When You Arrive at Your New Location…
Contact Your New School – Once you arrive, get on the phone and be ready to get to work.
- Register as soon as you arrive. Bring the education binder you created which holds all your important documents.
- Schedule a tour of the school with your family.
- Play on the playground or find the local hangouts where other parents/ students might be. Start introducing yourself, ask questions and seek out other military families.
- Ask administors about the school’s procedure for reviewing and implementing a new student’s IEP or 504 Plan.
- Schedule any necessary meetings to review your child’s IEP or 504 Plan.
- Ask about procedures for parent/teacher conferences.
- Contact the PTO/PTA representatives to find out how to get involved with the school, any open houses they have planned or open positions/opportunities for volunteers.
The Community – Once you’ve settled in a bit with a few boxes unpacked, dive right into the community. As parents, we are never happy unless our children are happy. Getting them involved and connected is the best way to ensure a smoother transition.
- Scour Facebook and other social media for groups connected to the school.
- Contact your School Liaison on base/post to get connected with local military families in the area.
- Seek out new clubs, community groups, local recreation centers/pools and church organizations to get connected immediately. Also, seek out groups and clubs on base or post to forge new friendships quickly.
- Don’t be shy. Parents need to be involved within weeks of arrival at their new location. There will be a ton of information and insights you WON’T know unless you make yourself available and start connecting.
Although this above list is mostly for moves within the United States, most everything can be applied to DoDEA schools and international schools.
You Can Do It!
Changing schools is traumatic for both children and parents. It’s a loss of support, routines and social network. Being prepared for the transition is your best chance to ease the anxiety of changing schools.
We live a life that is bittersweet. When we are forced to relocate, our world is turned upside down. We are forced to make new friends, attend new schools and find new ways to fit into strange places. It’s so incredibly hard sometimes; this life is not for the weak. However, the sweetest part of this life is the adventure of moving to new places, meeting new friends and experiencing life outside of our comfort zone. Don’t forget to enjoy the ride with your children as you navigate the ups and downs of your military life.
Becky Harris is a military spouse, mother of two school aged children and school psychologist consultant with a specialization in Brain Targeted Teaching. She has spent two decades applying her skills in the public school system, through professional workshops, and as a consultant to families. She is passionate about educating parents and educators alike on a multitude of child development and education topics including: the unique needs of military connected kids, character development, self-regulation, advanced learners, and brain development. Her most recent studies at Johns Hopkins University have enabled her to translate current neuroscience and educational research for parents through Brain Targeted Parenting. Questions? You can contact Beck Harris at H&H Family Education and Advocacy Center – [email protected]
