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| As part of the WAB community since 2001, the Goonatilake family has celebrated numerous milestones with the school, beginning with the opening of the Elementary School building. The Goonatilakes expressed their appreciation for the "WAB family" at the Leavers' Ceremony last Saturday afternoon. |
As the school year begins to wind down, and the end-of-year activities increase, so does our excitement, and, in some cases, apprehension, for the coming year. Some of us are preparing to transition to other regions and schools, including all leaving families, teachers and staff, as well as our Grade 12 students, who will graduate on Saturday. Others of us, including Pre-K, Grade 5 and Grade 8 students and their parents, are entering a period of transition from one school section to the next. All of us, however, are entering a period of transition and change as we acknowledge the end of another school year.
As a caring community school, WAB places emphasis on offering programs, activities and other forms of support to help students and families ease the transition process—whether it be an informal question & answer session between Grade 5 and Grade 6 students or a Leavers’ Ceremony for all leaving families. The following list of activities demonstrates a few examples of how WAB offers support to students and families in times of transitions.
Leaving Families:
Although we are sad to be losing families from WAB, we are also aware of the need to support these students and families with their upcoming transition. ES Counselors hosted a workshop for all families on the topic of transition. The aim of this workshop was to provide essential information about the steps and stages of transition and some strategies that parents can employ to help support their children and families. In addition, WAB hosted a Leavers’ Ceremony on Saturday, as an opportunity for families to come together as a community to bid farewells to senior educational leaders and friends. Each leaver was invited to decorate a "leavers card" with a goodbye message to WAB. The announcement was also made that a tree will be planted in honor of all leavers from this school year.
Early Childhood Center (ECC):
The ECC has been preparing PreK children for the move up to Kindergarten. PreK classes have been regularly visiting their Kindergarten friends and teachers to get a feel for the “big school.” In addition, parents were invited to a workshop focused on introducing parents to KG and offering suggestions on how parents can support their children through the transition process.
Grade 5:
Grade 5 has been focusing on Change as their last unit of inquiry for this year. They have looked into many facets of change within themselves and around them as they prepare for their next step to Middle School. This week, they ventured out to Huairou for Grade 5 Camp at Survival Island. Next week, all Grade 5 students will engage in a Grade 5 – Grade 6 Transition Week, with several activities planned for Grade 5 students to become more familiar with the Middle School. Grade 6 classes will help familiarize Grade 5 students with the MS and the MYP through a variety of activities, ranging from sharing a lunch period in the HUB to participating in workshops to holding a Grade 5/Grade 6 Disco in the Out of Box Theatre.
As part of the process of preparing Grade 5 students for MS, WAB also seeks to prepare parents for what lies ahead for their child in MS. Grade 5 parents are invited to attend an informational meeting on “Change in Adolescents and moving from PYP to MYP,” on Monday June 2, 6:00pm – 8:00 pm, Lotus Lounge (ES). Grade 5 parents are also invited to a ·parent coffee morning for Grade 5 Parents on Friday June 6, 10:00am – 11:00am, MS Library Study Room, before the Grade 5 Celebration and lunch.
Grade 8:
Next week is also Transition Week for Grade 8 students, who will spend time getting acquainted with their new school section. Students will take a guided tour of the High School, eat lunch with current Grade 9 students and meet with HS Student Ambassadors for informal discussions on high school life. On Thursday, a scavenger hunt will give Grade 8 students a fun opportunity to find their way around the HS and become familiar with its resources. The week culminates with Grade 8 Graduation, on Friday June 6.
Grade 10:
Over the past few weeks, Grade 10 students have celebrated the completion of the Grade 10 MYP Persona Project, and, last week, hosted a student-led arts evening for their parents and friends. Grade 10 will come together for a final celebration of their MYP years on Thursday June, at 6:00pm in the Founders' Theatre, with the presentation of certificates, followed by a dinner for teachers and students in the ES Atrium.
Grade 12:
After the rigor of studying and sitting exams, Grade 12 students gathered for a final China Studies Field trip earlier this week, and traveled to Guilin and Yangshuo, where they enjoyed hiking, caving, relaxing and learning more about their host country of China.
On Saturday May 31, Grade 12 students will gather at the Confucius Temple along with teachers, families and friends for High School Graduation. They’ll enjoy their final event together as a class that evening with a dinner and dance.
As parents support their children through any period of transition, they might consider the following bits of advice:
• Be supportive and optimistic
• Talk to your kids about their fears and excitement
• Talk about choices and how to make responsible decisions
• Help to set some achievable short-term goals
• Deal with your own anxieties separately
The WAB community is reminded...no matter where you are in the world, you're always a part of WAB!