Kindergarten 2026

Welcome to Kindergarten 2026

We’re excited to welcome your family to Mandurah Catholic College as you begin the journey into Kindergarten in 2026. This page is your go-to hub for key information, helpful resources, and updates to support your child’s smooth and confident transition into school life.

We can’t wait to share this exciting chapter with you and your child.

Upcoming Events

Future 14’ers Playgroup 2025

A chance to meet other families and for your child to feel orientated with Kindergarten before next year!

Mandurah Catholic College invites expected families to our Future 14'ers Kindy Playgroup, which was formed to introduce you to our community and College. MCC 14'ers are students who have been enrolled at MCC since Kindergarten and have completed 14 years of education at the College.

Book one of four sessions available before 8 October, 2025.

Kindergarten Orientation

Wednesday, 19 November at 8.50am to 10.20am

All 2026 Kindy students are invited to attend our Orientation Morning on Wednesday, 19 November. It is a chance to meet their teacher and new classmates. Class lists will be displayed outside the Kindergarten rooms; please read and follow the directions provided.

While children take part in activities with our Early Years Staff, parents and carers are invited to the staff room for light refreshments and key transition information.

No RSVP is required, as we hope that all students can attend!

Primary Staff

  • Head of Primary

    Mrs Lisa King

  • Assistant Head of Primary

    Kindergarten to Year 2
    Mrs Natalie Sims

  • Assistant Head of Primary

    Years 3 to 6
    Mr Brett Crebert

  • Teacher

    Kindergarten G
    Mrs Bree O'Hara

  • Teacher

    Kindergarten M
    Miss Grace Townsend

2026 Kindy Handbook
& Information

Attendance & Absentees

Kindergarten runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8.25am to 2.45pm.

If your child is absent, please provide a written explanation via the MCC App (preferred), or email mccattendance@cewa.edu.au and CC your class teacher.

Arrival &
Dismissal

For safety, children must be dropped off and picked up on time by a parent or nominated adult. Please inform staff if someone else is collecting your child.

In the morning, wait outside the Kindergarten doors with your child, and supervise them in the amphitheatre area before and after school. At the end of the day, please wait outside until the classroom door is opened.

Note: Being a few minutes late can feel much longer to a 3 or 4-year-old, so please arrive on time.

Curriculum

Our Kindergarten Program focuses on the balanced development of each child. We aim to foster the social, emotional, spiritual and physical development, as well as to develop each child’s academic talents, through a warm, caring and stimulating environment.

Our program is inclusive and diverse, with many topics and concepts being explored in an integrated way. We believe that it is through structured play that children learn best.

Children are given opportunities to learn basic skills and concepts, social skills and values. They will develop friendships through activities that are designed in accordance with the philosophy of ‘play based learning’, at a pace that best suits them. The emphasis is on developing social skills and a positive self-image through investigating, exploring, thinking and communicating.

Daily School Items

Please pack the following each day:

  • MCC school bag

  • MCC hat (bucket or Legionnaire) – to stay in the bag

  • Recess and lunch in separate containers

  • Spare clothes

  • Water bottle

Apply sunscreen before each session. Sunscreen is also available at the door if needed.

Note: Label all items clearly – clothing, shoes, bag, lunch boxes, bottles and hat.

Food &
Drinks

We encourage healthy food choices to help establish good eating habits from the start of your child’s schooling.

Please be nut aware, as some students have severe allergies to peanuts. If your child has any allergies, inform the teacher promptly. Always check with the teacher before bringing food to share.

Morning Tea
Please pack a small container with healthy snacks such as fruit, savoury biscuits, cheese, dried fruit, or a small sandwich. Only a light snack is needed.

Lunch
Pack a separate lunchbox with healthy items like sandwiches, cheese and biscuits, salad, or vegetables. Label containers "Recess" and "Lunch" to help your child distinguish between them. Keep lunches in school bags, and include an ice block during warmer months. Children can order their lunch through the College’s canteen from Term 2. You can order your child’s lunch online via the FlexiSchool App.

Drinks
Each child is asked to bring a water bottle. Please do not put cordial into their water. Water is always available to drink. All containers must be clearly labelled with your child’s name. Please don’t rely on your child recognising his or her own lunch box or drink bottle.

Birthday Celebrations
You're welcome to send individual birthday treats (e.g. cupcakes), but please avoid party bags.
If your child is handing out invitations, give them to the teacher. Invitations to the whole class (or all boys/girls) will be distributed; others will go into bags, so please check them regularly.

Morning Routine & Separating from your Child

On arrival, the children should place their bags on the hooks outside the classroom. When the class doors open, bring your child in allowing them to participate in the planned activities. Parents may want to spend time with their children to settle them and to make the separation smoother.

When leaving, if your child cries, leave them with the Teacher or Teacher Assistant; please try to leave quickly. For some children, the initial separation is hard; staying with your child will only prolong this. Usually, when they see their parents are gone, they happily settle down to enjoy themselves. We will contact you by phone if there is a continuing problem with your child settling into the morning.

Parents can make the parting more difficult by being over-concerned and lingering too long or looking through the window. However, please do not disappear without saying goodbye, as this can also be upsetting to children. Talk to your child about what to expect at school; bells ringing, playing inside and outside, story time, mat time, singing songs, dance, lunch time, these may all be new to your child. Break the day into manageable parts for your child eg, “I’ll take you to school after breakfast”, “You can have a play with your new friends and have your lunch, and I’ll pick you up this afternoon”.

For a good resource and tips go to https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers

Medication

If your child has a medical condition (asthma, epilepsy, bee sting allergy, nut allergy etc.) that may affect how we care for them, or if they require medication to be taken at school, either temporarily (cold or infection) or long term, forms are available from the Student Reception and must be completed and returned to the office. These forms help us to respond to your child’s needs and help us care for them should a medical problem occur.

Parent Roster

A parent roster operates in Kindergarten. The roster system allows a family member / caregiver to join in with the child at school. Parent help is invaluable to our program, and your help and support are appreciated. The parent roster will begin in Term 2.

We would love for all children to have at least one adult come in each term. It is such a great opportunity to spend time with your child, interact with their friends, and help with tasks. They are not children for long, and they will remember and appreciate these times. Siblings are not permitted during parent help as parents need to complete tasks that require their full attention.

Readiness

The thought of coming to school for some children can be a very exciting thing and for some school can be a big change. To make school a happy place, the children need to be prepared and know what to expect. Talk to your child about what to expect at school, and please help us by making sure your child is independent at:

  • Going to the toilet (eg, pulling down and up their pants and wiping their bottom).

  • Opening and closing containers, such as lunch boxes and drink bottles.

  • Asking for things clearly and answering direct questions.

  • Putting their shoes on and off. (Staff are happy to help with laces and or buckles, but we expect them to put their shoes on and off by themselves).

  • Blowing their nose.

  • Wearing a sunhat when playing outside.

Once school starts, ensure your child gets enough rest. You will probably find that your child is tired. This is normal as he or she adjusts to his or her busy days at Kindergarten, learning and playing.

School Health

Illness
If your child is unwell, they must stay home. Please notify the College via the MCC App: Download here. For absences longer than two days, please contact the teacher.

Head Lice
Check your child’s hair regularly for head lice. If found, treat immediately with products from the chemist and inform the teacher. Lice are common and nothing to be embarrassed about.

Health Screening
The School Nurse will send home screening forms for vision, speech, and hearing checks. Please return these promptly to ensure your child is included.

School/Home Communication

Strong communication between home and school supports your child’s development. We use the following tools:

  • SeeSaw – for sharing classroom moments through photos and videos.

  • SEQTA – for formal updates, newsletters, and events. You can also message your child’s teacher via ‘Direct Messages’.

  • Parent/Teacher Interviews – held in Term 1 and Term 3.

Special Days

Depending on the children and the group, we will start attending Assemblies in either Term 1 or Term 2. These Assemblies will be on the Term Planner. The Kindergarten class will also attend occasional masses throughout the year.

Uniform

The Kindergarten uniform is compulsory and includes:

  • House/Sport MCC shirt and windcheater

  • Maroon sport shorts or track pants

  • White College socks with maroon bands

  • College hat (SunSmart – name embroidery optional)

  • Sports shoes (subtle colours; no canvas shoes)

  • College bag

  • Maroon library satchel

  • Yellow homework satchel

Uniform Supplier
Tara Uniforms, Unit 16/8 Magenta Terrace, Mandurah.
Order online anytime at tarauniforms.com.au.
Check the College website for school holiday opening hours.

Reminders

  • No toys, jewellery, or watches – they may be lost or broken.

  • Hair must be neat; tie back if longer than shoulder length. Hair accessories must be in College colours.