transitions: supporting your child through change pal workshop august 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Transitions: Supporting your Child through
Change
PAL WorkshopAugust 2015
Anthony CarmenSecondary School Counselor
Grade 9-12
Jane FarrellySecondary School Counselor
Grade 6-8
Counseling Team
Aaron AllenElementary School Counselor
ECC-Grade 5
Suzanne JeffreyUniversity Guidance
Counselor
The Roles of a School Counselor
• Supporting social-emotional well being
• Supporting goal-setting for positive change
• Collaborative academic support
• University counselling and guidance
Transitions:• Early Years • Elementary • Middle • Secondary • University• Work
Various learning environments involve significant changes that can be both exciting and worrying to students and their families.
Successful school transitions are vital to the development of students' self-esteem, social emotional well being and academic self-competence and success.
Importance of Transitions Starting school is an important time for children and families. Children who make a positive start to school are more likely to:
• feel comfortable, relaxed and valued • feel excited and motivated to learn • have good relationships with others • develop a sense of belonging within
the school community.
Transitions are NOT just the first day. It often takes weeks or sometimes months to adjust.
Personal Transitions: Brainstorm:
•What some of the transitions you have experienced in your life?
Talk Time
•What made some of those transitions a positive experience?
•What made the transition a negative experience?
Share
Personal Transitions:
Discuss
How can you use your personal
experience to help make successful
transitions for your children?
Changes for your Child
•Physical Environment
•Rules, procedures
•New expectations
• Growth & Development social-emotional, physical
• More formal learning experiences and changes in the learning programs
PYP, MYP, DP, University
Changes for your Child
School Systems that Support Transitioning Students
Before School : Admissions, School Tours, Base Camp, Summer SchoolBeginning the School Year: Orientation ProgramsGrade 11 and 12 RetreatBack to School Presentations Week Without Wall in the SSBuddy Systems, School MentorsCheck in Surveys with New Students
School Systems that Support Transitioning Students
Mid YearPATH/RAFT Transition celebrations for students coming and leaving mid-year.Towards the End of the SchoolPATH/RAFT CelebrationsGrade 5-6 Bridging Day, Moving Up DaysStudent & Parent Transition WorkshopsTeacher Transition MeetingsThroughout the School YearPTA, Website, Tours, Small Group Advisory, Presentations – Parent information about PYP, MYP & DPW.A.A.G (Week at a Glance)University Counselor
University Guidance• Advisement on the University Selection and Application
Process from Grades 9 - 12
• Coordination of all Applications Worldwide
• Collaboration with Students, Parents, Faculty, and University Representatives
• Helping with a Successful Transition from Secondary School to University
Managing Change with the Support of a School Counselor
• Team Approach – Teacher, parents, advisors, and students• Offering Workshops in
Mindfulness, positive thinking, etc.• Encouraging Community to be
Help Seekers
• Support Advisory Program
• Try individualized strategies
• Counselors step in when other systems fail.
Parent Strategies that WorkCommunication
• Listen to your child
• Teach friendship skills
• Help children manage their emotions through communication
• Make time for conversation – remove technology from family time.
• Talk about the new rules and procedures
• Encourage self-help
Parent Strategies that WorkFreedom
• Allow for downtime. There are many things to do when you transition to a new place or school. Make sure you plan in rest.
• Reassure them that it takes time to feel comfortable in new situations
• All children will need lots of sleep.
• Try to establish a routines as soon as possible.
Parent Strategies that WorkSchool Support
•Check in with the child’s teacher regularly
•Arrange times for social interaction after school
•Get to know other families in the community
PTA
1st PTA General Meeting
Friday, August 28 at 8:30am,ES Atrium. Mr. Ted Sharp to be guest speaker
Volunteer opportunity following PTA meeting – To go to BSB to help Roundabout set up the Book Fair
1st PTA Social Event Friday, September 11. Meet at National Art Museum and/or go to lunch nearby
Thank YouPlease feel free to ask questions now, or you may like to make a time to come and speak with us personally.
Email Contacts
Elementary School Counselor: [email protected]
Middle School Counselor: [email protected]
High School Counselor: [email protected]
University Guidance Counselor : [email protected]