Welcome to Westminster Transition
At Westminster we ensure all our Transition children have a confident and supported start to their formal years of Schooling, laying strong foundations for a lifelong love of learning.
Designed for children turning five between May and October, this program gently bridges the gap between Early Learning and full-time School in Reception, offering the perfect environment to build strong foundations for future success.
We believe in strong partnerships with families. From the very beginning, you’ll be supported with clear communication, orientation sessions and opportunities to meet our educators and other families.
In Weeks 2 and 3, Term 2 you will meet with Head of Preparatory School Simon McKenzie and Head of Wellbeing Anna Partridge with your child as a getting to know you meeting before your child starts with us. Please book your 20-minute meeting using the link below.
Orientation and Transition Visits
We offer a series of three structured Orientation visits to help children feel at ease in their new environment and begin forming connections with classmates and teachers. These visits also provide parents with the opportunity to learn more about School life and connect with other families.
Children attending the ELC on Thursdays will be accompanied to and from class by staff.
If your child does not attend the ELC on Thursdays, please drop them off at the Transition classrooms at 9.00 am and collect them at the appropriate time.
All children should bring a labelled snack, lunch and drink bottle. Children are welcome to wear their ELC uniform or plain clothes.
Key Dates
| Date | Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Thursday 5 June (Week 6)
|
9.00-9.45 am
|
Parent welcome and morning tea
|
Thomas Pavillion
|
|
Thursday 5 June (Week 6)
|
9.00-12.00 pm
|
Orientation 1 – students
|
Transition classrooms
|
|
Thursday 12 June (Week 7)
|
9.00-12.00 pm
|
Orientation 2 – students
|
Transition classrooms
|
|
Thursday 19 June (Week 8)
|
9.00 am-2.00 pm
|
Orientation 3 – students
|
Transition classrooms
|
|
Thursday 19 June (Week 8)
|
2.00-2.45 pm
|
Transition Meet and Mingle – students and parents
|
JP Playground
|
Key Information
Orientation Day Itinerary
Here’s a detailed itinerary for your child’s final Transition visit. This full-day experience is designed to help them feel increasingly confident and settled in the Junior Primary environment.
9.00 am
Children from the ELC walk across to the Junior Primary (JP Eating Area – JP13 & JP14) with ELC staff.
Kelly Warren and Meg Duggan will greet students and assist with settling in. Bags can be placed on named hooks, and lunch boxes/drink bottles stored in lockers.
9.20 am
Activity 1 – A creative, play-based activity (approx. 20 mins)
9.40 am
Activity 2 – Continued or new classroom-based exploration (approx. 20 mins)
10.00 am
Recess Eating Time – Children eat in class for a calm, unrushed break
10.20 am
Recess Play Time – Supervised outdoor play
10.40 am
Activity 3 – May include a story, artwork or hands-on classroom experience
11.20 am
Classroom Play and Finishing Activities – Opportunity for open-ended play and completing earlier tasks
12.00 pm
Chapel Visit (optional, depending on readiness)
12.30 pm
Early Lunch Eating
12.40 pm
Lunch Play Time
1.30 pm
Story Time, Quiet Time and Pack Up
2.00 pm
Children return to the ELC or meet parents at the Junior Primary playground
Stationery and Booklist Orders
Families are reminded to place all Campion stationery and booklist orders by 21 June 2025. Please take a moment to review the instructions carefully before ordering.
Orders can be placed via the Campion website: Campion | Education Solutions for Australian Schools
- Select Westminster Preparatory School (South Australia) from the drop-down menu.
- Use the Resource List Code: D7GR
- Tick only the items required – only ticked items will be supplied.
- Payment is by credit card or money order only. Campion does not accept cash or cheques.
- All orders will be delivered directly to the School ahead of Term 3.
Late orders will incur a fee.
For support, contact Campion on 08 8337 4544 or via sasales@campion.com.au
Communication Platforms
Before your child begins their journey at Westminster, please download and familiarise yourself with the following apps to enhance communication between parents, the School and the classroom.
These apps are designed to streamline communication and support your child's transition into School.
Qkr
Qkr is used to make School payments quickly and easily from your phone. You can pay for canteen orders, School events, uniforms and more, all in one place.
Seesaw
Seesaw is a learning platform where you can view your child's classroom activities and progress. Teachers share photos, videos and updates so you can stay connected with what your child is learning.
Xplor
Xplor is Westminster’s OSHC bookings hub. Use this app to book your child’s before and after school care sessions as well as school holiday vacation programs.
Class Placements
During the Transition Program, teachers have opportunities to get to know each child. This enables teachers to observe positive friendships and children’s areas of interests. As a result, teachers take their observations into account when making decisions around the best placement of children in class groups. For children, the opportunity to mix in different groups provides space to rekindle past friendships or initiate new ones, and find likeminded peers to bond with.
Uniforms
From Term 3, all Mid-Year Reception students are required to wear the Westminster School uniform.
Our uniforms are available through the Westminster Uniform Shop, located on campus. The shop stocks all required items including summer and sport uniforms, school bags and hats.
Uniform Shop Details
Location: 27 Alison Avenue
Phone: +61 8 8276 0260
Email: uniforms@westminster.sa.edu.au
Opening Hours:
Monday: 8.15am to 4.30pm
Tuesday: 12.30pm to 4.30pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 8.15am to 4.30pm
Friday: 12.30pm to 4.30pm
Fitting appointments are recommended and can be booked online via our Uniform Shop page.
FAQs
Whether you’re looking for details about daily routines, co-curricular activities, communication, or practical matters like uniforms and lunch orders, the FAQ page offers a helpful starting point. View the page here.
Questions?
We are here to support you. If you have any questions about the Transition program or your child’s start at Westminster, please contact Head of Wellbeing, Anna Patridge.
Phone: +61 8 8276 0239
Email: APartridge@westminster.sa.edu.au