The 2016 school year starts on Tuesday 2 February. Beginning a new school can be both scary and exciting. We have listed some things you can do to ease the nerves and help you make the best possible start to the new school year.
Uniform
The Uniform Shop Tuesdays 8.00 am – 9.00 am and 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm. Cheques must be made payable to Direct Group Ltd. There are eftpos facilities available.
Stationery
Berkley issues a standard stationery pack to all students. You will receive details about this pack on the first day of school. You will need to bring your pencil case filled with the normal things – pens (blue and red), pencil, eraser, ruler, gluestick – as well as some paper. This will be enough to see you through to when stationery is required.
Plan Your Route to School
School begins at 8:35am. Plan a route that will let you arrive between 8:15 – 8:30am (not too early as standing around waiting may add to any nervousness you already feel). Bus Only bus students use the Berkley Ave entrance. This entrance is an extremely busy place, so remember to use the path. On the first day follow the path past the Administration block, past the Rec. Centre, through the car park and onto the padder-tennis courts. (There’s a map of the school further down you can look at.) There will be a meeting for all bus students in Block 4 on Monday afternoon, held in the Rec. Centre. It is at this meeting where you will be sorted into bus runs and bus lists will be made. It is important that you know the names of the streets or roads around where you live as this will help ensure you are placed on the right bus.
Cars
Students are dropped off at the Mullane Street entrance. Please keep the turning bays free.
Walkers and Cyclists
Remember to use the appropriate underpass and pedestrian crossings. Our school crossing is patrolled between 8:15 – 8:30am and 3:15 – 3:25pm. Cyclists need to walk their bikes down Mullane Street.
Lay out your Uniform - Remember that 720+ other students will be wearing the same uniform, so make sure every item of clothing (including footwear) is clearly labelled with your name.
Pack your Bag - Make sure you have got everything you need: Hat Sunscreen PE clothes (appropriate mufti shorts and t-shirt) Lunch Pencil case and paper 20 cents for the student pay phone.
Set your Alarm
Give yourself enough time to wake up, to go through your morning routine and arrive at school between 8:15 – 8:25am. Try to get an early night often it’s hard falling asleep the night before. Give yourself time.
The First Day
When you arrive, make your way to the padder-tennis courts on the ‘Front Turf’. Be prepared to meet a lot of other students. At 8:35am the school bell will ring and you’ll be asked to move into the Rec. Centre.
Classes
Once everyone is settled you’ll be greeted by Mr Leith, our principal. He will introduce some of the teachers and speak briefly about our school and the upcoming year. Next, one of the team leaders will step forward, introduce a teacher who will begin reading out their class list. You’ll need to listen very carefully. Although the teachers practice beforehand, they may not pronounce your name the way you are used to. Listen carefully and if it sounds like your name, stand with your bag when the teacher has finished reading the entire class list, then make your way out and line up in single file on the padder tennis courts again. If you are unsure whether it was your name you heard, now would be a good time to ask. If it was your name – excellent! If not, you can easily slip back into the Rec. Centre. Another teacher will step forward. This is your signal to listen carefully as another class list is about to be read. Things will continue like this, teacher by teacher, team by team. In between the reading of each class, Mr Leith may pass on important pieces of information. Make sure you continue to listen the entire time you’re seated in the Rec. Centre.
Can my parents/caregivers come with me? - Absolutely. They are often just as excited or nervous as you. Your parent can come into the Rec. Centre for the reading of the class lists. There’s plenty of room for them to stand at the back. Your parent can also accompany you to your new classroom. Once they know where you will be based, it’s better that they leave to give you, your classmates and teacher a chance to get to know each other.
But what if I get lost? - At first Berkley seems like a big school so there will be easy-to-spot duty teachers out and about. Also there are at least 300 other students you can ask for directions. In time, you’ll realise it’s easy to navigate your way round.
I’m hungry! When’s break? - This is probably the biggest adjustment you’ll have to make. Good advice is to eat breakfast. You’ll have two 15 minute breaks before lunchtime. The first break is at 10:00am, then another at 11:30am. Sit down lunch is from 1:00 – 1:10pm, then ‘lunch break’ runs from 1:10 – 1:50pm. School finishes at 3:15pm. Use your breaks wisely. Try to eat and drink something each break. Also, visit the restrooms during this time.
But I don’t know anyone - Starting a new school can be scary and exciting. Try thinking of it as a new adventure. True, you may not know anyone at 8:35am, but by 10:00am you will have started to get to know at least one classmate. By the next break you will at least know two. Keep building up this number. Remember that friendships take time. Being ‘open and friendly’ helps too.
What can I do at lunchtime? - Every lunchtime, at least two sports or game type activities are offered. We call these ‘promotions’. You need to wear your PE gear to take part (a hat too will be wise if you choose to be outdoors). Promotions can be a great way to get to know people. We have a very cool adventure playground that you could try out, or you could make your own games up on one of the astroturfs. Or, if you want, you could simply sit and chat with people under the sun umbrellas in the food court.
Don’t worry – almost everyone will be feeling the same as you. Communicate with your teacher; they are here to help.
