Back to School Tips for a Student at a New School

Attending a new school is a very difficult thing for kids. New friends, social structures, surroundings and support systems hit them like a ton of bricks on that first day of school. It can all become a little bit overwhelming if you don’t prepare them for it.

Being the new kid is not always easy, but it doesn’t have to be a bad experience either.

new school

Back to School Tips for a Student at a New School

Visit School Ahead of Time

When you head out to a new school, visiting the grounds is very important. The last thing you want to do is to show up on day one with no idea where to go or what to do. Visit the school and walk the grounds to get a feel for where everything is.

The school should allow you to do this and bringing your parents along can help a great deal. Just explain that you will be a new student in the coming year and want to be familiar with where to go.

Inquire About Summer Activities

If you are there during the summer before your first year, go to the school to see what is going on during the summer season. Perhaps you can find a club that meets or a sport that starts early. Anything that can help you make some friends ahead of the first day of school can be a great help to you.

Check out Local Hangouts

If you want to make new friends, the best way is to socialize. Get out there and talk to people! Every city in America has areas that the local kids hang out in. Find out where those places are and get to know as many people as you can. Ask around at church or with kids in the neighborhood. There is a way to find the best places to go if you are willing to look for it.

Embrace Your Situation

Being the new kid can be a tough situation or it can unbelievably cool. The key is to embrace the cool and forget about the rest. If you come in and be yourself, there is a pretty good chance that somebody there will think that you are awesome.

The key is to be you. When we start being someone we are not, kids can see right through us. Embrace your situation of being new and look at it as a grand adventure. Your excitement will attract people like fireflies.

Expect Difficulties – Bullying

bullying

Take time to talk to your student about bullying. No matter how awesome they are, there will be those that try to bring you down. It is a rule of thumb in a new school and something that you might as well go ahead and plan on dealing with. Someone is likely going to try to give you a hard time. The key is to laugh at yourself and not give them any satisfaction in their bullying.

Bullies get bored if you take away the reactions they expect from you. Laugh along with them and simply move on. They will eventually realize you are a waste of their ignorance.

If your child is starting a new school this year I hope you find these tips helpful.

12 Comments

  1. great review

  2. These are some great tips. It can be intimidating going to a new school.

  3. Be yourself! People will like you for you.

  4. These are some really good tips worth using. I like the one that Jenn added, be yourself.

  5. I appreciate these tips.My son is Autistic with Aspbegers and he will be attending a new high school this fall.

  6. Just to breathe and to be open with communicating any difficulties with parents. Love the tips teach them to expect difficulties and embrace the situation.

  7. Great tips. I think it’s prudent to look into all those things especially where the classes are! My daughter started college the other day and they changed her class schedule which she was unaware of and didn’t know where the new location was, so by the time she found it she ended up coming in late 🙁

  8. I’ve found those early walk-throughs with the kids are super helpful in easing some of their jitters.

  9. My tip would be to commit yourself to being a part of the school community. Being at the events & functions helps kids get to know other students better, but also lets parents get to know each other.

  10. Great tips,my son just started a new school.

  11. My children just started at a new school. Although it is still a part of the charter family we know and love, it is a new beginning none the less. Thankfully so far everything is going well!

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