Prioritising well-being while transitioning to a new school
Aléxia Matos, Senior Content Coordinator
Whether it's across town or across the world, changing schools can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for international families. Despite endless forms, documents and to-do lists, one of the biggest concerns parents have is how their children will cope with leaving everything they know behind and adjusting to a new environment while ensuring their well-being remains a priority.
“How will my children cope with making new friends?”, “Will the new school be attentive to the individual needs of my child?”. These are just a few of the endless questions that families ask themselves prior to moving to a new school.
Whilst families work tirelessly to remove the element of uncertainty in their children’s life and minimize the effects of an unpredictable routine, the reality is that international families will almost inevitably make a big move at least once during their children's school life.
Dealing with Change
Adapting to change can be challenging at any age, particularly for young children.
Whilst every child is different, there are many things happening at the same time and it is natural that they will face some difficulties. Apart from adapting to a new school/teacher, they are also adapting to a new environment (at home and in their neighborhood), new rules and routines, new peers, and a whole new language.
Sasha Marshal, Head of Early Childhood at ISB, explains that the key to a successful transition for children is to "keep the routine as consistent as possible." While the environment around you might change, it’s important to follow the same schedule during the transition. This means the same bedtime, television schedule, mealtimes, playtime, etc. These efforts help children develop a strong sense of consistency and familiarity.
Moving to another School
There are a few ways to help make the school environment more welcoming to international students and ensure that they are able to settle in quickly. The Admissions team at ISB shares some helpful tips to help prepare both you and your children:
Research and become familiar with local schools
Determine what are the most important things for your family when choosing a school and run online research to identify the best options at your desired location.
Contact some families attending the same school
Once you identified your favorite school, connect with a family attending it. They might have experienced a similar situation as you and they will often be able to give you helpful insights about the institution.
Initiate contact with your favourite schools
The next step is to request a meeting or a visit to your ideal school. Make sure to prepare your questions, and if appropriate, invite your child to participate in this experience. Contributing to the process will certainly help them feel more confident about the move.
Ask the schools about how they can support your transition
The best schools typically support families with transitions. Whether it's a buddy system or an immersive language program, make sure to understand how your future school is prepared to welcome new students and even say good-bye when they leave.
What does the transition look like at ISB?
A big part of what makes ISB such an enriching experience for our students is its emphasis on communication - finding better ways to listen and talk with each other.
This is not different during the transition period. ISB’s approach to transitions has been carefully thought out to ensure that not only students but also parents are supported, motivated, and happy as they adjust to a new environment.
New Student Orientation
The ISB Counselling Team runs an orientation for all new students before school begins. These are led by student ambassadors and the groups are organized according to language needs.
Buddy System
ISB matches a new student with a current student, often sharing the same language and common interests. From the first day of school, every child has already made a friend.
ISB Counselors
The ISB Counselors are committed to supporting families and students in several areas. From social-emotional counseling to helping students choose the right courses, the counseling team meets regularly with new and current students to help them get settled.
Events for New Families and Students
New family Information Day, Welcome Barbecue, and Community Building Day are just a few of the several events organized by ISB and its stakeholders. The objective of these events is to provide the best experience for families possible, with a lot of space for connection.
English Language Development Programme
With students from over 7o countries, it is natural that some people will join ISB without previous knowledge of the English language. Helping students get settled through our intensive ELD Programme allows them to feel comfortable and confident in the new environment.
International Contacts
It's also important to us that new families feel a strong sense of belonging when joining the community. ISB parents from different nationalities volunteer to connect and support new families during the transition.
The International School of Brussels is a private school founded in 1951 in Brussels for students grades Pre-K to 12. With over 1350 students from 70 countries, it is this diversity that sets us apart and makes ISB a wonderful home for our families.