Kindergarten - Broome Street
Welcome to Highgate Kindergarten!
You are an important partner in your child’s first educational experiences at school. We highly value the information and understanding you have to share about your child, we invite you to be a part of Kindy with us and we hope to also share information with you about the wonderful experiences and accomplishments your child will have.
Hello Kindergarten - What to expect when your child starts Kindergarten (Department of Education)
Absentees
If your child is going to be absent from school for any reason, please phone the Kindergarten on 9227 0812 to let staff know. Please also send an absentee form through Connect or SMS on 0438 963 172 to notify the school office.
If your child is going to be away for an extended period of time, for example, a vacation or visiting overseas for family or cultural reasons, you must seek approval from the Principal. This may be by email (highgate.ps@education.wa.edu.au) or letter to the office.
Allergies and Asthma
On enrolment or at the time of diagnosis, please contact the school office to complete a medical action plan for any mild, moderate or severe allergies (anaphylaxis) or asthma. It is also very important for your teacher to have this information. If your child requires an Epipen, we ask that one is kept at Kindy. If your child has asthma, a spacer and Ventolin may be kept at school or in your child’s school bag.
Birthdays
We love celebrating your child’s birthday at Kindy. However, we ask that you are mindful of allergies. Please do not send lolly bags, however, it is appreciated if a small cake or treat (store-bought and sealed) is supplied for each person in the class. Alternatively, please consider a low sugar treat instead.
Change of Clothes
Please provide at least one or two full changes of clothes (including socks).
Checklist
Please ensure your child has, every day:
- Broad-brimmed hat (labelled)
- Water bottle (labelled)
- Health snack for morning tea (such as fruit, vegetable, cheese, crackers, popcorn)
- Shoes that are easy to take on and off independently
- One or two changes of clothes (labelled)
- Lunch
- Schoolbag (that is large enough to fill all of your child’s belongings)
Collecting Your Child
Please be on time to collect your child so as not to cause any distress. If someone else is picking up please:
- Talk to your child about it
- Let the teacher know in person or by phone in case of emergency
- Note it in the book provided by the door.
We cannot let your child go with another person without your verbal or written permission.
Enrolments
Use the School Age Calculator to work out what year your child will start school.
Click HERE for information regarding enrolments. ENROLMENTS ARE SUBMITTED ONLINE BY EMAIL to highgate.ps.enrolments@education.wa.edu.au
For more information, please contact Highgate Primary School on 9253 2700 or email highgate.ps@education.wa.edu.au.
Fruit and Lunch Time
Please send a healthy snack in a named container for your child.
At lunchtime, your child eats from their own lunch box. Please provide a healthy choice lunch, as this supports our program of healthy eating. We prefer no sweets, chocolates or chips. An ice brick/pack is a great idea to keep your child’s lunch fresh and cool.
Water is the preferred option.
Healthy Lunchbox Ideas
- Variety of fruit– strawberries, blueberries, apples, watermelon, mandarins etc
- Sandwiches or wraps – cheese, vegemite, jam, tuna, egg, mayonnaise, ham and cheese, shredded chicken etc
- Boiled egg
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Homemade muffins
- Vegetables with hummus dip
- Yoghurt
- Homemade granola bars
- Sushi
- Pasta
- Cheese– triangles, cubes or sticks
- Seaweed
- Olives and gherkins
- Popcorn
- Roti with dahl
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating - https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-guide-healthy-eating
Food Container Suggestions
Children are encouraged to open their own lunch boxes each day. This promotes independence. Providing a lunchbox that is easily manipulated is strongly advised.
In Case of Illness or Emergency
If your child is unwell, please keep them at home. If your child is unwell at school, we will phone you immediately. Please ensure your child’s teacher has your most recent phone numbers and phone numbers of other people who we can contact if you are unavailable.
Location
Highgate Primary School Kindergarten is located at 4 Broome Street, Highgate.
Medications
If your child requires medication to be given during the day at Kindy, please see the teacher or school office as a form must be completed prior to administering the medicine.
Name Labels
Please label everything your child brings to Kindy with their name.
Allergy Aware
Please be conscious that we are an ‘Allergy Aware’ School. It would be appreciated if you could ensure that any food brought to school does not contain nuts or nut products. Please check with your class teacher before supplying any food or treats to share.
Parent Involvement
We welcome any parent who would like to spend some time with us at Kindy.
Sometimes you might be asked to help with a particular activity; however, our main focus is to allow you to work/play alongside your child. Some of the most wonderful learning occurs when an adult plays with a group of children, talks to them, listens and has fun. You may have a special activity that you would like to share with the children eg cooking, gardening, storybook, art or craft activity.
We also like to recognise special events that are happening for your family throughout the year.
Parent / Teacher Meetings
Your child’s teacher is very happy to discuss any questions you may have, before or after school. If you have any concerns about your child that you would like to discuss with the teacher, a more formal meeting time can easily be arranged.
Reporting to Parents
If you have any concerns about your child, no matter how small you think they are, please make time to come in and chat with us. We will also contact you if we have any concerns or important matters to discuss.
At the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2, you will receive a comprehensive report that outlines your child’s development of skills and understandings across the five outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework/WA Kindergarten Curriculum.
You are also welcome to look at your child’s portfolio at the end of each term, or at any time.
School Nurse
During the year the school nurse/health service will complete a developmental screening with all kindergarten children. The school nurse is also available for you to talk with if you have any developmental or behavioural concerns. On some occasions, the school health service/nurse will make contact with you following the screening.
School Ready
Is your child ready for school? Does he or she . . .
- Speak to and play with friends and adults?
- Look after belongings (Clothes, shoes, bag and lunchbox)?
- Decide what to do as well as follow instructions?
- Go to the toilet on their own?
- Attend to and finish a task?
Please talk with the school/teacher if your child is having difficulty with any of these.
Shoes
To encourage your child’s independence, please send them to Kindy with shoes they can manage themselves. They should be able to remove and put them back on independently.
School Siren Times
8:40am to 2:40pm.
Term Planner 2024
Water Bottles
Please provide a drink bottle with water only.
What to Wear
A non-compulsory Kindy t-shirt is available to purchase from the P&C Uniform Shop online or from the Uniform Shop on Highgate Primary School (Wednesday and Friday mornings 8:30am to 9:30am) during school terms.
Shorts, skorts, t-shirts, leggings and tracksuits are ideal, as physically active play is part of the daily program.
Please label your child’s clothing clearly as this will help keep lost property to a minimum.