Yr6 Weekly Update – 06/30/17
Have a great holiday!
WE DID IT! We made it to the end of another school year!
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” It is definitely a time of moving forward for Y6 who are preparing for high school and bidding farewell to KJS. It can be overwhelming for children and parents alike.
Thank you to all of the KJS parents who helped to organize and implement the Y6 Leavers Celebration! A fab night was had by all! Thank you to Ms. Thomas who was a fantastic leader this year and MC for the evening. Thank you also to Kapil Chakravarti for the music playlist for the evening.
To help with the transition to secondary school, there are things you can do to make things easier, and things you can think about now that will help your child adjust and settle in quickly.
- Build your child’s confidence. Settling in well is all about self-esteem. Children with high self-esteem are less likely to be bullied, or to bully others. They are more likely to gather a wide circle of friends. They can confidently say “no” to anything with which they don’t feel comfortable. So tell them how great they are. When did you last pay them a compliment?
Listen to their fears. Your child is possibly anxious and also afraid their concerns will appear trivial. For instance, if they become lost at their new school, what should they do? They could make their way to the school office – they should have a map – or find a pupil or teacher to direct them. What they shouldn’t do is hide in the toilets until the lesson is over. Talk through the options with them. Do this for every concern they may have so that they know you take it seriously.
- Remind your child that being a good friend, especially to shy and quiet children, is one way to make friends. Be encouraging if they want to invite friends home and suggest it if they don’t.
- Get up earlier during the last week of the holidays so that early starts for school aren’t a shock to the system.
- Think about any changes you might need to make at home so they have the time, space and energy for homework. Homework should begin at a set time every day, eg. after dinner, with no distractions. Parents should check their student’s homework diary daily.
- Encourage your child to join lunchtime or after-school clubs. They are a great way to make friends.
Give your child a few weeks to settle in. Ensure you know who to contact for any situation, and the school’s preferred means of contact. If they are having any problems, social or educational, make an appointment to see their form tutor.
IMPORTANT DATES
15 August: First Day of School
2-6 October: Half Term Break
15 December: Last day of Term 1 (ends at 12:00pm)
