HELPING YOUR CHILD MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL

• Encourage your child to take part in any summer programs that high schools offer for example “Moving On Up” or grade 9 information days
• Encourage your child to do a trial run (bus route or walking) to secondary school
• Trust the advice of educators – we want the best for your children too!
•  In grade 9, courses are applied, academic locally developed or open. After grade 10, courses are destination-bound courses (apprenticeship, college, university or workplace)
•  Parents still need to ask questions in secondary school (check homework, agendas, school website and maintain contact with subject teachers)
• Establish routines at home - homework times, consistent place in which to work, the proper tools
•  Stay involved with children - ask questions about teams, clubs, homework, friends, teachers and classes
• Use grade 9 agenda as a communication tool between home and school
•  Have realistic academic expectations for your child
• Come to concerts, games, interviews - continue to be a hands-on parent in secondary school
• Yes, they do have homework!
•  Be honest about your child’s strengths and needs
• Provide all relevant documentation to ensure successful programming – psychology reports, speech and language reports, medical information
• Changes can be made in secondary school – lifelong plans do not have to be made in grade 9
•  Be involved without being “helicopter parents” – let your child experience consequences
• Ask for clarification from the school or your child if you don’t understand something