Moving on Up: Navigating Transitions to a new grade with confidence

Who can believe it? That’s another school year at BISC-LP nearly wrapped up. We have packed the past year with laughter, learning, and friendship. Our latest parent survey data said that 100% of families felt that their child felt safe at Lincoln Park. Although this is a tremendous achievement, we all recognize the end of the year and moving to a new classroom can create a range of emotions you might want to navigate together.

A good place to start is to recognize that emotions about transition are normal. If your child is expressing a sense of excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, jubilation, or anything else, these feelings are valid and expected. We don’t need to ‘solve’ these emotions for our children but provide them with the time and space to talk them through so that we can validate them and guide them through this period of transition. 

Creating opportunities for conversation with open-ended questions is a great way to start. Ask your child what they are excited about, what things they think will be different, are there things they are curious about, or what they think they’ll be learning. Listening without immediately offering help allows children to consider different aspects  of the transition and build confidence through problem-solving some of their own thoughts. 

But what about when summer is done and the new school year is upon us? Try to get ahead of things and begin building in some of those school routines into the last week of the summer holidays. Nothing big. I am not one to propose stopping the summer fun early. But maybe beginto slip back into those familiar bedtime routines, eat breakfast on a schedule, and practice getting out of the door a little quicker. These small steps can help prepare children for getting back into ‘school mode’ and help parents lay the groundwork so that setting the alarm for 6:30 am for the first time in weeks is a little easier to navigate. 

Every child handles moving from one year group to the next differently. Allow opportunities for children to talk about this transition and start to plan forwhat will help your family get back into routine once the time comes. I look forward to seeing you all again in August for another exciting year at BISC-LP and wish you all a fun-filled summer.

If you're thinking ahead to the next chapter, see how our students continue to grow, adapt, and succeed beyond grades.

Matt Gregory

Deputy Head of Campus – Community & Well-Being

Designated Safeguarding Lead