Moving up to high school from middle school can be a significant transition for students. They go from being comfortable as the oldest on campus l in a place they’ve become familiar with, to stepping into new territory as the “newbies” at a bigger school filled with older teenagers. For some, this can be intimidating.
At Downey Unified, we help our students as they make the next steps in their education journeys by providing them with welcoming, nurturing environments. We also offer students a variety of opportunities, including clubs, electives, athletics, and art options to encourage them to realize their potential and interests as they continue to pursue their passions.
Below are some tips to help your student more easily transition to a new school and adjust to a different academic environment and schedule.
Practice time-management skills — Though students in middle school must develop wise habits in balancing their schoolwork and schedules, doing so becomes even more important in high school. With more course options available and more rigorous academics, it’s essential for students to be able to manage their workloads, complete their assignments on time, and have time to spend with their families and friends.
Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities — As students transition from middle school to high school, not only do educational expectations change, but expectations regarding social interactions and relationships do as well. Clubs, sports teams, and other organizations offer students opportunities to pursue their interests and discover additional interests they might not have known they had. They also allow students to develop stronger communication skills and a better understanding of others, further improving their social skills.
Discuss goals and interests — High school is a time when students can truly find their passions and learn new hobbies or find areas of academic interest. It is also a period in students’ lives in which they can learn the value of setting and achieving goals. Parents/Guardians can help by discussing these goals and interests with their children and encourage them to continue to pursue them.
Develop stress-management skills — On top of the anxieties students can feel about starting this new journey at a new school, the pressures that come with high school can also cause students to feel stress before the year begins. Families can work with their students to develop different strategies to manage stress. These can include exercise, journaling, getting enough sleep each night, spending time with people they care about and ensuring that they make time for activities they enjoy.
Encourage new friendships — While students will likely maintain many of their friendships from middle school, they will also have the opportunity to gain additional friends once they begin high school. Encouraging your student to make friends can help his or her high school experience in various ways and even create relationships that can last for a lifetime.
Change can be difficult, especially during adolescence, which is one reason why it is important to help students continue to build self-confidence and understand certain aspects of what the upcoming school year will hold. For more information on what our high schools offer our students, you can visit our high school website and see for yourself why our district is the ideal place for children and adolescents to grow as learners and caring individuals.
Recent Comments