Pascoe Vale South Primary School recognises the importance of a child's positive transition. With appropriate preparation and understanding, children are more likely to feel secure and settle more easily into their new environment. 

Transition across our school includes:- 

• During a Social and Emotional Learning session, teachers discuss with their class what makes an effective learning partner. Students select five Learning Partners that teachers select from when creating the new grades.
• In Term 4 of the previous year, new students from Year levels 1-6 visit classes to meet their new teacher and class to learn about expectations for the next year level.
• A ‘Hello 2026,’ time is allocated for all students to visit their new classroom teacher and meet their new class, prior to the finish of the school year. Students starting the following year are invited to attend on this day.

Kindergarten – Foundation

Our Prep Transition Program is the beginning of your child’s journey to school, where they will have many opportunities to learn about our school and begin settling in.

We are proud of our well established and successful transition programs.  An important priority for us is that all children new to Pascoe Vale South PS feel happy and secure, as quickly as possible.  This is achieved through explicit programs and a nurturing and caring staff.  We provide new children with a buddy to help them familiarise themselves to our school and to settle in. Our Foundation students have a Year 5 buddy for the year.

We implement a structured approach to build happy, positive relationships with our incoming Foundation students and families.  

These include:

• A parent evening in November, held to discuss the Foundation transition process and expectations for the following year.  A comprehensive handbook is provided for all families.
• A formal program for enrolled students which takes place in Term 4.
• Individual interview and testing times for all students are arranged, before students start the year.
• A Welcome Picnic Day for the current Foundation students and families, singing and listening to stories.
• Invitations to other whole school events eg: Whole School Picnic, Arts Carnevale, Concert, House Spirit Team Picnics, Athletics,
• Our Foundation students have well matched Year 5 buddies to help them happily settle into school life.  Their buddies also plan and implement fun literacy and numeracy activities to do together during Book Week, Literacy & Numeracy Week, Education Week and other initiatives.

Starting School at Pascoe Vale South PS - Foundation Social Story.

Foundation Starting School

Year 6-7 Transition

Our well developed and effective relationships, with main neighbourhood secondary colleges, are very important in ensuring a smooth transition to secondary education.  Our students attend a wide range of local Government, Catholic and Independent secondary colleges.

Our secondary transition program focuses on excellent communication between our local secondary college, parents and our school’s transition co-ordinator.

Each year our local secondary college visit PVSPS with past students, to talk to our Year 6 students.  Secondary college information nights for parents are promoted in our newsletter and parents are encouraged to visit a range of secondary colleges.

From Term 2, the transition process begins with applications which are sent home regarding choices for the Secondary School families prefer for their Year 6 children. Secondary Schools offer information sessions to parents regarding Year 6 to Year 7 transition. It is important that you submit your Secondary School application form and follow the timeline accordingly.
Please feel free to talk to us about your Secondary School choices. It is encouraged that you make a time to tour Secondary Schools as early as possible to ensure you are making an informed decision.

Parents/carers will be notified in Term 3 about their Secondary School choice. There is a state-wide transition orientation day for Year 6 students to visit their Secondary School early in December to assist with their transition for the following year.

    Parent Tip Sheet 1. Preparing for Secondary School:

• Visit https://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au/
• Visit school websites to inform yourselves of what the school has to offer
• Attend parent information sessions and open days
• If you miss the open day, call to make an appointment for a tour
• Think about how your child will travel to and from school
• Find out what facilities and resources the school offers– are you comfortable with the ‘feel’ of the school?
• Find out what the subject choices are.
• Are there specialty programs to meet your child’s needs, interests or talents?
• Ask if the school offers Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) in the senior years?
• Find out what help is available if your child requires English as a Second Language support
• Find out what additional support is available at the school – for example for students with learning needs
• Read the school’s latest Annual Report and newsletters
• Understand school policies on homework, discipline and uniforms
• Ask about how you can get involved

Parent Tip Sheet 2. Transition from Primary to Secondary School
While moving from primary to secondary school can be an exciting time for young people and their parents, it can also be a bit daunting. The more informed and involved you are in your child’s preparation, the more likely the transition will be a positive experience. From day one, your child will experience many changes, each of which brings questions and new things to do:

• More subjects
• More homework
• More challenging school work
• The responsibility to get to classes in different rooms on time
• The need to manage themselves, their learning and equipment
• Using lockers and carrying books between classes
• Adapting to different teaching styles
• Having no ‘home’ classroom although many schools have a base for Year 7 students.