written by JBW

Transitioning from primary to high school is one of the most significant changes in any child’s life. They may be conflicted by numerous emotions such as anxiety, anticipation, fright or even sadness as the experience they are about to encounter can be overwhelming.

Leaving primary school also means they will have to leave some friends behind and make adjustments to new experiences, teachers and a different environment. They will have to adapt to the culture of their new school, make new friends and gain knowledge that will help them to be well-rounded individuals.

Parents and guardians need to ensure that their children are properly prepared, in order to make their transition smoother. Some of the expectations to prepare them for are:

• More challenging school work.

• More difficult texts.

• Additional subject areas.

• Wide range of teachers per subject.

• Being taught in multiple classrooms.

• Being responsible for getting to classes on time.

• Possibly using lockers and carrying books between classes.

• Managing their time and school supplies.

• New school rules and guidelines.

• New teaching styles.

• Experiencing new people and a wide range of personalities.

Some parents may choose to send their children to summer school so they may have a better experience by learning material beforehand and making friends early.

At the beginning of the high school journey, your kids will experience an orientation day which is usually held in August. This is where students:

• Tour the school.

• Meet teachers and other students.

• Get an opportunity to ask questions.

• Learn more about rules and proper dress code.

• Get an idea of what they will experience in the first year of high school.

“I can vividly remember my first day in the seventh grade, although it was nine years ago. I was scared, extremely nervous and not confident in managing the workload. I also felt lost. I was in an unfamiliar environment and had no idea what to expect including how to go about making friends. On my first day, I ate lunch with a group of people in my new class who I did not know. It was an awkward experience because we had little or nothing in common. However, as the week progressed, I found the group I belonged to. As first formers, we experienced bullying; it was almost inevitable to avoid. I urge parents to teach children how to appropriately stand up for themselves at school. However, if things get out of hand, they should always report it to their teacher or grade coordinator. Also, it may be difficult at first to remember all the different teachers’ names, but eventually it will become easier. While in the seventh grade, I did 14 subjects. That’s 14 different teachers!” –

I know all of this seems overbearing but encourage your kids and tell them to not panic! Advise them to:

• Give everything time. Most children start out feeling nervous with no friends. Soon, they will have new friends to hang out with.

• Contact the student counsellor or a teacher if they are struggling with school in any way, for example if they are unable to manage the work load or being harassed.

• Get involved in activities at school – school choir, hockey, netball, debating society, Key Club etc.

• Form a timetable; be organized.

• Pack school bags from overnight.

• Be open to learning new things. Don’t waste your time and ask questions if you are uncertain about anything

• Be yourself and don’t try to impress anyone by showing off.

• Focus on the positives of high school – being independent, gaining a sense of responsibility, using new facilities, more variety of subjects and having some decision in what they choose to study.