Transition to School Playgroups

At St Gerard’s, our Transition to School Playgroups are designed to give preschool-aged children, their siblings and families a gentle, fun, and engaging introduction to school life. In 2025, we were delighted to welcome so many families to join us for these special mornings.

Each playgroup offered hands-on activities led by our specialist teachers:

• STEAM with Miss Baily
  Experimenting with fizzing rainbows and exploring technology through Bee-Bot robots.
• Music with Miss Fuller
  Singing, moving, and discovering rhythm in a joyful and interactive way.
• PDHPE with Mr Hird
  Learning teamwork and building gross motor skills through active games.
• Special Canteen Adventure
  With thanks to Mrs Yee, children experienced buying a treat from the canteen with their very own $1 coin, just like the “big kids.”

Alongside these highlights, children also enjoyed themed crafts, stories, and play-based learning activities.

Why Transition to School Playgroups Matter

St Gerard’s Transition to School Playgroups are about much more than fun. They help children:

• build confidence in a school setting
• develop social skills by playing and learning with others
• connect with teachers and future classmates
• experience independence through small but meaningful moments, like visiting the canteen.

Parents also benefit by:

• meeting teachers and staff in a relaxed setting
• getting to know other families starting school at the same time
• gaining a clearer picture of how St Gerard’s supports each child’s learning journey.

These playgroups play an important role in easing the transition to Kindergarten, giving children a sense of belonging and excitement about starting “big school.”

Continuing the Kindergarten Journey

The next step in the journey for children starting school at St Gerard’s are our formal Transition to School sessions for children enrolled in Kindergarten 2026. These sessions gently introduce children to their classroom and daily school routines, while also giving the St Gerard’s learning team a chance to observe the children and begin planning for classes in 2026. This ensures that every child is known, supported, and ready for a confident start to school.