Sending ds to ps in the fall. Any suggestions for making the transition smooth?

[Donna]

My ds will be going to ps for the first time in September. He has been saying for years that he wants to go to high school because he is a competitive wrestler and school is really the only place to compete at a high level once kids hit the high school years.

 

We have been trying to sell our home to move to a decent school district but the house isn't moving which means we will need to pay tuition to send ds and also means, to be eligible for sports in 9th grade, he needs to attend school in the district for a year (if you are not a resident of the district).

 

So, I knew the time would come when I would have to send him to school, just didn't expect it would happen so soon. :001_unsure: Does anyone have suggestions for making a smooth transition?

 

All I can say is thank goodness I have other kids at home.:001_smile:

[paulcindy]

My daughter started public high school in Grade 9 and our experience was not a good one, unfortunately.

 

My daughter had a really rough time the first year. She realized that the kids can be really, really nasty. Rumors can be spread around, her self esteem was shot, the workload wasn't what she expected....etc etc. And this was a school that some of her friends attended, so it wasn't like she was completely alone either.

 

Now, being that you have a boy, it might be a lot different. Girls tend to have more drama then boys do.

 

She is now in Grade 10 and it is a lot better. But I made her see the school psychologist and outside therapy.

 

The only thing I can strongly, strongly suggest is that you speak to the school psychologist and have him/her periodically check in with your son to make sure the transition is going smoothly, and to make sure there are no issues arising. I would have your son meet with the school psychologist at leasr once a week for the first 8 weeks, and every other week there after.

 

I wish you all the best.:)

[Donna]

Thank you, Cindy.

 

I am glad to hear your dd is doing better. These are the kinds of things I worry about. Not so much the workload since he has completed a lot of high school material homeschooling, but dealing on a day-to-day basis with the nastiness of other kids. Now I am not saying all ps kids are nasty but I went to ps so I know there are those few who will backstab, test him, gossip, etc... It is just what happens when kids hit that age whether they went to ps throughout or were homeschooled and just starting. The only thing with a homeschooler entering the scene is that he is the "new" face and he hasn't gotten to get used to nastiness slowly over time.

 

Maybe it will be easier for a boy. Also, he is very athletic and has already wrestled with and is friends with a lot of the kids he will be going to school with through both sports and church. He has a much thicker skin than most...I really worry about his brother, who is much more sensitive, when his time comes.

 

I also am a little sad to be finishing this stage of my life with him.

[abbeyej]

One thing I'd recommend is that you make sure he has some practice note-taking before he begins school. If you're doing Teaching Company dvds, maybe he's already doing that -- if not, now would be a good time to start. Some kids do figure out their own system fairly easily and quickly -- others need a little more coaching. Schools usually teach note-taking in the middle school years and expect students (especially those in college-bound or honors courses) to be fairly adept by the time they begin high school.

 

If he hasn't had experience keeping track of his own assignments and particularly completing longer-term assignments with a firm deadline, I'd encourage that as well. Have him keep his own assignment book and work on some projects (including a research paper or two) that have longer working periods and a firm deadline.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about the social aspect at this point. Some kids struggle, some don't. For my brother, the social transition to traditional school was very easy, but the organization and coping with bureaucracy was tougher. For me, the academic and organizational stuff came fairly naturally, but there were some rocky times adjusting socially. (Though none so bad as what the OP describes -- at least it doesn't feel that way so many years out!) But other than teaching a child basic manners and such and encouraging them to have people they can turn to and really talk with in their lives, you can't "prepare" for that stuff in the same way you can prepare for things like note-taking, writing papers, and keeping assignments organized. So I'd work on those things that you can control, and handle the other stuff when/if it's a problem.

[Ria]

I put my four younger boys in public school last Feb. At the time they were in grades 5, 6, 8, and 10. They are in ps again this year and love it. They've made lots of nice friends and have great classes and teachers. We have not had any bad experiences at all.

 

Ria

[Chris in VA]

This is really shallow, but make sure his clothing is up to date. I remember my 9th grade year--9th grade was the year the Catholic school kids joined the public school, because their school was K-8. One dear boy wore a button-down oxford the first day, buttoned all the way up. He was teased mercilessly the rest of the year. You probably don't dress your kids that way, but ykwim.

 

The note-taking idea is great, and make sure he also gets to wander the halls a little before everyone gets there. Our schools are quite large around here, and I know it helped my sons' confidence that first year in hs to be able to find their classes without too much trouble.

[~Jenn~]

No advice but wanted to send well wishes to your ds (and you!) during his transition time.