By Callum Ludwig
Prep students have hit a milestone as they celebrate finishing their first 100 days of school.
Yarra Junction Primary School students had an activity-packed day on Monday 24 July to recognise the achievement.
Prep and Grade One Teacher Tania Scott said the students dressed up as 100-year-olds for the occasion.
“Across the year it’s been really interesting to see them be able to be really in control of their own learning, they’re really good now at being able to find their possessions and be ready for their lessons,” she said.
“I think the biggest thing that the kids have taken away is their ability to read and to understand the written word, it’s been phenomenal and a lot of the parents really let us know, back on the first day they might’ve known the first letter of their name and now they’re reading sentences and are so confident and so proud of themselves as readers.”
100 was the theme of the day, with 100 balloons, necklaces made of 100 fruit loops, exploring the different ways to count to 100 and a performance for the school of Jack Hartmann’s ‘100 Days of School with Grandma and Grandpa’ featured among the day’s activities.
Prep Teacher Leanne Hancock said the kids have picked up the routine and structure of school well.
“Every day we do Jollyphonics, which sets them up for that confidence boost in that they’re reading and writing straight away, and in the maths rotation they are quite fluent depending on their abilities,” she said.
“We also have a house run every Thursday morning, organised by our house captains, and the students run around the courts and get points for their house, it’s actually become quite a really exciting time for the kids and they’ll do a lot of things to get points for their house.”
Yarra Junction Primary School’s ‘Green Brain’ and ‘Red Brain’ behaviour program has also helped the students quickly adjust to the standards of behaviour expected of them at school.
Ms Scott said it is incredibly important that students have a good start to their life at school.
“I think the more that you can develop their confidence and a ‘have a go’, resilient attitude, the more you’re going to get out of them,” she said.
“I had a student tell me they go home and tell their mum and dad and their brothers and sisters, ‘that’s not the Junction Way’, which is all about being positive, helping and going out of your way to make sure everybody’s okay.”
Prep students at Yarra Junction Primary School have a visit from Year Seven and Eight students at Upper Yarra Secondary College to read stories and a visit to RSPCA in Burwood to look forward to in the near future.
