FirstNews ISSUE 275

18 FirstNews ISSUE 275 9 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2011SPECIAL REPORTby Anne Keeling for International Primary CurriculumFor more special reports, pictures and videos go to www.firstnews.co.uk/discoverStartinga newschoolSTARTING a new school comes with a great mix of newfeelings; some good and some not so great. The InternationalPrimary Curriculum (IPC) offers some helpful advice.MOVING SCHOOLSSOME children who learn with the International PrimaryCurriculum move schools a lot. That is because they haveto move around with their mum or dad’s job. This caneven mean moving to a new school in a new country.Now, that can be extra tough because you have to fitin with a different language and culture as well as withnew teachers and new classmates. But it can also be veryexciting as you are making new and interesting friendsfrom all over the world.auditions are going to be held or when trials willtake place for the sports teams.Find out about the themes that your class will belearning for the upcoming year and the set readingbooks for your class.Read the school handbook, old newsletters orlook through the school website where you’ll learn alot about the people and the fun learning activitiesthat go on at your new school. There may alsobe a pupil section on the website or a dedicatedFacebook page for pupils.Even if you’re just changing to a new school in the samecountry, you will go through the experiences of having tofind your way, meet new teachers and make new friends.IN THE FIRST FEW DAYSThere are some things that you can do before you jointhe school, or in your first days, that might help. Here aresome suggestions:Find out if there is a ‘buddy’ system in your new schoolwhere you can pair up with someone already at the schoolwho has similar interests or experiences to you.Ask about clubs and after school activities that areavailable and the days that they are held. Try to find outwho in your new school already attends the clubs you areinterested in, and see if you can contact them to find outmore (and make friends too!). If you have any particularinterests such as music or sport, find out when choirSETTLING INDuring the first few weeks at your newschool, here are some tips for settling inquickly:Try to enjoy meeting new friends andfinding your way around the school.Don’t put pressure on yourself to find one bestfriend. Take your time and try to have a wide circleof friends. Your buddy doesn’t have to be yourbest friend; your buddy is there to guide and helpyou and will be there to answer any questionswhen you need a helping hand.Your new teacher can help you with many things,especially anything you need to know about whatyou’ll be learning. If you don’t feel confident enoughto ask something, see if there is a ‘questions’ box inyour class where you are ableto write down what you needto know.Find out if there is a friendshipbench or area of the playground youcan go to when you feel that you’dlike to talk to someone.Join an after school club and findout where your classmates go afterschool. If there is something thatyou’d particularly like to do, see if youare able to sign up for it.If you have something of interestto contribute to a theme that youwill be learning about in class, take itinto school to share with your teacherand classmates.Enjoy the adventure of your newschool. You never know what excitingopportunities are waiting for youthere!FIND OUT MORE…The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is used inschools in 64 countries around the world including almost1,000 schools in the UK. It is a fun, creative, exciting andchallenging way to learn and helps you to learn with yourfriends and about the way children live and learn all overthe world. If you would like to know more about the IPC,go to: www.internationalprimarycurriculum.com