Reducing Anxiety as the School Year Ends

Mendham Township, NEW JERSEY (May 10, 2023) – As a school year comes to an end, it is natural for students to think about what may be different about the next grade. In particular, the transition between Elementary and Middle schools may naturally cause a little anxiety.

In the Mendham Township School District (MTSD), students will enter the fifth grade in the Middle School building. They will begin a school year with a new timetable, processes, and will have to get used to navigating their way to new classrooms. Dr. Rob Koroski, Director of Special Services at MTSD, explains how the school district creates a seamless process to help students make this transition with confidence and enthusiasm.

Starting in grade 4, greater emphasis is placed on students being tasked to organize their own school projects and to take responsibility for completing educational assignments with established timelines. Project management, i.e., opportunities for analyzing tasks to be completed, organizing and sequencing steps, and assigning task ownership and timelines will increase as these students near completion of their fourth-grade school year in preparation for Middle School. Faculty members and students from the Middle School will periodically visit students in the fourth grade to open a dialogue with the soon-to-be fifth graders and answer their questions. Familiar faces on their first day of fifth grade can be very assuring for these students and they will certainly be able to identify members of the faculty to ask for help.

For some students, it may be necessary to provide additional support to ensure they can confidently advance to the next grade with their peers. Dr. Koroski explains how case workers, special services faculty, and trained counselors will engage along the student’s journey throughout Elementary School to assess where to best provide support. As it is a small school district, the same staff will be available to support a smooth move from Elementary to Middle School. Sometimes it can be a very practical support that can greatly reduce any concerns that a student may have. Dr. Koroski has personally walked through the schedule and classroom locations of individual students to calm any anxieties. For students who may need a more formal support plan, all analyses and proposed supports are prepared, communicated, and in-place by the spring of the preceding school year. For example, a student may have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and this plan will be continued, as needed, throughout Middle School. Teachers, counselors, and experts familiar with the student will be available for providing input to grade 5 teachers on how to best optimize the student’s ability to access the target curriculum.

April is noted as National Autism Acceptance month and May is dedicated to Mental Health Awareness month. At Mendham Township Elementary School the entire school participated in a week dedicated to Autism & Neurodiversity Awareness. During this week, all students had an opportunity to learn about autism and other neurodivergent learning conditions. “By being able to understand the behavior or emotions expressed by someone with a neurodivergent learning condition we are creating a learning environment with improved communications and socialization for all of our students,” said Dr. Koroski.

As it is now May, it is timely to mention that the school district has just announced a new partnership with Care Solace. Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. MTSD parents and families interested in counseling-related services for their child, another family member, or themselves are able to contact Care Solace for valuable assistance. This is a complimentary resource provided by the MTSD. Details on Care Solace can be found at the dedicated website for Mendham Township at www.caresolace.com/mendhamtownshipschools. Information on this service was also sent directly to all MTSD student families.

In conclusion, Dr. Koroski encourages parents to reach out to the school district’s counseling department or the school district administration to help with any concerns their children may have about the upcoming school year. “We are here to help in any way we can,” says Dr. Koroski.