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E D U C AT I O N
UPDATE with NICK JOHNSTONE
FROM BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE
Starting at a New School
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hether in Kindergarten or year 7, or another other time, we have all started at a new school at some point in our lives. In my school, we have 202 new students starting in a variety of different year levels at the end of January. The purpose of this article is to share some advice to parents on how to settle your children in quickly and who to speak with about any concerns or questions. To make it easy to navigate I have created a top 10 list for parents to help get their children, new to school or not, ready for their next step. PARENT TOP 10 Tip 1: Be positive - the transition to a new school can be stressful for parents and students. It is your responsibility to build excitement by talking about all the new opportunities for friendships and activities they’ll have. Visit the school for a tour with your children and walk around with the Head of School or the Principal. Tip 2: Practice the new trip to school - it might sound silly but practising the walk, drive or bus trip beforehand will reduce the anxiety. Make sure the students know the bus number and the drop-off and pick-up zones as well as what to do if things change. Have a plan B. Tip 3: Arrange a chat with an older teen who’s been through it. If there’s a neighbour or cousin who’s started at a new school in the past, organise for them to hang out and hear what it was like. If not, talk with the school during the enrolment process about student mentoring, orientation programs and school buddy programs. 84 COFFS COAST
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Tip 4: Make sure everything is organised. Bag, - get your child to look to the future even if uniform, books and even laptop are essentials they’re missing their old school a bunch. This is for starting at a new school, so help them important because it can be used to help them sort it all out before day one. Use the school set goals for themselves socially, academically, website to check on the uniform policy. There and in co-curricular activities. will be expectations about shoes, hair, jewellery, Tip 9: Sign up to things straight away bags, jumpers and hair research co-curricular cuts. Start those new activities and help them routines before school decide on some they’ll As parents, starts e.g. structured sign up to in their first bedtime and no screen your stress can week. A student gets time before bed. manifest itself in
out of school what Tip 5: Start afresh your children as they put in. They will with a tidy room and well. So parents meet new people, learn desk - ensure there is need to follow this a study space at home new skills and create advice as well. and a wall calendar more opportunities for for assessment dates, themselves when they get excursions and other involved. school events is always useful for planning Tip 10: Prepare them for stress - the unknown purposes. I know most schools have learning can be really scary but things like breathing management systems with electronic exercises, getting active, and having “me-time” assessment calendars, but there is something to can all help with the transition, as can creating be said about physically writing these dates on human connections. a calendar to help you get organised. As parents, your stress can manifest itself Tip 6: Farewell the holidays - organise a in your children as well. So parents need social day just before school goes back and, if to follow this advice as well. I also always possible, invite friends from their old school. encourage parents to be part of the community A new school is an opportunity to make new friends but don’t forget your old friends. Tip 7: Don’t commit too early - encourage your teen to be social and not rush getting a new best friend. With the stress of making friends at a new school, it’s easy to jump at the first people that speak to you. Be friendly, but they don’t need to be your “bestie”. Tip 8: Avoid comparing the new to the old
- volunteer in the canteen; coach a sporting team; help out at a school function; be a parent helper in the library or primary class group, and join the Parents and Friends group. Read my top 10 tips for students here: bdc.nsw.edu.au/news/advice-for-new-students Sources: https://au.reachout.com/ https://bdc.nsw. schooltv.me/newsletter-resources/9254/1445
