Counselor’s Corner – June 7, 2019

PSAT (for Secondary Parents)
If you’d like your son or daughter to take the PSAT on Oct. 30th, please register by June 10th with Indra in the Counseling Office . The preliminary SAT is a chance to take this North American college admissions test and get feedback without scores being sent to universities. Students in grades 10 and 11 planning to study in the US and Canada usually take this test.

Smooth Transitions: (for Primary and Secondary Parents)

Is your family moving? Though we are sad to see you go we definitely want your transition to be a smooth one. To help with this, I am meeting with all students departing BIS at the end of this year and giving each of them a RAFT. Each student will meet with me to talk about how they feel about moving and will be given a RAFT booklet. The RAFT concept can be used by the whole family and helps transition to our new home without feelings of regret or unfinished business. The R stands for Reconciliation; is there anyone in your life here you need to apologize to or have a heart to heart with? This is the time for reconciliation. The A stands for Affirmations; are there people here you’d like to thank for helping and supporting you? Now is the time to show them your appreciation. The F stands for Farewell; Are there people, places, pets, or possessions you’ll be saying goodbye to? Now is the time to visit those special people and places one more time and relinquish pets and possessions to new owners with whom you know they’ll be in good hands. The T stands for Think Destination; What are you excited about and looking forward to in your new home? Now is the time to Talk about your new school, your new home, and the new opportunities that will be available to you there. We wish all departing families a smooth transition to your new homes and will continue to hold you in our hearts here at BIS, where you have each left a positive imprint.

Here are some good books about moving and transitioning:

Curious George Goes to School by Margret Rey

• The Berenstain Bears Go To School by Jan and Stan Berenstain
• Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
• Benny & Omar by Eoin Colfer
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
• Moving day by Ralph Fletcher
• Hey, New Kid! By Betsy Duffey
• Footsteps Around the World, 2nd Ed. : Relocation Tips for Teens by Beverly D. Roman
• The League of Super Movers: My Moving Adventure by Beverly D. Roman
• Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by David Pollock & Ruth E. Van Reken

Below are books on transitions that you can check out from our library:

• Belonging Everywhere and Nowhere, 636.7 BUS, Secondary Nonfiction
• The Mindful Teen, 155.9 VO, Secondary Nonfiction
• Cliques. Phonies & Other Baloney, 158.2 ROM, Primary Nonfiction
• Guide to Mastering Middle School, 373.2 MAT, Primary Nonfiction
• Surviving Middle School, 373.18 REY, Secondary Nonfiction