This section of Transitioning to a New School covers the following:
Tips for a Successful School Transition
Transition to a New School
Talking with your child’s school and educating the staff about your child’s bleeding or blood disorder are important parts of the back-to-school routine. If you have been educating school staff about your child’s bleeding or blood disorder, you should still do this whenever your child goes to a new school. If you move into a new community, you should meet with your child’s school staff for more in-depth discussions. Remember, your Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) or local bleeding disorder organization can help educate school staff. For more information on talking to school staff and your child’s rights in schools, please go to Engaging School Faculty and Staff, and Your Rights: Legislation and School Accommodations.
As your child starts attending classes in a new, and possibly larger, school you may have some questions or concerns. There will be more staff, more students, and different class requirements. The tips below will help make changing to middle school and high school successful.
Tips for a Successful School Transition
Develop a Planning Timeline
In general, a good time to begin planning for a move to a new school is 6 months before your child’s next meeting about learning needs. Your child may have a plan to meet their learning and education needs, like an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Accommodation Plan. If your child has complex special needs, you may want to start earlier.
Learn About the New School
- Make an appointment to observe classes while they are happening.
- Take note of accessibility and safety.
- Ask for a copy of the student and parent handbooks, list of courses, graduation requirements, and activities schedule.
Support Self-Advocacy
- Encourage your child to participate in any meetings with the school.
- Support them as they start to make their own decisions. Encourage them to communicate their needs.
Prepare Your Child for the Move
Introduce your child to the new school:
- Attend school sporting events or activities as a family.
- Talk with your child about the new school and find out if they have any concerns. This will help to reduce any anxiety your child may have.
- Arrange a school visit or attend an orientation. With your child locate places, such as the restrooms, cafeteria, and library. Find the best routes between classrooms and practice using the lockers.
Discuss Sharing About Their Bleeding or Blood Disorder
- One of the biggest challenges when moving to a new school is disclosure. This is letting people know about your child’s bleeding or blood disorder.
- Right now, your child is at an age of being more independent. They are finding a unique identity and making new friends. This will affect if and how they decide to tell friends and classmates about their bleeding or blood disorder. You may find that how many people they disclose to now is different than when they were younger.
- Some children are very open and readily tell friends about their bleeding or blood disorder.
- Some use their knowledge about bleeding or blood disorders and their experiences for class assignments. This information can make for a great science project, health report, or personal essay.
- Other children want complete privacy. They may want only the school nurse or health center staff and administrators to know. They may tell only a few of their closest friends.
- Be sure your child knows that you respect his or her decision about disclosure.
- Remember: it's your responsibility to tell certain people about your child's bleeding or blood disorder to keep your child safe.