Transitions can be difficult for all of us. I hear parents talk about moving to a new job, new location, and new schools for their children. As they research new schools, get ready to say good-bye and do all that is needed to do to prepare themselves and their children, there is anxiety. When I talk to parents about their children moving to universities outside of the home country I hear of worry, sadness at the departure and the empty nest that is left and see difficulties in transition. These same difficulties occur for children as they move from grade to grade or from division to division no matter what the age.
Children and adults build relationships with their environment and the people in it and when the time comes to change it is somewhat stressful to leave these relationships behind. There are things that we are doing at school to help reduce the impact of these transitions and there are also things that you can do at home. As we move into warmer weather and longer days it can be easy to extend bedtimes. However, because of warmer days children are usually more active and in fact need more sleep. So please try to keep the home routines including bedtime and healthy eating as consistent as possible so that children can handle the school change in a healthy state. At school we will be doing the following things to aid in smooth transitions:
1. We have a shortened day during the first week of school so that students can get used to getting up early, and their change in environment and teachers.
2. Teachers new to Eastwood who cannot attend Move Up Day will be giving their new students a
letter with their picture on it that tells a little about themselves and their interests and plans for the coming year so that the student will be able to have a friendly face in their mind. .
3. Move up day on June 20 will give students the chance to visit their new classes with their new peers from 8:00-8:45. This will ensure that relationships are developed further.
4. Teachers meet with together to talk about the children that they will be receiving for the 2014-
2015 year This transition meeting enables teachers to learn a little about their new students and
to be prepared when greeting them.
“Nearly half of all teachers report that some children experience some degree of difficulty in the transition to new classroom groups. Strategies to prepare children for change and address the challenges of adjustment can help ensure that children’s transitions are positive.”
– (Fostering Positive Transitions for School Success by Jayma Ferguson McGann and Patricia Clark)
The strategies listed above will help us to reduce anxiety. However, at this time of year children will begin to realize that they will be leaving their teachers and classmates and will be moving into a new set of relationships. This can result in some behavioral change as they think about this transition. As parents and teachers our awareness of this will help us to support our children through the process of transition.
Thank you to our EFL students and teachers for a wonderful celebration. It was well attended, we learned a lot and the food was yummy!
Tomorrow, Tuesday May 6, we hold our Field Day, open our Art Gallery and invite you to classes. All parents are encouraged to attend. Please send students in appropriate dress for sports activities with sunscreen on and water bottles. Following the Field Day please go with your student back to the class then visit the Art Gallery in the multi purpose room. Students in Nursery –Grade 2 dismiss after field day at 10:00 or if they have siblings leave with their parent following the Grade 3-6 Field Day, which ends at 1:30. We are all looking forward to seeing you and sharing in this special event.
Sincerely,
Adele Hutchison
Early Years and Elementary Principal
Upcoming Events
April 30 – United Nations of EFL 10:30-1:00
May 1 – Labor Day Holiday?
May 6 – Early Years and Elementary Field Day – Parents welcome to attend. Opening of the Eastwood College Art Gallery.
May 8-21 – Map Testing
May 25 – Liberation Day
June 17 – Elementary Reports on Learning go home
June 18 – Grade 6 Graduation & early dismissal for Grade 6
June 19 – School at the Pool
June 20 – Last Day for students – Dismissal at 12:30 and Move up Day
Schedule for students to bring iPads to school for uploading:
May 30-June 6 – Grade one students
June 6-June 13 – Grade two students
June 13-June 20 – Grade three students
June 20 – June 27 – Grade four students
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