This can be a very emotional and stressful time in your child’s life, under normal circumstances. However, now with all that is happening in the world, the uncertainty of what is yet to come, the stress is amplified. The faculty and staff at Quest Academy are committed to doing all we can to help alleviate some of this stress and help to prepare them for their next steps.
It is a time when they prepare to leave the familiar and go on to, oftentimes, a much bigger school, with many more students who may not be familiar. That is why it is so important to choose your child’s next academic home carefully. Make sure they are excited about where they are going. Guide them as only you can because no one knows your child better than you. I am here to help in any way I can.
I have had the pleasure of meeting with the Class of 2022 to introduce myself and get to know them better. I have gleaned from them, and the survey many of you completed earlier in the year, which schools are of interest. In this series of articles, I will be highlighting a few of these high schools every week to help you with your search. Also, I will be providing you with a calendar of events focused on deadlines and due dates in these schools to help you stay on top of things.
Every year Quest Academy co-hosts a high school fair with Science & Arts Academy. This year the event will be held in our gym with many of our local private schools and even some boarding schools from around the country represented. 2021’s High School Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6th at 6 pm. Be on the lookout for informational flyers and invitations.
Following please find a brief synopsis of things you can expect from me and steps you may take to make this transition a smooth and positive one. In addition, I will be posting information every week here with any news and tips I receive from high schools. We will get through this together. Before you know it, it will be time to talk about graduation!
8th Grade Transition to High School
Please know that each high school, school district and private school has a different admissions process. While I will be posting any information I can gather on the individual school’s requirements, it is important that you visit the website of the schools you are interested in and familiarize yourself with their particular process, requirements and deadlines.
Following are steps we encourage parents and students to take:
- Research school’s website
- Check the Weekly Quest for updates on deadlines and requirements
- Attend the Open House (most likely held virtually) of any school you are interested
- Attend prospective student events
- Contact high school to set up potential shadow dates and tours
- Forward all requests for records transfer and teacher recommendation forms to Assistant to the Head of School at least two weeks prior to due date.
Following are steps Quest will take on students’ behalf:
- Send transcripts in mid-January
- Coordinate the completion and submission of teacher recommendation forms
Following are general suggestions we offer for a smooth transition process:
Consider applying to more than one school, unless you are going to a public school.
It is recommended that you register with your public school even if you are looking at other options. This will keep you abreast of their calendar of events and deadlines and it is always a safe option.
The staff and faculty of Quest support all high schools and try to help families find the best fit for their student. However, it is important that families visit their intended schools to make sure they are making the most informed decision possible.
While there is a natural adjustment from middle to high school, we strive to make sure Quest students are well prepared for high school, both academically and socially.
Enjoy the process and experience. It goes by much too quickly.
Donna Wozniczka
High School Transitions Coordinator
donna.wozniczka@questacademy.org
