The transition from primary school into high school is a huge step for young people. It can be an exciting but also scary and overwhelming experience. Starting high school brings new challenges such as changing schools, making friends, having different teachers, and an increase in schoolwork and expectations.
It is important to support students with the transition into this new chapter of their life, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, where year 12 attainment rates are 85% in metropolitan areas and only 38% in very remote areas (Closing The Gap Report 2020).
Rokiyah Bin Swani, Shooting Stars Pathways Coordinator, has been working in education for over six years. Over her career, she has helped countless students make the jump into their high school journey. Here she shares with us three helpful tips that will help you to support a young person transitioning into high school.
- Plan ahead – organise uniforms, books and stationery early so that your child can start school feeling prepared for the first day of school. Give your child some responsibility to label their materials before school commences so that they take pride in their belongings and start to get excited for the new school year.
- Visit the school and take part in orientation days – your child will feel more comfortable starting at a new school once they become more familiar with it. This may include organising a tour, taking part in an orientation day, yarning with a family member or friend that goes to the school, or even just doing a drive around the campus.
- Establish routines – starting routines early will help your child to transition from the holiday period to school. Involve your child in decision making and come up with a routine together. Set clear responsibilities and expectations e.g. making lunch, packing their school bag, travel to school, and homework and bed times.
For more information on how to support your child transition into high school, including further information for young people requiring additional support, visit the Headspace website.
It is natural for a young person to feel worried or anxious for the new school year. Acknowledge your child’s feelings and practice mindfulness activities to help calm their nerves and talk about their concerns – we've created some resources to get you started.
