Term 4 is always buzzing with excitement, as there are so many wonderful things to look forward to, such as class excursions, Christmas preparations and the end of year celebratory events to name but a few. Along with the excitement of finishing off the school year, there is also the equally exciting but often daunting thought that the new year brings a new class, classmates and a new teacher.

For some, the start of a new year is exciting. However, for others, change of class, classmates and teachers can be a very loaded thought which brings about anxiety and uncertainty. While coming back after the Christmas school break can be nerve-wracking, it is actually an important part of a child’s learning in how they can adapt to change, new classmates, new teachers and a new classroom. Fortunately, there are things we as adults can do for our children to prepare them to face the new year with confidence and hope.

1.  Include the child in preparing for the next year. Have your child prepare their uniform ready for the new school year. Let your child help you plan for their recess and lunch and allow them to pack their own lunch box.

2.  Avoid being a ‘lawnmower’ parent. Don’t try to smooth a path for your child too much. There is so much value in allowing your child to learn how to solve their own problems. It is so hard to avoid the temptation to step in until your child has had a decent chance to work through the problems themselves. Your role as parent is to be there as a support person to help them develop their sense of independence.

3.  Get into really healthy habits before school starts, such as good bedtime routines, early bedtimes, avoiding screen time prior to sleeping, healthy food and drinking plenty of water.

4.  Acknowledge that feeling nervous is perfectly normal, but don’t leave them there! Help them to focus on the positive experiences they will have. Remind them that the year previously they were nervous about this year, and it turned out well for them and they’re not nervous now. It will be the same for the new school year. 

5.  Be mindful that you don’t view your child’s school experience through the lens of your own experience. Our own experiences can leave us with anxious feelings, but if we don’t check our own emotions, we can transfer these feelings to our children. Reassure your child that they are safe at school and their teacher will look after them.

6.  Celebrate their success after the day at school. They’ll be tired, so ask open questions and don’t worry if they don’t want to talk about school. If your child is worried about something, remind them to speak to their classroom teacher who is the perfect person to help them.

Please keep in mind that we have the best interests of your child at heart and think extremely carefully about which class they are placed into for the following year. Compiling classes is a highly complex process, and we weigh up many different factors to ensure your child’s success. From past experience, some students and parents are concerned about the class their child has been placed into, and find the following year that it was a very advantageous and successful placement. We would recommend that you have a chat to your child’s teacher if you have reservations about the class for 2025, and ask you to trust your child’s teacher to operate in your child’s best interest.

If your child is worried and you are finding it difficult to manage at home, please seek the support of a member of our Wellbeing Team. We are here to help you, your child and your family.

I wish you and your family a wonderful week.

God bless you,

Deb Clifford
Deputy Principal