My son is moving from a small private school to a large public one. As a school counselor, this is how I'm easing the transition.
My son knows almost no one at his new high school. We spent the summer getting him ready for his freshman year.
For the past nine years, the author's son attended a small private school before starting public high school this fall. As a middle school counselor, she has been focusing on making his transition smooth. During the summer, the family intentionally kept their schedule calm, traveling for just two weeks to Mexico and Oaxaca instead of the usual three to five weeks. This extra free time allowed them to spend more quality time together and bond over discussions about the upcoming school year.
Understanding the importance of information in such transitions, the mother helped her son forecast for his classes in the spring, guiding his course choices based on his academic readiness. After consulting his 8th-grade teachers, he was encouraged to take advanced algebra and third-year Spanish. By exploring the course catalog, he developed excitement and interest in his academic pursuits.
To support his son's daily routine, the mother and father mapped out the city bus route to school, eliminating the need for Mom to drive him. They also connected with a senior student from the same private school, who provided practical insights about the new high school. This connection answered questions about school facilities, teachers, classmates, and the overall atmosphere of the school.
The senior even recommended joining the school's soccer team, which ultimately led to the author's son attending early tryouts and making new friends.
The author, a school counselor, emphasized the significance of participating in school activities and clubs to ease the social transition. She advised her son to get involved as early as possible, mentioning that joining sports teams or clubs could help him make friends and feel more at home in his new environment.
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