Student Wellbeing & Learner Diversity

Transitioning Into Our New School.

Moving to a new place or area can be very exciting. This will certainly be true of our new school building. Along with this excitement can come some nerves and uncertainty especially for our learners. Unfortunately there will not be a lot of time for a transition during school time with a very tight timeline between keys being handed over, staff moving in and children starting in their new rooms. The best thing we can do is ask for your assistance to prepare your child/ren for this change. This will help your child see the exciting and positive aspects of moving into a wonderful new school building.

Here are tips for talking to your child and support making the change easier:

If possible, discuss the move with your child well in advance. Starting before the holidays will be ideal.
Be enthusiastic about the move yourself, share what you are excited for.
Ask your child to talk about, draw or make a list of the things they’re looking forward to about going to a new school building.
Ask your child to talk about, draw or make a list of the things they’re worried about. Take time to acknowledge and discuss each concern. Keeping an open dialogue with your child/ren is one of the most important aspects of helping them settle and accept a change. Keep communicating and gauge how your child is feeling about what lies ahead.

Reassure them when they have concerns and offer practical solutions to their queries wherever possible. Children can often have a lot of questions about things they’ve never encountered or don’t understand. Leave none of these unanswered and your child will feel as comfortable as possible as the first day in their new room approaches.

If you are unsure of any answers, please contact me dallen@slshepparton.catholic.edu.au or at school and I will do my best to find the answer/s for you.

To help extinguish those first day nerves, walk your child into their classroom and help them get settled. Finding their new bag area, seat and friend from their room, just to name a few. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter and on PAM for the details around parents entering the new school building. Joining in this moment will help your child/ren feel comfortable and will be a lovely family memory.

Children adapt to new things at different rates. Your first instinct should always be patience. Give it time and your child will no doubt love their new room as much as their old one or if not more!

Sharing this video will help children have a better understanding of what to expect in our new building.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hRM3MZby4g

Donna Allen