochure
At the school office there are Transition Brochures for you to take with you. This explains what the transition programme is all about and what is involved for you and your child throughout the transition process. You may also download a copy here.

Buddy System
Each child that takes part in the Transition Programme will be assigned a buddy. These will be a Year 5 or 6 student that is going to be a good role model and support for your child. The buddies come over before school starts and helps your child get organised for the day. They then come back at 10am and have fruit with them. Finally they help them out at morning tea time to make sure that they are confident in their environment. The buddy system has been very successful in a number of different ways and the transition students really look forward to them coming.

Vests
Transition students are required to wear their vests every time we go outside. There are a number of Health and Safety reasons for this, but also the students are able to be identified by other students in the school, so they can help them out and encourage them to join in a game.

Social Story
At the conclusion of the transition programme, students are given a transition booklet as a gift. This is a story that explains all the different physical features of Dannevirke South School so that they can read over it in their own environment. It also has a picture of who their buddy is. Student stake this home and read over it with their extended family/whanau.