Frequently Asked Questions

Our High School Readiness Program is an eight-week, small-group learning experience designed to support upper primary students as they transition into Year 7 with greater confidence, clarity, and readiness. Through hands-on inquiry, coaching-informed reflection, and literacy-rich activities, students gain a real understanding of high school and develop strategies that work for them.

The program is designed and facilitated by Jaye Christie and Katrina Bell — fully qualified and registered secondary school teachers with more than 40 years of combined classroom experience. They each hold full TRBWA registration and a current Working With Children Check (WWCC). They are also trained coach practitioners and parents of teens, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to their work with young people.

High schools do a great job introducing students to their new environment — showing them the campus, meeting staff, learning routines, and getting a feel for the school culture. These orientation days are important, but they’re also brief, fast‑paced, and designed for large groups.

The JK Co Lab approach offers something different:

• Small groups — Every learner feels known, understood, and supported.
• Inquiry‑based sessions — Learners investigate, problem‑solve, and make connections, rather than memorising information.
• Coaching‑informed learning — Through metacognitive processes, students build self‑awareness, self‑advocacy, and self‑efficacy.
• Inclusive  practice — The program honours diverse learning profiles and celebrates each student’s strengths.
• Literacy‑rich tasks — Students practise interpreting instructions, responding to prompts, and communicating clearly — essential skills for navigating high school successfully.
• Fun and engaging - While grounded in evidence-based practice, the program is also creative, hands on, and energising.

The program is designed for Year 5 and 6 students in Perth who are preparing for the move to high school. It’s ideal for learners:

• who are excited, but a little unsure of what’s ahead
• • who are curious about what high school will be like
• • who are seeking practical tools and strategies to feel prepared for the transition
• • who want support with organisation, study skills, or self‑advocacy
• • who thrive in small groups, or value a personalised approach to learning

The program is intentionally designed to be inclusive, neuroaffirming, and supportive of a wide range of learning styles. We use approaches that are considered best practices for all learners —such as predictable routines, sensory‑aware activities, small groups, and strengths‑based coaching. These strategies help every learner feel comfortable, confident, and ready to engage. These elements help students feel safe, confident, and understood.

Throughout the program, learners are encouraged to notice what supports them, what challenges them, and how to advocate for their needs in a new environment. This empowers every child to build self‑awareness and independence in a setting that values their individuality.

Sessions take place at Studio64, in the heart of South Perth - a welcoming learning space designed for small‑group work.

Sessions take place at Studio64, in the heart of South Perth - a welcoming learning space designed for small‑group work.

Every session begins with establishing felt-safety, because students learn best when they feel calm, welcomed, and able to participate in their own way.

Each workshop blends practical skill‑building with creative inquiry. A session may include:

• • a short tutorial on navigating a school platform, breaking down an assignment, or managing workload
• • an individual investigation, or collaborative challenge
• • experimenting with organisational tools and routines
• • co‑designing a personalised ‘First Week Game Plan’
• • a guided reflection, to help students understand what genuinely supports their learning

By the end of the eight‑week program, each student will have:

• a portfolio of their creations, plans, and reflections
• a personalised High School Readiness Plan tailored to their strengths, goals, and learning needs

Families can also choose to purchase an individualised Learner Profile, offering deeper insight into how their child learns best — a powerful tool for starting high school on the right foot.

The High School Readiness Program is just the beginning. We’re continually developing new programs to support students as they move through Year 7, and beyond. Future offerings will focus on building confidence, strengthening learning skills, supporting wellbeing, and helping young people navigate the academic and social demands of high school.

As part of the broader Joy Lab Learning ecosystem, the JK Co Lab will continue to grow — with upcoming workshops, small‑group programs, and personalised learning experiences designed to meet the evolving needs of adolescents. Families who join us now will be the first to hear about new opportunities as they launch.

You can register your interest through the JK Co Lab homepage. Once you submit your details, you’ll receive information about upcoming program dates, locations, and next steps.