BlogStudyHow to Transition from Primary School to High School

How to Transition from Primary School to High School

Everyone’s transition from primary school to high school is unique and some will find it easier to adjust than others, only time can tell.

That being said, there are a few things you can do, as a parent, to make the move as smooth as possible.

In this article, we’ll offer tips on how to get organised before the school year starts and also suggest some tips you may want to talk to your child about to make their high school experience easier.

So, let’s jump right in!

Tips for Getting Organised Before the School Year Starts
Tips for Your Child When They Start High School

Tips for Getting Organised Before the School Year Starts

Tip #1: Attend Your Child’s High School Orientation Day

Most high schools will allocate a day in Term 4 where you and your child are invited to the school to take in the new environment, new teachers, and new fellow students.

This is a great opportunity to meet new parents, encourage your child to make friends and ask any questions you have about the upcoming year.

Every school varies in what they choose to do with their incoming students but usually, the orientation will comprise of a school tour, handing in any administrative forms, icebreaker activities for your child and some talks about the school systems.

Every grade in high school is assigned a year advisor or coordinator who is a teacher that will be in charge of your child’s cohort. They will organise any camps, grade activities and well-being. 

You will also more than likely be introduced to your child’s peer support leader(s) who are students from a senior grade that will guide your transition, and even through Year 7. They are a great source of information and can be a lot more approachable to your child if the new high school teachers are a little intimidating!

The high school orientation will also provide an opportunity to give in all of the tedious paperwork to begin your child’s journey with their new school. It also allows you to purchase all the necessary uniforms and ask any questions you may have about the school curriculum and standards. 

Pro tip: Orientation Day is the prime time to purchase uniforms as the school will often make efforts to have plenty of stock and even extra change rooms to ensure a quick buying process.

If you don’t manage to buy uniforms on orientation day, don’t worry, as the shop will sometimes open during the holidays (and the rest of the term) for new students. Be sure to ask for their opening schedule.

Overall, the day is well worth the time for your child and yourself. It will give you a headstart into transitioning and will definitely soothe some of your child’s fears about  going into high school.

Tip #2: Figure Out Device Requirements

Every high school will vary in the technological device they will require you to bring to school. Some will ask for iPads, some will ask for laptops, and some will say devices are not required at all.

The Christmas holidays are a good time to figure what device you will need so you have plenty of time to plan and purchase it (and you can take advantage of Boxing day sales too!).

Whether you decide to purchase or use a device already available at home, it is important to note that in order to use it at school, the device must fit certain guidelines, which are found here (number 11 is very important).

Tip #3: Back to School Shopping

Most schools will provide an equipment list and textbook list for the upcoming year and it is important to have a read of it and purchase the things on it to prepare for upcoming lessons.

Classes like visual arts, food technology and music may have obscure purchases you may need to make before the term begins. 

Make sure you buy pens rather than pencils as it is an expectation that you write in pen in high school (pencils are used for visual art or diagrams in maths/science).

That being said, devices are used a lot more in high school than primary school, so you can expect your child to be typing in class. It would be best to make sure you have a case for their device or a bag that caters to carrying a device around safely. 

The one exception to this is maths (though different schools will have different requirements for each subject) where most of work will be completed in an exercise book. Most high school students generally use grid books as it makes drawing diagrams a lot easier.

Another recommendation is to purchase a diary, which the school may already provide. These are great for getting your child organised so that they write down daily homework and any assessments that are due. 

Tip #4: Make Travel Arrangements

For many students, high school is the first time they begin taking a bus, train or other public transport to school.

It is a good idea if the route is taken with public transport, to practice going to and from school with your child on a weekday during the holidays.

This ensures they won’t get lost coming home, or worse, arrive late on the first day.

Tips for Your Child When They Start High School

Tip #1: Make friends

Try to encourage your child to make friends at the orientation day so that when they have their first day at school, they will see a familiar face.

Otherwise, if your child has friends that they already know from primary school, they may want to stick with these friends – although remind them that they most likely will make new friends so not to be shy.

You may want to talk to some parents at the orientation day and find out if they live in the same area as yourself or will be catching the same public transport route as your child. This way, you can encourage your child to be friends with such people!

Friendship circles will become pivotal in your child’s high school experience – they will be supporting your child and helping them grow throughout high school.

So, encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone even just a little to make a new friend.

Tip #2: Join Clubs

Try to encourage your child to join a club to socialise them but also to nourish their creative, athletic or academic talents!

Your school may have a band, choir, art club, Christian group, science club, environmentalist group or more.

Many clubs will be recruiting new members at the beginning of the year and it’s a great way to connect to new people with similar interests.

Sometimes, your child may even make friends with those in older years, which is great for when they need some guidance!

Tip #3: Assignments and Homework

Frankly, the amount of work your child will have to do in high school increases quite a lot once they have transitioned from primary school. 

Every subject will set its own homework and assignments. It is up to your child to keep track of what homework and assignments for which subjects are due on which day.

It is important to remind your child that they will need to work on assessments early and consistently, as there may be more than one due within the same week. 

Your child will most likely receive an ‘assessment notification’, which is a piece of paper specifying all assessment details like the due date, task and submission format.

Their teacher will go over this with them, although you may also want to have a read over it just so you understand what your child will be working on and perhaps give them a nudge in the right direction when they need it.

It is important that your child establishes some independence over their work once they start high school, so try not to be too quick to help them when they’re struggling. If your child asks for a tutor our engaging Parramatta Maths tutors can support them in your own home or online.

The structure of schoolwork is extremely different from primary school to high school, but it’s honestly a transition teachers are well aware of so they will make an effort to look after your child. 

And that wraps up our tips for transitioning from primary school to high school – good luck to you and your child!

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Jacinda Yang graduated in 2018 and is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) at the University of Sydney. She has been an avid writer and reader for as long as she can remember, dipping into public speaking competitions, short stories, slam poetry and even the dark, unmentionable days of Wattpad fiction. These days you can find her bingeing Netflix comedy specials or guiltily still indulging in young adult novels.

 

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