Transition. That word, in and of itself, can be enough to strike terror into the hearts of children and adults alike. What are we transitioning from that we might no longer have access to? What are we transitioning to that we might not feel secure about? And why do things need to change at all?
Well, things need to change if we want to change. There is a lot to learn from staying in one place, but there is even more to learn from trying new things, having new experiences, and meeting new people. Starting a new school year is a great way to do all of these new things in a supportive, positive environment, and we here at Acera do a lot of work to help ease everyone (students, staff, and parents!) into the new school year, including:
- Holding a teacher collaboration week to help get all staff envisioning the new year and taking concrete steps together to realize that vision. It’s always a really energizing week!
- Reaching out to parents early and often throughout the summer to share news and invite students in to meet their teachers or help set up the classroom.
- Working to learn everyone’s name within the first two days of school; some of us are better at that than others, but we all enjoy the challenge.
- Encouraging our students to bring their whole, authentic selves to school with them every day, starting on day 1, by incorporating their input into everything we do with them. How should morning meetings be run? What norms are included in our classroom constitutions? What games should we offer during games groups? Which classes should we develop curricula for and offer as electives or creativity stations?
Of course, despite all of the planning and preparation that we do, transitions can still sometimes be stressful. Writing to you as one of Acera’s counselors, I can honestly say that some of the most intense work we do all year is done within the first two weeks of school. But just as honestly, these first two weeks are also the most exciting! We love getting to reconnect with returning students and families, and we also love getting to meet newcomers and help them find their way into this amazing school community, ensuring they feel confident that the support they may need will be available to them when they need it. The counseling team will visit each classroom to introduce themselves and what their roles and areas of expertise are, and our hope is that all students become familiar with, and comfortable with, all four of us. If you ever want to connect with us, our door is always open – you can usually find at least one of us around the Counseling Office, first door on your right when you enter the lobby.
In the meantime, please enjoy your last few weeks of summer, and join us in being excited about this upcoming transition – it’s going to be great.
