Transition Skills
The transition to secondary school is an important phase in a young person’s life and, consequently, Mater Maria Catholic College has recognised this and put in place a number of strategies to ease this process.
It is important students are familiar with their high school environment before their first day of lessons at the school. In Term 4, Year 6 enrolled students attend a day of testing followed with some activities and barbecue. There is also an information evening held to specifically answer any questions about the transition to secondary school.
Year 7 students also start the new year a day earlier than the rest of the College. This enables them to have a good look around and to also participate in some initial activities with their Peer Counsellors.
Further, Mater Maria Catholic College offers the Year 7 students a Transition Skills program which is conducted two times per fortnight (cycle).
This program aims to :
- provide students with essential knowledge and skills to successfully navigate their high school environment
- enhance resilience via the promotion of communication, participation, positive self regard, teamwork and a sense of belonging and connectness to school.
The Transition Skills program consists of such topics as
Term 1
Making friends; getting organised; introduction to the Information Centre (library)
Term 2
Anti-Bullying; introduction to study skills
Term 3
Problem solving; using the Internet
Term 4
Study skills; conflict resolution; note taking/plagiarism
In Term 1, an important part of the program is Peer Counselling, where students have the opportunity to complete various activities in small groups under the guidance of Year 11 students.