Prep 2027
Everything for families starting Prep at St Mary's in 2027: transition session dates (1 September, 13 October, 24 November 2026), what a Prep day looks like, school readiness, uniform and the first weeks.
Welcome to the Prep 2027 cohort. Around 90 children will start Prep with us on Friday 29 January 2027 in four classes in the Penola Centre, led by our Prep coordinator Ms Bec Lawson. This page collects the dates and practical detail you need between now and then. If you have not yet enrolled, a small number of Prep 2027 places remain — contact our Registrar, Mrs Kate O'Brien, on (03) 9555 0120.
Transition program dates
Our three transition sessions are for children only (parents stay for a cuppa and a short information session in the Penola Centre foyer). Children spend the session in a Prep classroom with the Prep teachers, meeting classmates and getting to know the room, the toilets and the playground.
| Session | Date and time | Focus | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transition Session 1 | Tuesday 1 September 2026, 9:15–10:30am | Story, craft and play; a first look at the Prep playground | Welcome talk from Ms Priya Natarajan, Head of Junior School; Q&A with Ms Bec Lawson |
| Transition Session 2 | Tuesday 13 October 2026, 9:15–10:30am | Literacy and numeracy games; visit to the Junior Library | Information from OSHC, Uniform Shop and canteen; Parent Portal set-up help |
| Prep Parent Information Evening | Wednesday 18 November 2026, 7:00–8:15pm, Penola Centre | — | Parents only: the first weeks, routines, reading at home, what to pack. Class lists explained. |
| Transition Session 3 | Tuesday 24 November 2026, 9:15–10:30am | Children meet their 2027 class teacher and classmates; a mini "school day" with a snack | Morning tea with the Prep 2027 parent reps and P&F |
Enter via the Junior gate on Chapel Road and sign in at the welcome desk. Park on Sutherland Street or in the visitor car park at the main entrance — the Kiss-and-Drop zone is not for parking. Children should wear comfortable clothes and bring a hat and a drink bottle; we provide morning snack (nut-free). Please tell us about allergies when you RSVP via the Parent Portal or by emailing enrol@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.
Children attending a kindergarten that runs the same morning are welcome — kindergartens routinely release children for school transition sessions. Kinder-to-school Transition Learning and Development Statements are sent to us by your kindergarten in November.
The first weeks of Prep 2027
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 27 – Thursday 28 January 2027 | Years 7 and 12, then all other year levels, start. Prep families may collect named books and hats from the Penola Centre 9:00am–3:00pm. |
| Friday 29 January 2027 | First day of Prep, 8:45am. Parents welcome to stay for a photo at the classroom door; we will have tissues and coffee in the foyer. Dismissal 3:20pm from the classroom door. |
| Wednesdays 3, 10, 17 and 24 February 2027 | Prep students do not attend. Teachers conduct one-to-one English Online Interview and Mathematics assessments by appointment (booked via the Parent Portal in late January, 20 minutes each). |
| From Wednesday 3 March 2027 | Prep attends five full days per week. |
| Friday 12 February 2027, 2:30pm | Preps' first Junior assembly, Mary MacKillop Hall — Prep buddies from Year 6 are introduced. |
What a Prep day looks like
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:15am | Yard supervision begins; Preps may go to the Prep playground |
| 8:45am | Morning prayer, roll, "Show and Share" |
| 8:50–10:45am | Literacy block: phonics, shared reading, writing, Investigations |
| 10:45–11:15am | Recess (fruit or vegetable snack) |
| 11:15am–1:15pm | Numeracy, Religious Education, specialist classes |
| 1:15–1:25pm | Eating time in the classroom |
| 1:25–2:00pm | Lunch play |
| 2:00–3:20pm | Integrated inquiry, developmental play, story |
| 3:20pm | Dismissal from the classroom door to a parent or nominated adult |
Specialist classes each week: Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, Italian, Library, and Fridays' Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) run by parent volunteers with Working With Children Checks. Preps also have a weekly buddy session with a Year 6 class.
Is my child ready?
Children must turn five by Friday 30 April 2027 to start Prep in 2027 and must be at school by age six. Readiness is about more than age; we look for children who are largely able to:
- separate from a parent without prolonged distress
- go to the toilet independently and manage their own clothing
- open their own lunchbox and drink bottle
- follow a two-step instruction and sit for a short story
- take turns and ask an adult for help
Reading and writing are not expected before Prep. If you are unsure whether to start or wait a year, please ask — Ms Bec Lawson or Ms Natarajan will happily talk it through with you, and your kindergarten teacher's view matters most.
Uniform and what to buy
Preps wear the summer uniform in Terms 1 and 4 (navy/white check dress or navy shorts and white polo for girls; grey shorts and white polo for boys; navy wide-brim hat compulsory) and winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3. Black leather lace-up or Velcro school shoes — please avoid laces unless your child can tie them. Everything is available from the Uniform Shop (Tuesdays 8:00–11:00am, Thursdays 1:00–4:30pm, first Saturday of the month 9:00am–12:00pm) and there are Prep fitting appointments Monday 30 November – Friday 11 December 2026 bookable via the Parent Portal. A Prep starter pack is typically $380–$450 new; second-hand items are sold by the P&F on the second Saturday of each term month, 9:00–11:00am in the Hall foyer.
Prep stationery is bulk-ordered by the college and included in your first fee instalment ($95); you supply a named art smock, library bag, lunchbox, drink bottle and a box of tissues. The full list is on What to Bring & Stationery.
Fees, OSHC and buses
Prep tuition in 2026 is $4,850 per year plus the $650 family capital levy (2027 fees will be published in November 2026); see Fees & Payments. Preps are welcome at Wattle Creek OSHC from day one (Before Care 6:45–8:30am $22; After Care 3:15–6:15pm $34; Child Care Subsidy applies) — book via the Parent Portal or OSHC app. Prep students may travel on college buses if accompanied at the bus stop by an adult.
Contact
Head of Junior School — Ms Priya Natarajan · Junior Office (03) 9555 0130 Prep Coordinator — Ms Bec Lawson (via the Junior Office) Registrar — Mrs Kate O'Brien · enrol@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au · (03) 9555 0120