The summer holidays are over for more than 193,000 students who have started or returned to government schools across South Australia today.
Joining them will be more than 26,000 teachers and support staff who work in the 508 government schools and 386 government preschools across the state.
And this means more activity on our roads, especially in school zones, which is why drivers are being reminded to be extra vigilant in these zones, and to watch out for pedestrians and to slow down to 25km/h.
Around 18,000 children are this year in reception in SA schools, and about 14,000 are attending a government preschool or kindergarten.
The first few weeks of school can be overwhelming for these students, as they settle into a new routine.
To help, the Education Department has the following tips for parents:
- Children may be tired at the end of the day. Don’t plan too many after-school activities; make sure they have time to rest and for free play.
- They may be ‘starving’ after school. Take a healthy snack when you pick them up. Try giving them an early dinner as they may be too tired to eat later.
- They may want to tell you all about their day as soon as they see you. Be available to listen. Some children may want to relax first.
- Encourage them to talk about good things that happen at school.
- Make reading with them part of your daily routine. Bedtime stories are a great way to end the day.
The Education Department also has helpful resources for both parents and students, to help make the transition to secondary school as seamless as possible:
Department for Education Chief Executive Professor Martin Westwell said school leaders, teachers and support staff were excited to welcome students into the classroom for another school year.
"I'd like to encourage our students to embrace every learning opportunity that's presented to them this year, knowing that your teachers are there to help you every step of the way," Prof Westwell said.
"Our purpose in public education is to ensure every child and young person in South Australia can learn and thrive, and we're excited for the year ahead."
The return to school comes as the State and Federal Governments jointly announced last week more than $1 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to South Australian public schools over the next 10 years.
This represents the biggest investment in South Australian public schools by the Australian Government ever, and will facilitate more individualised support for students, mandating evidenced-based teaching practices and more mental health support in schools.
