I knew this time was coming, but I didn't think it would be here this soon. We've been preparing for this time since the day she was born. The teen that has me feeling some kind of way is in her final middle school year. It's the third week of school, and my husband and I have the "final middle school year blues." We are not alone, for there are many parents going through the same kind of blues. We need HELP!!!!!!!!!
Back to school night brought all the fear and confusion to many parents! Although the school has provided parents with a transition team and guidelines, the process is still a Stressing experience! Not only are we preparing for the next Transition to High School, we still have to deal with the rest of the academic year. There are so many things you have to do in order to prepare your child for the next transition-High School. The list includes:
- Researching the schools that you and your child want to
apply to. You must look into the options of wanting to send your child to a private, charter, religious, and or public school. How are the academic and honors program? Does the school have an althetics program? What about extra curricular activities? What are the logistics?
Prospecting High Schools.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reseved. - TUITION!!! The cost of private schools alone is insane, for it is like applying to a college/university!
- High School Placement Testing!! This is definitely a MUST DO for students applying to private schools (like Catholic Schools). If you are applying to a public high school, there maybe seperate testing that the student must take.
- Open House for prospecting parents and students can also add to the Stress of it all! Schools tend to have their "Open House" visits starting in the fall into the winter months. This is difficult when you have so many choices, but you are trying to narrow down the list.
- Applying to the schools of your/child's choice, and hoping that he or she gets accepted. The hope is getting into your "top choice" school.
- Applying for Finanacial Aid and Scholarships is also a task and burden to bare. Again if you are taking the private school route, the cost for one year alone is like one semester of college.
- Guiding your child with answering and writing the essay questions from the prospect school applications!
- Don't forget your child doing a "Shadow Visit" of one or more schools that you are prospecting! Of course this means coordinating a day that your child can spend the day getting a feel for the atmosphere of a prospect school.
- Being Aware of the Deadlines! Deadline! Deadlines! Deadlines!
- Waiting! Now you wait to hear back from any prospect school, in hopes that the top choice has accepted your child(ren).
Now Press Forward
So I am sure that I left something off the list. But like I said, "we have the final middle school blues!" My only outlet has been talking with other "Blues Parents," and of course venting (I mean writing) through my blog! Transitions! In order to stay sane and not feel more overwhelmed, I have been doing what's on the above list. I have been researching prospect schools, scheduling shadow visits and open houses. Thank goodness the list of prospect schools isn't long. The dilema at the moment is which school system should we choose? Will it be Private or Public school? How would "the teen" adjust to a public school setting after attending Catholic school for nine years? Should she go to a Coed school? How would she adjust to an all girls school? An all girls school happens to be on her list of prospect schools, which is a great thing!
As this school year progresses, my middle school blues will subside. But what will take its place is the anxiety and anticpation of which high school accepts "the teen." Then it will be my uncontrollable crying at seeing "the teen" graduate the 8th grade! Lord help me! Then I /we will have to Transition to the high school life (again!). Of course there is the next transition after that...College! Okay my feeling some kind of way teen...Now We Press Forward.
Kaisha
Blog Copyright September 29, 2016
All Rights Reserved.
