By Mrs Jenny Gillespie, College Counsellor

Beginning Secondary School - Parent Information

Welcome to Assumption College. We are very pleased to welcome you to our community and support your child/ren through their high school journey.

My name is Jenny Gillespie and along with Brett Armstrong, we are the Assumption College Guidance Counsellors. We are here to provide support to students across all year levels regarding various types of social and emotional issues that may crop up. Adolescence is a wonderful time of growth for young people, but it does come with challenges, and these might be via friendship issues, peer difficulties, academic demands, learning support needs, coping skills or family concerns. I am at school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Brett on Thursdays and Fridays. We welcome discussion and referrals from students, parents and staff regarding our students’ social and emotional development along with any issues of concern in these areas.

If your child is new to us, whether in Year 7, or from another Secondary School, they may be excited and also apprehensive at the same time. They might feel:

• excited about new friends, subjects, and teachers
• nervous about learning new routines, making new friends, or wearing a new uniform
• worried about the workload or whether they will ‘fit in.’

You might also worry about these issues and wonder if your child will have the confidence and skills to handle them. These concerns are all very normal and will generally fade over time as students become familiar with their new learning environment.

When students are making the move to a new school, remember you have the biggest influence on how smooth the transition is. Your child’s friends do influence how your child feels about the move, but your support has stronger and longer-lasting effects. Keep talking with your child about their new school, normalise their worries but also convey the message that not only do they have your support, but our college staff are there to assist, and should be approached for assistance as needed.

By the end of first semester, most students will have settled well into their new school environment.

For further reading visit Transition to High School for Teenagers - Reach Out Parents

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact myself or Brett via email Jenny.Gillespie@twb.catholic.edu.au Brett.Armstrong@twb.catholic.edu.au or through the College office.