You’ve Enrolled! Tips and Strategies for Ending the School Year on a High Note

It’s such an exciting time for us and the families we have worked with for the past year! For many students, the end of March and early April marks a crucial moment in their academic journey as they’ve learned of their private school admissions offers. This is also a time of excitement, relief, and celebration, as students and their families have made their final decisions about where they will be attending school next fall! Our clients have been offered a multitude of acceptances at wonderful schools and we are so proud of them! Our clients have been offered a multitude of acceptances at wonderful schools and we are so proud of them!

Amidst the excitement, it's important to share a gentle reminder that this is not the end of the academic year. In fact, it's just the beginning of a new chapter. Yes, we absolutely want students who have been accepted to private schools to take the time to celebrate their achievements and feel proud of their hard work! However, it's also important to remember to stay focused and finish the academic year strong. 

Here’s how families can encourage their students to finish out the year with their best foot forward. 

Keep the Focus

We can’t emphasize enough how great it is that your student is eager to step into this next chapter of their academics. But within all this excitement is the importance of focusing on the school days left. Many private schools pay close attention to student’s grades from the final semester of their school year to confirm your student’s admission decisions.

To help your student focus on finishing the end of the school year, encourage them to maintain good study habits and keep up with coursework. If your student needs extra support in any academic areas, encourage them to get the support they need to finish strong. Perhaps extra time with a teacher or tutor will make a difference? With summer break on the horizon, it can be tempting to slack off and let grades slip. One of the most important parts to the end of the school year is that your student is engaged in their learning, continuing to find success and feeling confident! Ending on a high note will help get them off on the right foot in the fall all the more! 

Grow Their Confidence

Speaking of confidence, one of the most important things you can do now at this stage of your student’s academic year is encourage their confidence. Your student is likely experiencing a mix of excitement and anxiousness about the upcoming school year. You can help them to feel confident in the next step of their academic journey by encouraging them to speak openly with family and friends about the parts of this experience they are excited about, and the parts they are hesitant to embrace. 

During these next few weeks, have a few check-ins with your student on how they are feeling and what they are most looking forward to in-terms of the upcoming school year. Grab the time with your kids when you can—-in the car, go get an ice cream, take a jog together, watch some sports on tv together—-make the time! Check-ins are a great way to get a pulse on where your student is at and where they might be experiencing any challenges. 

Soak it Up

As your student moves on to their next academic step, it can feel scary to leave behind coaches, teachers, and friends who have been part of their life for so long. Remember though, they aren’t really leaving these connections behind, so it’s all in how you help your student shape their mindset. Although this transition won’t necessarily be easy, these professionals in their lives can now be incredible mentors and resources as your student moves into their next academic step. Reassure your student by suggesting ways to stay connected and spend time with those they care about.

Even though your student will be focusing on the summer and fall ahead, encourage them to take advantage of any fun and exciting events and activities still available to them at the end of this academic year. Staying engaged with extracurricular activities and community involvement is critical to finding meaningful connections. 

Ultimately, this private school acceptance period is a time to celebrate and recognize the effective effort that students have put forth. It’s also an opportunity for students to set themselves up for success in their new school next year. With these tips your student will be well on their way to finishing the school year strong! 

If you have a student who will soon be heading to private school, what advice would you add to this list?