From the FREEP

SRV Graduates: What does their transition look like?

Choosing a school for your child to attend after SRV can seem like a very daunting task. Public or private? Large or small? College prep, progressive, Montessori, Waldorf – what does it all mean? How is the No Child Left Behind legislation affecting public schools? In today's educational climate, careful choices about what is the best cultural and philosophical fit for your family and what is best for your child can feel very challenging. Going through the admission process this year for my sixth grader, Haley, has made me more empathetic to this struggle.

At least once a week (sometimes every day!) I am asked how SRV graduates handle the transition into their next school environment. I've spend a good bit of time over the last couple of weeks, months, and years checking in with guidance counselors, admissions directors, former SRV parents, and the students themselves about this. Let's face it, any transition can be challenging. But, the feedback I receive from public school guidance counselors and private school directors of admission indicates that the majority of SRV students figure out their new environments in a relatively short period of time. They do this because they are independent, responsible students who are not afraid to speak up and ask questions.

SRV grads tend to be the students who have good relationships with their teachers and their peers. One comment I've heard again and again is that they still have a genuine love of learning when they enter middle school and that they haven't been "turned off" to school yet. They are not afraid to share their ideas and are active participants in class and on campus. Teachers (and graduates themselves) have told me they (SRV grads) are able to tackle problems from multiple perspectives and that they know how to get along with a broad and diverse range of peers.

I have had graduates share stories of personal struggle as they navigate through this new phase in their life. One can't understand why his teachers have to spend so much time on discipline. His new class is larger and louder than he is used to. He feels as though too much time is spent on "crowd control" and not enough on "real work." Several grads have told me that they were surprised at the way students treat each other in their new school. One tried to start a conflict resolution group at her middle school because she didn't like the way some children were teased on the bus. Another told me she didn't realize how prevalent drugs and other destructive behaviors were in middle school. When pressed further, she told me that when she left SRV, she already knew she was the kind of person who would not make self-destructive choices. Still others share stories about ever-increasing hours spent on homework (anywhere between 1.5 and 4 hours per night), or studying for tests. Although they are not always happy about these changes (were any of us?) they rise to the occasion and are ready to meet these challenges. They are building on their past experiences and are learning valuable skills they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

For more specific information about graduates, please go to the Alumni section of our web site or stop in to talk anytime.

In partnership,
Dana

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20 School Lane : Rose Valley, PA 19063 : 610.566.1088 : office@theschoolinrosevalley.org