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  • High performing staff
08 Oct 2025

​Prep teacher Leisa Henderson and with her student Nevaeh Gold. ©Brisbane Catholic Education, Star of the Sea Primary School, Cleveland (2024).​

​When it comes to starting Prep, your child’s first teacher can make all the difference.  

Star of the Sea Primary School Cleveland, knows this all too well, which is why school life starts well before a child’s first day of Prep.  

On World Teachers’ Day (Friday, 31 October), we celebrate the dedicated educators who know that their impact is not marked by a single day, built on relationships, familiarity, and trust.  

Building belonging  

Star of the Sea Primary School Principal Lagi Aukusitino said it wasn’t just about “a one-off orientation experience,” they offered a series of meaningful touchpoints across the year, each one crafted to ease anxiety, build connection, and prepare both children and their families for a smooth start to Prep. 

“We enjoy strong partnerships with our local kindergartens, with children often beginning visits to Star of the Sea a year before they start Prep,” she said.  

“We invite our local kindergarten students to borrow books from our school library, participate in specialist lessons like sport and music, and take part in school events like Book Week, NAIDOC Week, and Under Eights Week. 

“We also host a Kindy Carnival in March, with face painting, games, sporting activities, craft, and take-home gift bags.  

“It’s a fun and welcoming opportunity for kindergarten students to familiarise themselves with the school and begin to feel part of a school community.” 

Supporting families and their children 

Star of the Sea Primary School knows it’s not just children who are transitioning; parents are too.  

Lagi adds, “events like our Coffee Connect provide space for parents to meet teachers, ask questions, and form valuable social networks within our school community”. 

“There’s also a strong emphasis on providing families with useful, timely information,” she said.  

“Sessions like ‘Get Set for Prep’ and Parent Information sessions cover everything from daily routines and fine motor skills to Prep expectations, school values, and lunchbox tips. 

“Our Support Teacher Inclusive Education and Guidance Counsellor is also on hand during our Get Set for Prep visits, helping us identify any additional support a child may need and ensuring we’re ready to meet their needs from day one. 

“Future scholars and their families are invited to connect throughout the year at our ‘Pop-Up Play Dates,’ where children enjoy play-based activities in the school playground while parents have the chance to meet, chat, and even exchange numbers, building early friendships that carry into the Prep year.  

“We also host a whole school transition day in December, where all our students (Prep to Year 6) meet their new teachers and classmates ahead of their first day in the new year.”

 

It’s all about ‘Prep-aration’ 

For Prep teachers like Leisa Henderson, “preparation is everything.” 

“Pre-Preps are sent home with a library text to explore during the school holidays,” she said. 

“This simple but meaningful practice helps children begin to feel connected to their future school community.” 

“When they return for their first day of school, the familiar storybook is used in class, building comfort and confidence in children as they settle into their new school environment. Prep is about belonging, feeling safe, and feeling ready to learn.” 

For more information about Star of the Sea Primary School, Cleveland or to enrol click here.  

About Queensland World Teachers’ Day: 

Queensland World Teachers' Day is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and applaud our teachers for the important role they play in our communities and for the positive impact they have on the lives of students. This year’s Queensland theme is Celebrating Teachers. If you would like to thank a staff member at a BCE school, share your appreciation on your school’s appreciation wall, take a photo and tag BCE on social media. ​


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