Negotiating the transition to high school
High school is exciting and scary all at the same time, and many a student loses some sleep over the biggest change he's had to deal with since kindergarten. Even though you won't be there to hold his hand and show him where to go, you can help prepare him for the changes ahead.
Both classmates and teachers in elementary school talk about the big move; rumours abound about initiation rites and the intimidation of new students. To ease your teen's mind, check out the rumours with older kids and their parents. A word or two from a responsible older teen about what to expect in the first year of high school can help calm the fears.
New students and their parents usually have an opportunity to tour the school building and see all the facilities during an orientation session, so be sure to attend. If possible, get an outline of the courses offered and the names of the staff members. If it's a large school, you can get to know the layout a bit during the orientation, but ask for a school map that includes service areas such as the main offices, the cafeteria, the library or resource centre, and the guidance offices. Study the map together at home, so your teen knows ahead of time how to negotiate the hallways.
Don't forget that something as basic as a combination lock for his locker can be a stumbling block for a nervous new student. Show your teen how to set the combination, record it in a safe place (a notebook or backpack), and use it for his locker. Try also to find out about what extracurricular activities are available at the school. A teenager's social life is almost as important as his academic life during high school, and in the first weeks of school, a new student might find himself painfully isolated. More friendships are formed in a club or on a sports team than in a homeroom, so talk about which activities interest him enough to try out for them or join them.
Choosing a school
Transitions from one school to another vary across the country. Some provinces have organized middle schools after grade five or six. Others call them senior public or junior high schools. But almost all provinces call grades ten to twelve secondary school or high school. If your community supports more than one high school, this may be your teen's first opportunity to choose which school she attends. Most kids want to go to the same school as their friends, but encourage your child to check out all his or her options.
Some secondary schools specialize in programs such as technical subjects, including graphics arts, business programs, or arts and music courses that are not available at other schools. Many schools also develop their own culture and traditions: One high school may be a sports powerhouse; another might have links to local business and industry and offer a strong co-op program through which students spend part of their school year in the workplace; some schools have a stronger focus on and reputation for academic achievement. Talk to other parents and older students in your community about the different secondary schools available. The one your teen attends can help or hinder his achievement.
Playing to the parents
Each spring, some Nova Scotia secondary schools open their doors to the parents of new students. Over a cup of coffee with teachers and administrators, parents learn about the variety of courses offered at the school and what courses their teen should take to be eligible for admission to the next level of education or training. It's such a popular event that at larger schools the open house must be extended over two nights to give all parents a chance to visit their teen's new school.
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