Switching schools after a move
Moving With Kids to California, School Edition
Did you recently move to California with kids and need to reintroduce them back to school? Changing schools after a move can be stressful for students and their families. But this transition presents an opportunity for a new start. It also presents a choice: Will you approach this turning point with anxiety, or with excitement?
Getting prepared before you move will ease your kids’ nerves as they face temporary uncertainty. It’s time for everyone in your family – students and parents alike – to do some homework. Check out these tips for starting a new school:
HOW DO YOU REGISTER A CHILD FOR SCHOOL In California?
For starters, you should contact your children’s current school. Let them know you’re moving and request a copy of your children’s records.
Next, research the schools in your new community. A bit of online investigation should help you determine which institutions struggle and which ones thrive, and help their students do the same. Research is especially important if your children have special needs or are interested in targeted programming. You’ll want to find out what’s available in your new community’s schools.
Once you’ve chosen a school, reach out immediately. Even public schools can have waiting lists for enrollment and extracurricular programs. Find out whether any of your children’s extracurricular activities require early enrollment, or involve summer practice before the school year begins.
Next, ask your children’s new school for any paperwork needed for enrollment. Find out how to register a child for school. Complete and email those documents – along with records from your children’s former school – to the new school before your move.
You’ll also want to ensure your children’s immunizations are up to date. Keep those immunization records handy. Moving is a chaotic time, so take care not to pack away important documents.
Why pay such close attention to paperwork? Having records in order will avoid last-second hassles, surprises and delays that might create anxiety on the first day of school. Any “new kid” will be nervous enough already.
Are you moving to Redmond, WA? Here’s some information about the community there—including the schools!
TIE UP LOOSE ENDS
Good news: The hard work is done! But there are still some important details to take care of before classes start.
Get a school supplies list from the new school so you can avoid a mad dash to the store, when the selection is likely to be picked over. You can even do your back-to-school shopping before you move – just don’t pack those supplies away.
It’s also a good idea to request a copy of your new school’s guidelines. It may detail regulations for clothing, makeup and locker use that differ from what your children are used to. Here again, getting information ahead of time helps kids adjust to their new school.
Adjusting TO A NEW SCHOOl
Once you’ve moved, you should take a simple but important step – walk the grounds and visit the buildings of the new school campus with your child. After showing them the route to and from school, note the pickup/dropoff spots and bus stops. This will create familiarity that will make your student feel more comfortable once school begins.
The same goes for after-school programs – a personal visit, including stops where students are picked up and dropped off, will boost confidence.
There are bound to be first-day jitters – for both students and parents - no matter how much you prepare. There will be new teachers and classmates to meet, and adjustments to make.
But you’ll find that a little advance work will create peace of mind for you and your new kids on the block. You might find yourselves feeling excited rather than anxious.
Best School Districts in California
Palo Alto Unified School District
Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District
Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District
La Canada Unified School District
San Dieguito Union Highs School District.
Acalanes Union High School District
TIME TO HIRE THE BEST
In addition to preparing for the coming school year, you should do your homework when hiring a moving company. Belfor Moving has been moving people since 1981. Get started by asking for your free moving quote online, or give us a call at 415-892-1001. Is there another school district you are looking at? No problem, because we are an agent of National Van Lines we can move you anywhere! Click here if you’re looking to move to a different state,.