New Leongatha Primary School prep kids quick to settle in

This year’s intake of prep students at Leongatha Primary School (LPS) got off to a flying start on Tuesday morning, showing no sign of nerves when the Sentinel-Times popped in during their first morning of school.

Those in Shanna Rintoul’s Prep R class, nicknamed Bumble Bee, were engrossed in play.

Shanna celebrates a decade of teaching at Leongatha Primary School this year, her own school days spent there and at Leongatha Secondary College.

She can’t recall her first day as a prep student but said the path into school is now a smooth one.

“Because we do a lot of transition the year before through our ‘Step into Prep’ program, and a lot of visits and liaising with the kinders, the kids come in fairly confident, happy and comfortable,” Shanna said.

She outlined what the next fortnight or so will entail.

“The first couple of weeks we’re spending time getting to know them, building relationships, making sure they’re happy and ready to learn,” Shanna said.

During that period, the 66 new prep students will become familiar with the environment and routines at LPS.

That includes learning about where to play and how to use a whiteboard, along with gaining an understanding of the upcoming ‘Sounds Right’ program.

 Joining the ‘Bumble Bees’ are the ‘Butterflies’, ‘Grasshoppers’ and ‘Dragonflies’.