|
By Hailey Eisen
Continued from Understanding your child's learning needs
Parents often want to know what is the best school? And parents who have pondered the issue will modify the question to ask, what is the best school for my child? There is no easy answer to this question, of course. And parents also need to constantly assess whether their child(ren)'s current school is right. There are a variety of circumstances in which parents may need to find a new school for theirlchild(ren).
The best time to change schools
Also important to remember is that children are constantly changing, so "what you see in the early years is not necessarily what your child will be like as he or she moves into the junior years and on to high school," says Sweet. This means that parents should continuously reevaluate their child's scholastic progress and not be afraid to make a change if necessary.
Ages advises her clients that in order to make a more seamless transition, the ideal years to start at a new school are Grade 6 and Grade 9. But, she says, if a school is unable to accommodate a child's personality and needs, it can have a detrimental impact on the student's self-esteem and behaviour, and thus a change should be initiated immediately.
For Ekin, the opportunity to transition to a new school will come this year, when she begins Grade 9 at a public high school. "I'm leaving this year to go to Mayfield Secondary School because of their excellent regional arts program," she says. "Our school [Rowntree] does go until Grade 10, but I wanted to make the transition at the beginning of high school."
Happiness at school
Choosing a school with a focus on arts and drama means that Ekin will be surrounded by other students who share her passions and interests; which, according to Edmonds, is invaluable. "When choosing a school, look for a place where your child will fit in," he advises. The opportunity to work with like-minded peers and be part of a culture that "jives" with your personality can be paramount to a child's happiness. "And happiness," he says "has been shown to be a major determinant of success."
But, how can you really know, before classes begin, if a school will be a good fit? According to Chuck McDonald, principal of TEAM school in Mississauga, the interview process reveals a lot about the compatibility of the school and the child.
"After reviewing a student's assessments and school reports we then hold a meeting with the parents where we begin to evaluate the child's needs," he says. "At our school, the academic curriculum is determined based on the child's level of performance and individual needs, and so we must ask: will this child fit within our school and will we be able to program for this specific child?"
Next: Your child in the classroom: ensuring the best learning environment.
|
