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| Moving with kids -- changing grades mid-year? | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 9 2007, 05:01:15 AM (1,145 Views) | |
| aus2007 | Oct 9 2007, 05:01:15 AM Post #1 |
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True Blue Mate
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A question for those who have moved or are moving with school-aged kids: How did you manage the transition from the U.S. September-May/June school year to the Australian February-December school year? My oldest son just turned six, and just started Kindergarten here in New Jersey last month. The cut-off for K in our area is September 30th (student has to be 5 by then), and his birthday is a week later than that, hence the reason he didn't start last year and is now one of the oldest in his class. Hypothetically, if we were to move, say, just before the start of the Australian school year (which I believe is the very end of January?), what grade would he start in once we're there? He'd have 4 months of Kindergarten under his belt, but certainly not a full year. It would seem strange to have him start in Kindergarten again. That would mean he'd turn seven next October and would still be in K. Doesn't sound right to me, but maybe things are different over there. Is it just a matter of getting there and having him tested to see where he belongs? Does anyone know if the Australian curriculums are similar to ours, on a year-by-year basis? Thanks for any input! |
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| imafranktoo | Oct 9 2007, 05:28:48 AM Post #2 |
Little Miss Key Breaker
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aus2007, My kids were in the Glen Waverley, and Rowville school systems. When we arrived my oldest went into 8th grade after completing most of 7th grade (moved May 2nd). My middle one had basically completed 6th grade and had to do another year of 6th because her birthday was to near the cut off date and my youngest had to go through 5th again because her birthday was after the cut off date. The curriculum to my kids were easy in some ways and hard in others. I can't say about the Kinder program. I would have to guess that your son would be in 1st grade even though he did only 4 months in Kinder. I believe the age cutoff/birthdate is April 30th in Melbourne (child turns 5 before that date). The school year in Melbourne began 1st/2nd of February. I can't say for elsewhere. Since coming back (we came back during the summer break here in the US) my kids are now in 10th, 8th and 7th and they had only a half year in Australia. They are doing fine, grades are good and they aren't behind. I hope that helps. Jennifer |
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| koalamama | Oct 9 2007, 07:52:59 AM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hi, I guess my first question would be - can he write? Does he know some basic maths? Can he read at an age appropriate level? If he can do these things with some confidence, then he should be fine to go into Grade 1. We moved here at the end of Sept 04 - my son had done three weeks of kindergarten before we left. He completed the last term of kindergarten here (Oct- Dec) - the only area he was behind the other kids was in writing - and he was fine to go into Grade 1. So he basically had 3.5 months - similar to your child. |
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| aus2007 | Oct 10 2007, 05:06:04 AM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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He can write his name well, but his penmanship in general is rough to say the least. He can count and recognize numbers, and seems to understand very simple addition and subtraction. Other than some site words, though, he cannot read yet. Is the ability to read expected by the start of 1st grade? I guess I'm just wondering whether they'd go more by age or by ability. He's so aware of how old he is now, and how old his friends are, and even though he's one of the oldest in his grade, he's still close enough to some of the other kids that it's not an issue. But if he were pushing seven, and some of his classmates were still five, well...I just don't want him to feel ashamed, or like anything's wrong with him. On the other hand, I don't want him to have too hard a time if he goes to 1st grade when he's not ready.  |
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| koalamama | Oct 10 2007, 07:35:19 AM Post #5 |
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True Blue Mate
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I'm not really sure myself... I think for peace of mind, the best thing to do is contact a school or schools in the area where you will be living - or thereabouts if you don't know that yet - and speak to or email the principal. |
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| cardiffkp | Oct 11 2007, 09:42:29 AM Post #6 |
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Yacker
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I am in a similar situation! We are moving there in December, and my soon to be 7 year old will have only had 3 months of 1st grade. His b-day is November 29, making him one of the older kids in his class in the U.S., but definitely much older than the first graders in Oz. The one Sydney school I contacted via email informed me they would want him to start 2nd grade in January. I'm not certain I agree with that. We are meeting with an education specialist through our relocation agent next week in Sydney, and will hopefully be able to tour some of the schools to see which grade would work best for him. His U.S. first grade teacher told me to go with my gut! I am bringing his school records, and his U.S. teacher is compiling a packet of his school work for me to bring to the schools, as well. They can analyze the kind of work he does here. On the flip side, I hope to bring back to his U.S. teacher some examples of work 1st/2nd graders do in Oz, so she can help me with the decision. I can share with you any information I get while there. I empathize with your confusion! |
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| aus2007 | Oct 11 2007, 10:53:49 AM Post #7 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thank you! Your plan to bring your child's schoolwork, and also to bring some sample work back, sounds like a great one. I would be very interested in hearing what you learn while there. My husband will be in Oz next month, so maybe we'll see if he can set up a similar meeting with someone in the elementary education field (hopefully by then, we'll have a better idea of exactly where we might be living). Thanks again, and good luck to you with your move! |
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| cardiffkp | Oct 30 2007, 02:32:38 PM Post #8 |
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Yacker
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Hi Aus2007, Just got back a few days ago. We are going with the school's suggestion that our son start in Grade 2 in January. They looked at his work, allowed us to look at the work the kids in Grade 1 were doing (his future classmates), and promised to help if he was behind in any areas. I feel much better. It will also give us better options for when we return to the U.S. in a few years. I think it would be harder to miss out on large chunks of school as he gets older, but doing it on the front end, means he can go forward or backwards when we return and still possibly join his buddies in their grads. Does that make sense? Instead of repeating part of 1st grade, he is moving forward to second grade. Any idea yet where you will live? Does your husband's company pay for private school? Good luck. I think the next few weeks will be quite insane for us. There is so much to prepare, but at least the school question is answered! I'm sure you'll make the right decision. |
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| shylady | Oct 30 2007, 03:13:35 PM Post #9 |
oldYank
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I think that's a VERY wise decision! Obviously he already has some reading skills, and I think it's better at that age, to be challenged, rather than bored with school. :goodonya: Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| imafranktoo | Oct 31 2007, 12:55:02 PM Post #10 |
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Little Miss Key Breaker
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I realize that my kids and your kids are years apart, but as a bit of encouragement for when you return from Oz (if you intend to). My oldest was held back in 2nd grade by my recommendation not the teacher. This is before we knew she was autistic. Anyways, since coming back and sorting through the work she did in Australia and the time she was in school. The counselor at the local high school here determined that she only needed 1 credit hour to be a sophmore/year 10. My daughter has caught back up to her original class. Australian schools gave her the confidence that she was lacking here in the US. While she still struggles some she is getting the help she needs including an aid which before she didn't qualify for, but due to Australia giving her an aid she now qualifies for one! :yaay: :redpepper: This is a good thing as it helps her in class and it is what she has needed for years. My other two are getting A's & B's and are not behind at all. So when and if you're ready to come back you should have confidence that your child/children will be okay academically and be able to slide right in where they should be grade wise. Jennifer |
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| cardiffkp | Oct 31 2007, 01:08:14 PM Post #11 |
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Yacker
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Jennifer, Thank you! It is nice to hear. I have heard much negative feedback about Aussie schools, and just a little positive, so I really appreciate hearing about your experience. We are very excited for every part of our adventure, including the kid's schooling. I can't wait to see my shaggy haired surfer boys in uniforms! Thanks again! The boys are doing their pre-bed time ritual of attacking each other, so I will go.... |
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| aus2007 | Nov 9 2007, 12:55:17 PM Post #12 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thanks so much for sharing your experience! My DH is in Oz right now, and will be checking out neighborhoods and schools in the next week. It's been a roller coaster of changes recently, but he has now been offered a position in Melbourne rather than Sydney, and has accepted it. Woohoo! I forgot to send him with my son's schoolwork, so I think I will be faxing it to his hotel so he can have something to show. His company will not be paying for private school, so I think that may be off the table. We're in the process of figuring out which Melbourne suburb to choose. Overwhelming! Thanks again, and good luck to you with everything! |
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| cardiffkp | Nov 9 2007, 01:56:49 PM Post #13 |
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Yacker
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Congrats on the job! I've heard great things about Melbourne. Go with your gut about the school and which grade to put him in. When do you actually move? We are moving sometime in December, depending on our visas. Good luck to you as well!!!!!!!! |
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| AmyFromCO | Nov 9 2007, 02:55:13 PM Post #14 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hi, Thought I'd share with you that our daughter turned 5 in August 07. When we arrived -August) All of the schools, private and public were adament that she not start the "Transition" year (The NT's Equivalent to the US Kindergarten) until this coming January. She went into the preschool program. I can tell you that she would have been more than ready to just finish out the transition year as she had been in a Montessorri preschool in the US and was already starting to read and such. I've taken a look at the Transition curriculum and she'll probably be able to gain some confidence and she still fits in the age group, so I'm ok with keeping her out for now. It has given us more time to be settled and visit the schools with no real rush. Here's something else to consider. In the NT they have started "early enrollment" so that children who turn 5 by May 30 can now start the transition year in January. I don't think you'll want to have a 7 year old in the transition classes when there are 4 year olds in the room as well if that is happening where you are moving. Good luck! ~Amy |
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| aus2007 | Nov 10 2007, 01:17:42 PM Post #15 |
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True Blue Mate
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We're hoping to move by mid-January, but I honestly have no idea if the visa process allows for that kind of time frame. I suppose it's possible DH will need to go on ahead, but hopefully we can all get there at the same time. Hope everything goes smoothy, for all of us! |
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| aus2007 | Nov 10 2007, 01:20:54 PM Post #16 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thanks for this info! The more I think and read about it, the more likely it seems DS will begin 1st grade when we get there. My DH sent me a link today to a primary school that looks excellent, and seems to cater to expat families. He's going to try to set up a tour of the school this week, and I'm sure we can't be the first family with this kind of age/grade situation, so hopefully they'll have some helpful advice. Thanks again! |
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| TerritorianTori | Nov 10 2007, 04:02:40 PM Post #17 |
It couldn't happen here
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Thank you, Amy! This is good to know for when my boy starts school up here. :ta: |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| aus2007 | Nov 15 2007, 01:34:03 PM Post #18 |
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True Blue Mate
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Just to answer my own question, DH met with the principal of the primary school we're interested in, and they said DS would go right into 1st grade (or year one, I think they called it). This particular school is actually going for its accredidation as an international school, as it has a large percentage of foreign-born students. So, they're very experienced with the whole changing countries/changing grades thing, and have lots of "bridge" resources to help with the transition. The principal was very welcoming and the school looks great, so that's one less thing on our loooong list of stuff to do and worry about. Thanks again for all of the input! :ta: |
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| shylady | Nov 15 2007, 06:59:31 PM Post #19 |
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oldYank
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:yaay: :yaay: :yaay: That's what I was hoping! I think it's the right decision! :hugs: Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| cardiffkp | Nov 16 2007, 02:57:57 AM Post #20 |
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Yacker
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I'm happy for you! I know how much better I felt once I'd finally made the decision. He'll do fine! Have you started packing? |
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