AISA Wednesday Webinar Transitions Dr Deedee Werner Nancy
AISA Wednesday Webinar: Transitions Dr. Deedee Werner, Nancy Remondi, Shelly Maldonado
Today’s focus: • Understand the elements of grief in transitions • Appreciate the unique challenges of transitions during COVID-19 • Hear some ideas for making virtual transitions from different perspectives • Share innovative ideas being used in schools
What makes this transition cycle uniquely challenging for international schools? - The end of the year is typically fraught with: - uncertainty - loss/grief - exhaustion - The current situation only exacerbates what is already a typically challenging time in the school year. - The CHALLENGES - Lack of physical connection - Usual traditions and rites of passage have been taken away
What lessons can we glean from this challenge? - This may be the most memorable transition ever! - We are using our creativity to make lasting memories - With reflection, we realize was is truly important and will cherish our future opportunities - LIVE YOUR BUCKET LIST! - BE PRESENT! - LIVE where you ARE!
What emotions are most experienced during transitions? Uncertainty Loss Sadness Anger Confusion GRIEF
How can you help students work through grief? 1. Normalize these feelings. 1. Teach and share the stages and cycles of grief. 1. Keep the focus on gratitude and compassion. 1. Teach students how to be present and find balance. Help students understand what they can and cannot control.
I know there is a lot of work already done on transitions with TCKs, how are you building on the work of Pollock and Van Reke's Third Culture Kids and transitions? R. A. F. T. R= Reconciliation= don’t leave with undone issues A = Affirmation = affirm people who have been important to you F = Farewells = make sure you say goodbye- bring closure T = Think Destination = research your new destination R. A. K. E. K = Keep in touch = get emails/ways to keep in touch E = Explore = think and dream! Explore your values
Virtual Coffees for Families This video: Leaving Families was shared by Laura Giosh-Markov Transition Counselor – Bulgarian Family Liaison at the a Anglo-American School of Sofia. Thank you Laura for sharing this fine example!
What are schools doing to encourage healthy transitions during this challenging year? Elementary ● Zoom meeting per grade level-counselor will lead RAFT ● Send an ISK certificate of completion "Once a lion, Always a lion" & present it during goodbye party or during closing assembly ● Involve the HR teacher--Set up a goodbye party with each homeroom ● Have a special ES virtual goodbye assembly-teachers who are leaving can say a 1 -minute speech for the video. ● Send an email to all parents who are leaving: include Leaving postcards example, information on grief, resources for moving
What are schools doing to encourage healthy transitions during this challenging year? Middle School ● Virtual transitions meetings per grade with counselor focussing on RAFT activity ● Creation of digital momento for each leaving student/faculty to be shared at an end of year Virtual MS assembly ● Advisories will lead a more intimate recognition activity during an Advisory Zoom ● Send out school pennant/momento with Leaving Packets
RAFT ACTIVITY - TIMELINE Gains & Losses ● Create a timeline of the places you have lived. ● Use post it notes (in the same color) or Padlet to write down what you learned and/or what was important to you while living in that place. ● With each move, think about what you took with you to the next place. (From International School of Amsterdam - ISCA Shared Resources)
What are schools doing to encourage healthy transitions during this challenging year? High School: Honoring Seniors: Connections through Instagram and Website
Senior “week” Senior “month” Transition weeks: 1. Adjustment to college/being a Roommate 2. Safety on campus 3. “Adulting” 4. Transition as TCK or International student Resources:
Transition as a TCK/International Student 1. Finding personal and cultural identity 2. Transition cycle (accelerated or decelerated…? ) 3. Not fitting in 4. Grief- more things to grieve this year **Unique this year- reframing their future: Doors opening instead of doors closing *** Allowing space for all of the “what ifs…”
Graduation *Get kids involved in the planning- Gives them something to have control over *Capture Memories grad photos, speeches, cakes, etc *Class of 2020 is UNIQUE- reframe into the resiliency, positive, how they will be remembered *Look for ways to celebrate in the future? August, December, Alumni Reunions
Virtual Graduation/End of year Resources International ACAC list of virtual/alternative graduation ideas Virtual Graduation Guide Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN) - Episode 2
Digital Memento Possibilities Flipgrid - many schools out there are using it to enhance end of year experiences From ASWarsaw - In secondary, they willl be doing something with flip grid where leaving teachers and students record themselves saying goodbye and reflecting on there time here at ASW. CANVA - very popular; an amazing way to send messages to leavers. Free with educator registration. Kudo. Board - another great way for teachers/students to express gratitude to leavers. While there is a cost involved, this could be an effective way to express wishes to many in a community. One Note - collaboration space to collect messages Padlet - to post goodbye messages/videos for departing students. Kids can write a message, draw, record a message or a video, upload photos. Google Slides - to collect messages, photos, drawings, videos Virtual T-shirt Signing
Teachers in Transition - Virtual coffees and dinners with RAFT activities - Sending out Goodbye Packages (school memorabilia) - Digital Momentos (including videos) - Virtual assemblies
From our Friends at ISCA Counselor Chat: Managing Transition Season during the Pandemic If you missed the chat or would like to share it with a colleagues please visit our website to access and download the recording: ISCA COVID-19 webpage and/or Recording of the Chat Resources To read the live chat which includes idea sharing and resources please read this document: Chat during the Chat Presentation shown during the Counselor Chat: Presentation Here is an Infographic from Susie March: Infographic
What are some ideas do you have?
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