To support the transition from primary school to secondary school, we work with your daughter's primary school to gather information that will assist with their learning and prepare for their arrival at OLSH College.

Students enrolled in Year 7 are invited to the College in the year prior to complete this test. The Allwell test provides data to the College that helps to identify students for extension or support and informs curriculum development.

We value the involvement of families in the education experience. As transition is new to all, parents are invited to an information evening in the year prior to your daughter starting at OLSH. The evening provides parents with a snapshot of Year 7 education in the OLSH tradition, including information on our story, Wellbeing Programs, House structure, Learning and Teaching at OLSH and the Co-curricular Programs offered at the College.

Year 7 students are invited for an orientation day onsite at the College in the latter part of their grade six year. The students spend the day in different groups to assist in forming connections and developing friendships, within the House and core group.

Feeling a sense of welcome and belonging is at the core of the first few days of the Year 7 Transition program.

The program is designed to assist new students in familiarising themselves with the OLSH College story, it’s people, spaces and traditions.

The transition activities include:

• forming relationships with each other through various activities
• meeting significant staff who will be a part of their learning journey - their Learning Mentor and Head of House
• making connections with their Year 12 Big Sister
• getting to know the College’s learning management system and student portal.

Year 7 Camp is held in early Term 1. The camp allows the students to enjoy a shared experience that builds personal, year level and House identity. The Lake Dewar Discovery Camp runs for three days and includes two nights away. Students participate in water and land-based activities. The purpose of the Year 7 Camp is to:

• enable the girls to feel a part of the OLSH Community
• provide an opportunity to build connections with their peers and the staff
• encourage students to experience personal growth
• connect as a group and a house.

A sense of welcome is a core value of education in the OLSH tradition. At our Opening School Mass, held early in Term 1, our Year 7 students are officially welcomed into the OLSH community. Year 7 students receive a special blessing and are presented with their House badge from their Year 12 Big Sister.

Our uniform supplier, Academy Uniforms, schedules three evenings exclusively for OLSH Year 7 families late in November. Families are provided with dates and a link to book their session with Academy Uniform’s staff at the Springvale showroom, where the girls can try on the uniform and purchase all items required for their first year at secondary school.