Leading Queensland independent school Matthew Flinders Anglican College in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast is taking the worry out of transitioning children to a new school during the Primary School years.
Parents keen to hear more about how Flinders’ welcomes and supports new students are invited to the College’s ‘Principal’s Tour of the Primary School’ on Tuesday, 21 May from 9:00am – 11:00am.
During the guided tour, parents will hear from Principal Stuart Meade and Head of Primary Trudi Edwards about Flinders’ dedicated Primary intake years in Prep, Year 3 and Year 5.
Principal Stuart Meade explained that families who joined Flinders mid-way through their children’s Primary years acted on their desire to choose a school with a rich academic program and a strong and diverse range of co-curricular opportunities.
“However, parents naturally worry that when their child transitions to a new school that they may struggle to adjust to the new routine and fear it will be difficult to make new friends,” Stuart said.
“At Flinders, we are aware of these concerns and pride ourselves on nurturing a caring College community,” he said.
“We provide a holistic program of orientation events and processes, pastoral care support and buddy networks to make the transition for new students as smooth, positive and supportive as possible.
“Flinders accepts students in all year levels from Prep to Year 12 as places become available, however, the specific intake years are Prep, Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10.
“In particular, our Year 5 intake year is a popular choice for Primary transition.
“Many families who want a quality education for their children find that enrolment in Year 5 at Flinders enables their child to feel settled and confident by the time they progress in Year 7 to our Middle School, as part of our Secondary School.”
Buderim-based parents Ross and Karen Harris agree with the theory of transitioning children to a new school in Senior Primary to pave way for a smoother start to Secondary schooling.
The Harris family joined Flinders three years ago when their eldest daughter commenced Year 5.
Ross notes his daughter was naturally apprehensive about the move, however, they are thrilled they made the transition.
“Our eldest daughter was most concerned about leaving her friends at her old school, however, the Flinders Orientation Program for new students is excellent,” Ross said.
“She was matched with three buddies from the school with similar interests and received hand-written notes from them before school started,” he said.
“She also met her buddies on Orientation Day and for a play date before their first day of school, which made her first few days on campus so much easier on her and us.
“Flinders’ transition process was so good that when it was time for our younger daughter to join Flinders in Year 4, she was so keen to get to Flinders – having observed her older sister’s positive experience – that she happily joined in Term Three.
“With the support of her buddies she assimilated into the school from day one.
“Both Karen and I could not be happier with our decision to move our girls to Flinders when we did.
“Our daughters are now in Year 7 and Year 8, and revel in the school culture and the opportunities provided.
“Having moved our girls to Flinders in Year 4 and Year 5 enabled them to develop a strong understanding of the school and to gain a firm foundation academically, which has set them up excellently for Senior Primary and Secondary School.”
For more information about joining Flinders in Year 5, please visit https://www.mfac.edu.au/year-5-intake-year/
Flinders is inviting prospective families to the Principal’s Tour of the Primary School on Tuesday, 21 May from 9:00am – 11:00am.
For families with students entering Prep in 2020 and beyond, Flinders is hosting a Prep Information Evening on Tuesday, 28 May from 6:30pm - 7:30pm.
To book your place at these events, visit https://www.mfac.edu.au/events/ or phone 5477 3260.
