1. All about Prep
302 Manly Road
Manly West
Queensland 4179
P 07 3906 9444
www.mbbc.qld.edu.au
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2. “Parents tell us one of the main reasons they love MBBC is not only
the ‘vibrancy and spirit’ of the college and the space to explore and
roam but also the skilled and nurturing staff and the embracing
college community.” - Tony Wood, Head of College
Life adventurers. Life achievers.
We take the responsibility of nurturing your
son very seriously.
The MBBC Preparatory (Prep) Year is as
supportive as it is stimulating, and is a
different journey for each boy.
We respect and celebrate the diversity of
our students, knowing each individual has
a unique contribution to make to this world.
This individuality will be developed with
engaging, child-centred activities throughout
the year and guided by the boys’ interests.
Our Prep Year develops and builds upon
boys’ prior knowledge and skills through a
variety of activities and learning, and helps
transition them into their future learning at
school.
In all that we do, we aim to help develop your
son emotionally, intellectually and spiritually;
to teach him values to live his life by, introduce
him to lasting friendships and show him how
to best use his gifts and abilities. Importantly,
we aim to encourage in him a lifelong love of
learning.
Set your son on the most exciting journey of
his life - at Moreton Bay Boys’ College.
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4. The Prep year program is driven by the Early
Years Curriculum, the Australian Curriculum and
the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework
to enhance continuity in learning throughout the
children’s early years of schooling.
The International Baccalaureate Program
means the boys benefit from a rich, global
perspective to their learning.
Your prep boy will engage in a variety of
learning activities across all five contexts
of learning, ie play, real-life situations,
investigations, routines and transitions, and
focused learning and teaching.
Specifically, MBBC’s early learning areas
focus on:
• social and emotional learning.
• health and physical learning.
:: making healthy choices.
:: developing gross and fine motor skills.
• language learning and communication.
:: oral language.
:: reading and viewing.
:: writing and shaping.
• early mathematical understanding.
• active learning processes.
:: thinking.
:: investigating the natural world.
:: investigating technology.
:: investigating environments.
:: imagining and responding.
Learning in the Prep Year
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5. These learning experiences will help your son,
both at school and beyond, to:
• take on responsibilities.
• become more independent.
• respect other people.
• cooperate with others.
• make sensible choices about his health
and safety.
• develop his physical skills.
• develop his oral language.
• develop his understanding of literacy and
numeracy.
• learn how to be a thinker and problem
solver.
• use his imagination and creativity.
• learn about his environment.
• take a positive approach to learning.
“The joy of teaching is
seeing how the young
people we invest so
much of ourselves
into blossom into
outstanding people
with remarkable
achievements.”
- Mr James Sloman,
Executive Principal
The program runs from 8.15 am to 2.15pm,
five days per week, ensuring the children
are well prepared for the more formal
expectations of Year 1. Boys entering Prep
are required to turn five years of age by June
30 in the year they commence.
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7. A typical Prep day
Through investigation and experience the
boys become familiar with routines and the
Prep environment.
MBBC has two Prep classes which rotate
through classrooms and the dedicated
outdoor play space. In addition to nurturing,
energetic and highly qualified class teachers,
Prep students also enjoy full-time teacher
aides and specialist teachers for PE, music,
and religious education.
Our facilities include spacious indoor
classrooms, including carpeted group play
areas, interactive whiteboards, computers,
seated tables, construction areas, a kitchen,
child-size amenities, and a fully enclosed
playground, with undercover play areas,
sandpit and a variety of outdoor activity
equipment.
In addition, the Prep classrooms are
equipped with a fun and stimulating variety of
supplies to ensure the boys get the most out
of every day.
“Our MATES program makes up part of the strong nurturing
culture at MBBC. Older boys look forward to the weekly
activities such as assisting with reading, helping out at sport,
as much as the younger boys.” - Mrs Caroline Fogg, Prep Teacher
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8. Each day your son will have the opportunity to:
• investigate his interests.
• make choices.
• talk with teachers and other boys.
• plan with his teacher things he might do,
and carry out his plans.
• design and make things.
• sing, dance and make music.
• paint, draw and “create”.
• develop early literacy skills through
structured learning and inquiry.
• listen to, and become involved in, stories.
• play games - indoors and outdoors.
• climb, balance, jump.
• plan and share in make-believe play.
• use computers to develop reading skills,
play games and find out about the world.
• plant, cultivate, market and cook with goods
grown in the organic vegetable patch
• write and copy signs during play.
• learn about size, shape, weight and
measurement as he constructs things
indoors and outdoors.
• learn to recognise and form letters, with
literacy development enhanced through
the implementation of the sound waves
program and language games.
• project presentations.
• show and tell.
A typical Prep day
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9. Opportunities for whole school integration
are ensured through a variety of events, such
as carnival days, Grandparents Day, Mothers
and Fathers Day breakfasts, community
events and attending and leading Chapel and
Assembly.
An annual camp to Mount Tambourine
provides a fun outdoor learning and bonding
experience. A semester visit with Moreton
Bay College girls provides a great opportunity
to share knowledge and start developing
relationships with our sister school.
Our broad reaching pastoral care program
develops social and confidence skills, and
boys begin to engage with IB learner profile
attributes of:
1. Inquirers
2. Knowledgeable
3. Thinkers
4. Communicators
5. Principled
6. Open Minded
7. Caring
8. Risk takers
9. Balanced
10. Reflective
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10. How can I get involved?
MBBC recognises and values the vital role
of parents in their son’s education. There
are many opportunities for you to participate
in and support your son’s learning, whether
formally or informally, such as resource
provision, spending a few hours to join in
classroom activities each term or attending
carnivals to cheer on your son’s team.
Parent representatives assist with social events
and liaison between parents.
The M.A.T.E Program – Mentoring
Another Throughout Education
Boys at MBBC from Prep – Year 8 have a
MATE, commonly referred to as a ‘buddy’. Our
MATE program stands for Mentoring Another
Throughout Education. Our Prep boys are
paired up with a Year 5 boy.
As a part of The MATES program the boys
come together on a regular basis to learn
together. This may be through a play, reading,
part of a numeracy activity, or as a structured
activity linked to their Unit of Inquiry.
This is a very successful program providing
Prep boys with a reliable mentor in the school.
The MATE program assists older primary
boys in developing their leadership skills by
supporting younger students. Prep boys really
love spending time with their MATE.
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11. • Share information about your son with
the teacher. This information is always
confidential.
• Chat with him about what he is doing at
school.
• Visit the classroom for a brief chat or
to take part in daily activities or special
events.
• Encourage your son to experiment with
various materials and equipment.
• Encourage him to explore different ways
to organise areas eg his bedroom, play
area, cubby.
• Read together and talk about everyday
items such as signs, notices, letters,
catalogues, magazines, TV guides, food
packaging and bills
• Read and talk fluently about story books,
factual books, rhymes and interesting
vocabulary.
• Make available a variety of materials and
containers for measuring things such as
water, grain and sand.
• Involve him in family activities that
investigate mathematical ideas eg
cooking, setting the table, matching
socks, sharing a meal.
• Provide “junk” materials for drawing,
making patterns and building things.
• Use everyday activities such as shopping,
cooking or visits to the park as an
opportunity to explore vocabulary, letter
and word recognition and numeracy.
How can I help my son?
“BEST BOYS SCHOOL. My son
is in love with this school; he is
so happy each day knowing he
is going to a school he enjoys.
The teachers are great and the
community involvement is
outstanding. ” - MBBC parent
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12. For further information about the Prep Year at MBBC,
please phone us on 07 3906 9444
or visit our website at www.mbbc.qld.edu.au
302 Manly Road
Manly West
Queensland 4179
P 07 3906 9444
www.mbbc.qld.edu.au
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