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Transitions. Tashkent International School. Discussion Points. The Transitions Cycle International and local students Common Themes TIS Transitions Umbrella What we’ve done successfully in the past Plan for this year . The International Cycle: E.A.S.E. The Local Cycle. Entry.
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Transitions Tashkent International School
Discussion Points • The Transitions Cycle • International and local students • Common Themes • TIS Transitions Umbrella • What we’ve done successfully in the past • Plan for this year
Entry • Excitement aka the “Honeymoon Phase” • Anxiety • Ambivalence • Unresolved loss • Issues become more apparent as students get older
Adjustment • School expectations • For local families (some international families) – adjustment to a school curriculum totally different both culturally and academically. • Social relationships • Time it takes to develop friendships varies depending on the student. • Culture of play – particularly in Elementary – may look & feel different for some of our students. • Language has a strong correlation with the above
Staying • Fact of life for many of our students, both local and international. • At TIS: reality of staying increases as students get older. • Those who stay experience loss of their friends and teachers who move on. • Common feelings • Starting over again with friendships – school can feel like a revolving door. • Wanting to stay connected with friends who have left
Exit – Building a RAFT • Reconciliation • Affirmation • Farewell • Think Destination Adapted from Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by Pollock and Van Renken
How this all works at TIS • Ongoing successes • Orientation at the beginning of the year. • The role of the elementary/secondary homerooms and advisories: welcoming, ice breakers, morning meetings, team-building/social skills groups, etc. • Principal’s Coffee Mornings for parents. • Student Support Team • Transition from 5th to 6th grade, including 5th grade graduation. • MYP Induction • Celebrations during Elementary assemblies. • Challenges • Admissions • Language • Entry and exit happens throughout the whole year. • Time
Response to the challenges • Short-term: • The PYP tree and character education. • SST referrals. • Counselor is working on Welcome Club • Counselor is preparing materials and resources that will be readily available to classroom teachers. • Coffee Mornings for parents (schedule TBD). • Ongoing inventory of TIS Transitions program. • Exit – working with families/admin, Leaver’s Lunch, etc. • Long-term: • School-wide transitions team. • Parent involvement.