Transitioning from Year 2 to Year 3

For some students, the transition from Year 2 to Year 3 can be a tricky one. Students move from being part of our infants team to joining the primary grades, officially becoming one of the ‘big kids’! While this can be exciting for some, others may find the uncertainty of the move overwhelming. To support all students, we have created a transition program designed to build connections and familiarity between students, Stage 2 teachers, and their classmates.

Transition Groups

During Term 4, our current Year 2 and Year 3 students take part in our transition groups to help make their move to Stage 2 a positive experience. Each week, students come together one afternoon and are mixed into groups with both Year 2 and Year 3 classmates. These groups visit a Stage 2 classroom, spending time exploring creative, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional activities inspired by our High Potential Gifted Education (HPGE) program. Throughout the term, students will get to know each Stage 2 teacher and make new connections with their peers, building confidence and friendships as they prepare for the next stage of their school journey.

Below are the many benefits of this program:

Providing connection between our year 2 and 3 students

Helping our children step bravely into the unknown

The opportunity to spend time with our Stage 2 teachers

Play is the way

Our Play is the Way lessons are designed to help build resilience and connection among our students. To prepare our Year 2 students, we create mixed Play is the Way groups that include students from Years 2 to 6. These groups come together to complete their lessons with the support of our Stage 2 teachers. This approach gives younger students the chance to get to know their older peers and get a feel for life across the primary years in a supportive and positive environment.

Miss Morgan leading a PITW activity

A PITW group with students from Year 2-6

Learning valuable social-emotional skills with our peers

Buddy Programs

At our school, we truly value the connections between students of all ages. We’ve seen first-hand how much our students can learn from each other. Our older students are wonderful guides for our younger children, sharing their experiences and showing them the ropes of school life. At the same time, our younger students teach the older ones important lessons in patience and resilience. It’s amazing to watch these relationships grow, and we believe that every student—no matter their age—has something special to offer and something new to learn.

This is why we run a variety of buddy days and opportunities throughout the year. Sometimes it’s a whole school buddy day, while other times our infants and primary classes meet one afternoon each week to enjoy a buddy activity together. The connections this creates mean that all of our children get to know one another well, filling the playground with friendly, familiar faces. For our Year 2 students especially, participating in Buddy Days helps them become comfortable with their peers, making the transition to primary school feel much less daunting. These moments of connection truly help build a warm and welcoming school community for everyone.