Starting School
Starting school is a wonderful milestone and the beginning of an exciting learning journey for every child.
We understand that this transition can bring a mix of excitement, anticipation, and perhaps a few nerves for both children and their whānau.
At Oranga School, we are committed to making this experience as positive and seamless as possible. Our carefully planned transition programme helps children become familiar with their new environment, build relationships with their teacher and classmates, and develop the confidence they need to start school feeling safe, settled, and ready to learn. We also work closely with whānau throughout the process, ensuring you feel informed, supported, and confident as your child takes this important next step.
Welcome to Oranga School Workshop
Once your child has been enrolled at the school and their start date confirmed you and your child will receive an invitation to come along to our ‘Welcome to Oranga School Workshop.’ Workshops take place once a term and are led by the Junior Team (Te Moana) Team Leader. The workshop runs for one hour, 9.00am – 10.00am. During the workshop you will be given key information about Oranga school and what to expect when starting school. You and your child will get to meet their teacher and spend some time in the classroom. The workshop provides a great opportunity for whānau to ask questions and start to develop relationships with other whānau new to the school.
School Visits
We offer all children up to two school visits prior to starting school.
Visits take place on a Wednesday morning, 9.00am – 10.00am. During the visit, your child will get to meet the teacher and gain an idea of what to expect.
For health and safety reasons, parents/caregivers are required to stay on-site during the visit. We ask that children bring with them a small packed bag containing a water bottle and a piece of fruit.
Please note that sometimes, this experience may not be with the actual class that your child will start in.
The First Day
On arrival at school please report to the school office where any final enrolment procedures can take place. You will receive confirmation that your child has officially started school and will then be led to their classroom.
On arrival at the class, your child will be welcomed by the teacher/s and other students. We encourage you to help your child settle into an activity before leaving. We recommend that whānau leave the classroom before the first morning bell rings, this allows your child to become familiar with the morning routines and minimises disruption for the class.
Our junior teachers are very experienced in easing any of your child’s anxiety and settling them into their first day of school.
What to expect during your child's first week of School
Starting school is a huge transition in your child’s life. During their first week, they are learning a lot of new routines and developing an understanding of how school works.
Children will be engaged in learning-focused activities for longer periods of time and will be experiencing high levels of social interaction. It is therefore very normal and expected that your child will be very tired in their first week, with this may come a host of emotions.
We encourage you to allow your child to rest after school and ask them simple questions such as, “what was the best thing you did at school today?” Questions such as, “How was school today?” and “What did you learn today?” can be very overwhelming for a child in their first week of school. Within no time at all your child will be used to the new routines and back to their energetic self.
