Making Spring Enrollment Work for Your Child

Transferring from one school to another is difficult on your child. When the transition occurs in the middle of the school year, whether it is because you have moved or changed schools to meet the needs of your child’s education, your child has to catch up on information everyone else may have already learned months ago. Below are a few tips from the Diocese of Orlando you can use when your child transfers to one of their private schools in Polk County, Florida.Choose Classes TogetherIf your child has a choice of classes, make the decision a group effort. You can even use some of the elective classes as leverage by telling your child he or she can take travel band if an advanced science class is also part of the schedule, for instance. This gives your child the ability to choose what they would like to take while you are satisfied with your own choice.Schedule a School VisitVisit the new school beforehand to help your child understand the structure of the building itself; where classes are located; and where to find the locker, gymnasium, lunchroom, and library. Talk with your child’s teacher or teachers if possible, and meet the school’s office personnel. Ask about a locker for physical education and for school itself, how to charge for school lunches if you are planning on buying school lunches, and how often art and music classes are taught. When your child is more familiar with the school and how it operates, it erases a lot of worry. Many of our Polk County Schools will allow you and your child “shadow” their class for a day. This is a great opportunity to see what their daily schedule will look like and help them feel more comfortable about the new change.Do Paperwork TogetherBe sure all paperwork is completed before the first day of school. If enrollment deadlines must be met, ensure you know those deadlines and finish everything beforehand.Do An Audit of Your Child’s Academic AccomplishmentsWhen transferring from another school district, you may find your child is ahead in some classes and behind in others. Work with his or her teachers to catch up on what was not learned in the previous school and how far ahead he or she is in another class.Research the Differences in SchoolsYour child’s individual needs will dictate which school is best for him or her. In Polk County, the Diocese of Orlando has four elementary/middle schools and one high school. All elementary/middle schools follow the same curriculum, core values, and instructional design, but they all offer their own unique school environment. The huge variety allows you to evaluate the learning setting that will be the best fit for your child’s personality and learning needs.Transferring can be much easier if your child understands what is involved and helps with the planning of moving from one school to another. Schools in Polk County, Florida are open for spring enrollment and ready to give your child the best education possible. Call the Diocese of Orlando at 407-246-4903 to speak with one of our representatives about the opportunities a Catholic education can give your child.