Thousands of new Brimbank prep students have begun their schooling journey as school swings back into gear.
At Sydenham Primary School, the start of the school year brings even more reason for excitement.
It will be the school’s first year as an independent school after it demerged from Sydenham-Hillside primary.
Principal Effie Sultana said she is looking forward to seeing the school to start its new direction.
Ms Sultana, who has been a principal for 23 years, has seen many new cohorts of preps walk through school gates.
“Sometimes they’re a bit nervous, wondering what’s going to happen. Once they see the teachers and the places they feel comfortable. They settle in really quickly,” she said.
To make the transition smoother for the preps, students meet with teachers one-on-one prior to starting school.
Together, they complete literacy and numeracy assessments to gauge each student’s learning level.
“It builds that connection and the relationship with the students so they know their teacher and where their classroom is,” Ms Sultana said.
For parents who are feeling anxious about sending their children off to school for the first time, Ms Sultana offered this advice.
“If the parent is positive then the child is positive because they feed off that energy,” she said.
Ms Sultana said agreeing on a set school pickup location ahead of time can also ease parents’ and children’s nerves.
“Just reassure your child that you will be there to pick them up on the day,” she said.
