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News Articles at St Paul The Apostle Primary Winston Hills

Transitioning smoothly into ‘big school’: What parents need to know

12 Jan 2026

St Joseph's Kingswood Primary Kindergarten students holding banner that reads first day of Kindergarten

The first day of Kindergarten!

It’s a milestone filled with excitement, pride and maybe a few nerves (for both you and your child!). Starting “big school” marks the beginning of a whole new adventure, and with a little preparation, you can help make those first weeks calm, confident and full of smiles.

1. Talk it up with excitement!
Children take their cues from you. Speak positively about school, the friends they’ll make, the fun activities and the stories they’ll hear. This helps build excitement rather than anxiety. If you’re feeling nervous, that’s normal too, just try to keep the focus on the positives!

2. Practise the little things
In the lead-up to school, have a few “practice mornings.” Pack the school bag, try on the uniform and walk or drive past the school together. Familiarity makes everything feel a little less overwhelming when the big day arrives.

St Joseph's Kingswood Primary Kindergarten students in class

3. Create a calm morning routine
Have a predictable morning - breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, bag in hand. This helps children feel secure. Try it out before term starts so it becomes second nature. And remember: even if the first morning feels like a blur, a hug, a smile and a confident goodbye go a long way.

4. Expect tiredness (and big emotions)
Starting school is exciting and exhausting! Don’t be surprised if your child is extra tired or emotional in those first few weeks. Keep afternoons simple, with plenty of rest, snacks and downtime.

St Michael's Baulkham Hills Kindergarten students with principal, Tracy Hoey.

5. Stay connected
Ask open-ended questions like “What was the best thing you did today?” rather than “What did you learn?” And remember, every child settles in at their own pace. If you have any concerns, your child’s teacher is there to help.




Starting school is a big step, but it’s also the start of something wonderful - new friends, new skills and new adventures. At our Catholic schools, we’re here to partner with you in nurturing your child’s learning, faith and wellbeing from the very beginning.

Click here to find a Catholic school near you and learn more about enrolling

Enrolment General

Written By

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au

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    08 Mar 2026

    From Facebook
    Nothing but smiles in year 5 as we welcomed our families in to see our wonderful classrooms!
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    07 Mar 2026

    From Facebook
    Our Year 2 students had the best time welcoming their families into the classroom 📚📝❤️

More News

Two Sacred Heart Primary, Mount Druitt students writing into their workbooks in class.

10 Mar 2026

NAPLAN: What Parents Really Need to Know

Each March, families across Australia hear a lot about NAPLAN. The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. But what does it really mean for your child in 2026?

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08 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Nothing but smiles in year 5 as we welcomed our families in to see our wonderful classrooms!

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07 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Our Year 2 students had the best time welcoming their families into the classroom 📚📝❤️

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06 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Year 3 enjoyed Open Classrooms for Catholic Schools Week.

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06 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Open classrooms for Catholic Schools Week! We loved welcoming parents into our Year 4 learning space today to see our learning in action.

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06 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Our students now have the opportunity to support Project Compassion through Caritas. Families can support the initiative by placing cash in the classroom donation boxes or by making a donation online: https://www.projectcompassion.org.au/fundraiser/stpaultheapostleprimaryschoolwinstonhills Every small act of kindness helps make a big difference for communities in need. Thank you to our wonderful school community for supporting others this Lent. 🙏

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06 Mar 2026

From Facebook

📝Year One enjoyed showing their families their classrooms for Catholic Schools week! 📚

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06 Mar 2026

From Facebook

📸 This week, our Year 6 photographers dove into the world of Reflections. Using iPads, safety mirrors and various reflective surfaces, students explored how to add depth, emotion, and mystery to their shots! Great work! 📸

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06 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Congratulations to all of the children who participated in our annual Cross Country event at Max Ruddock Reserve. Thank you to all of the staff and parent helpers who made the day possible 🏃‍♀️ 🏃🏻 🏃🏻‍♂️

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05 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Our Kindergarten children had the sweetest day at the Teddy Bears Picnic with their amazing Year Six buddies! Together they played games and enjoyed a special walk down the red carpet with their beloved teddies. 🐻 🧺

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05 Mar 2026

From Facebook

To finish off our Catholic Schools Week celebrations, you are cordially invited to join us for lunch tomorrow, Friday 6th March, with your children on the playground at 1.30 pm, followed by open classrooms at 2 pm. Please see the attached invitation. Please feel free to bring your picnic blankets and/or chairs

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04 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Best of luck to our swimmers today at the CSPD Diocesan Swimming Carnival 🏊 🥇 🥈 🥉

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02 Mar 2026

From Facebook

A big round of applause to our Swimming Carnival Age Champions! 🏅 We are so proud of the amazing talent and special gifts each of our swimmers brings to the pool. Congratulations! 🎉

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02 Mar 2026

From Facebook

Welcome to our new Faith in Action (FIAT) team for 2026! A new year and a new team with same mission. Congratulations to the selected Year Five children. 🙏🏼🎉

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01 Mar 2026

From Facebook

St. Paul the Apostle Primary School commenced Catholic Schools Week this morning in prayer. Staff, students, parents and parishioners were led by Reverend Monsignor Ron McFarlane at the 9.30am parish mass, and members of the Parish Council, including President, Mr Michael Reid were also in attendance. This eucharistic celebration gave our school and parish community time to unite, reflect and give thanks for the gift of Catholic education at St. Paul's. Thank you to all who came to mark the beginning of our Catholic Schools Week celebrations. We hope you are able to join some of the other scheduled activities during the week. Catholic education: belong to something greater.

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