Back to School: 5 Ways to Help Students Transition Between Schools

Whether your child is in first grade and going to school all day for the first time, or a high school freshman about to walk the halls of or , the first day of school for students new to a building can be tough.

Luckily, we found two principals with experience at all three levels who are, themselves, also new to their buildings. Dee Lancaster and Jamii Hitchcock, new principals this year at Seaholm and , respectively, have these tips for parents and students who are making the big transition this year:

1. Encourage students to get involved: Students do better in school, make better choices and develop healthier relationships when they're involved in their school, Lancaster and Hitchcock said. Whether that's joining the lacrosse squad, the robotics team or Model UN, there's something for everyone at the high school level. Hitchcock, the former assistant principal at , agrees. "Encourage them to participate in school culture," she said. "(Students who do) achieve higher academically."
   
2. Know your child's friends: If your child is moving on to middle or high school, Lancaster and Hitchcock said parents need to be aware of who their kids are hanging out with. High school presents an entirely different set of social pressures than your child may have been used to in middle school, Lancaster said, so make sure to keep avenues of communication open so your child is comfortable approaching you if they're having problems with friends.
   
3. Establish routines: Your 15-year-old may know how to get up, brush his teeth and get to the bus on time, but your new first-grader will need time to get used to school routines, Hitchcock said, so start early. Make sure to go over morning routines, such as getting up early and eating breakfast, and review pick-up and drop-off routines. For high school students, Lancaster recommends making sure your ninth-grader understands the way their new schedules work and the gravity of their courseload. They'll be spending more time doing homework, Lancaster said, so make sure they have time for that.
   
4. Boost their confidence: Even if you're devastated that your little one is heading to school, don't project any of those nerves onto your child. Instead, boost their confidence and dispel any lingering butterflies by talking about how much your first-grader will love school, or how successful your high school freshman will be. While staying away from spoiling them, Hitchcock said buying your new students special back-to-school items, such as a new jacket or a lunchbox, can also boost their confidence.
   
5. Volunteer: Hitchcock said there's a myth among parents that once their kids reach middle school, they don't want their parents to be involved. That's not true, she said. "Stay visible," she said. "Volunteer. Make sure they see you."

For more Back to School coverage, check out Birmingham Patch's .