Newington College

Settling those back to school/new school worries

Settling those back to school/new school worries

Back to school nerves are a rite of passage many of us will recall this week, as we welcome our students back for the new school year.

Totally normal then, says Ms Mia Airth, Newington Psychologist and School Counsellor, that some students, whether commencing at Newington or moving up from one of our Prep schools to our senior campus, may experience some initial anxieties.

‘The important thing for any child feeling return to school or new school anxieties is for us as parents and carers to normalise these feelings or worries.’ says Ms Airth.

‘Even with students who have been part of the Newington community since their primary days or who are returning after the long summer break in higher years, many may still have that trepidation and those initial feelings of unease as they meet new friends, reconnect with old and for some, begin a whole new school journey. It’s important we let our children know that these feelings are completely normal. It often helps to assure them by telling them that as adults we can still feel these emotions when we start a new job or face a new challenge for instance.’

A member of Newington College’s permanent counselling team, Ms Airth says Newington’s wellbeing and pastoral care is built around care for every student.

“Newington’s culture is holistic and that is very intentional through our House and Mentor program with the inclusion, connection and understanding of every student at the heart of everything we do here.’

With 16 Houses across Newington’s Senior school, students begin and end their day with their House group in designated House home rooms.

This system has proved particularly impactful for new Newington students whether starting this week in Year 7 or joining us in the older years, says Ms Airth.

‘Students meet within a smaller Mentor group daily and spend time together building relationships that continue year to year during their time at Newington. There are also House meetings, House events, Camps Week and co-curricular and chosen extracurricular activities, all of which give opportunities to new students get to know others on a personal and casual basis. This is all very important and very intentional.’

‘The important thing for any child feeling return to school or new school anxieties is for us as parents and carers to normalise these feelings or worries.’

All students starting in Year 7 met their Mentor and were shown their House Room at their Orientation Day recently, says Ms Airth.

‘This is a safe place and space for them as they begin to find their feet. Talk with your child about their House Room, where it is and how to find it, and possibly create a plan to go there as they enter the gates on their first day which can be helpful in relieving some of their nerves.’

Here are some other tips to help student (and parents) settle any back to school-new-school concerns…

  • Establish or re-establish a routine: help your child go to bed and wake up at the same time they will need to when they return to school, at least a few days out. ‘This helps them readjust to a timetable, so they don’t have that ‘jetlagged’ feeling in the first week and instead they start the new school year feeling energised, alert and prepared,’ says Ms Airth.
  • Advise your child to get their uniform and books out: Don’t do it for them because this exercise is about establishing a mindset to get themselves prepared. ‘Having their uniform, school bag and books laid out and visible helps with the mental association that school is starting soon and with the demands that are required for school. It makes school a reality they are prepared for rather than a rushed episode the morning of which is where anxieties can start to rise’.
  • Help them have a rough plan in mind: Ask if they met anyone they liked at Orientation Day. ‘Helping your child think about a) where do I go when I get to into the school gates and b) did I meet anyone at Orientation or do I know someone already there or also going, then even better,’ says Ms Airth. ‘Their first few weeks and months are very well planned out so the rest will play out naturally.’
  • At the end of the first school days take time to debrief with your child, perhaps over dinner: Acknowledge that there may be some challenges and allow your child to voice them if they experienced any. ‘We don’t want to remove any challenges as part of being a human is to have these uncomfortable moments and to learn how to sit with them.’
  • Also focus on the positive parts: Encourage your child to think about what they felt did go well. ‘Ask questions such as, who did you speak to, and who acknowledged you? Did you have an interesting conversation with anyone? What was the most interesting subject you will be learning, and which teacher did you connect with most?’
  • Help them prioritise sleep: With so much going on during the school days, sleep is vital. ‘It is very important students are having early nights during their first days and weeks of school, especially in the younger years. It’s imperative with coping and to reset their emotions for the next day as well.’
  • Screen time: Central to sleep, concludes Ms Airth is screen time. ‘Putting boundaries in place at the start of a new school year about time on devices, and not leaving devices in bedrooms overnight, especially in the younger senior years, is a good idea. This means it will be much easier to establish a solid routine during school term time and can allow you to make holiday periods as the exception potentially.’
  • If you have any concerns, get in touch: ‘We encourage all our parents, if they have any concerns of any type to reach out to their Mentor as the initial point of contact. Our core concern is the wellbeing and personal growth of your child, and we are committed to knowing every student in terms of their academic, co-curricular perspective and wellbeing needs.’

Ms Airth adds it can also be handy to remind older students returning to school of the power of rejuvenation.

‘Our students have restored themselves over the holidays and they now have the renewed energy and drive they need for this school year,’ says Ms Airth.

‘It’s important therefore for each student to remind themselves that their first day, and even their first week, is going to be more enjoyable than what they are expecting in those moments when they may be feeling any of those first day back nerves and worries.’

For further reading on pastoral care at Newington, please visit the ‘Pastoral Care’ and ‘Wellbeing’ pages.