| Those with children who are planning to move have | | | | and internet, if the school has an art and music |
| special concerns. They have to make sure the | | | | department, after-school programs, and physical |
| children are placed in a school that makes them feel | | | | education. |
| safe and secure and makes the move seamless for | | | | Many children are nervous about moving. When |
| them. | | | | ten-year-old Justine was moving, she remembers, "I |
| There are some ways to find a great school in a | | | | was 7 years old when my dad told me we were |
| new area for children. Research it on the internet and | | | | moving out of the city. I was really excited to finally |
| find out all information needed about it. Go visit it if | | | | be getting my own room and maybe even a dog. |
| necessary. Meet with the teachers and staff. Do | | | | But I was also very scared I wouldn't make any |
| they seem friendly or do they act uncaring? | | | | friends or find my way around my new school." |
| Check with others to see how the principal | | | | Evan remembers the day he found out he was |
| communicates with the families. Does he or she send | | | | moving a little differently, "When I had to move at |
| home a weekly news bulletin or commicate via | | | | the end of the sixth grade, it was because my |
| e-mail? | | | | parents were getting divorced. It stunk. In one |
| Have any of the professors received classroom | | | | summer, I had to go from Connecticut to California |
| grants? Does the school work to get parents on a | | | | and get used to everything being new - including |
| teacher-selection committee or parent council? | | | | living just with my mom." |
| In addition, how is academic system set up? Find out | | | | It can be hard leaving the old life behind. Before |
| if the principals and professors will discuss the | | | | moving, it would be nice to make a scrapbook of |
| curriculum, if the teachers will use outside literature | | | | pictures of friends and all of the favorite hangouts |
| besides their lesson plans? Are the teachers | | | | and activities that will be great memories. Be sure to |
| computer literate and how is that integrated into the | | | | get e-mails and adresses of friends and family to |
| classwork? | | | | stay connected. |
| Have there been cutbacks in funding and if so, which | | | | Get involved with activities that are individualized for |
| ones? Also, how are children's progress measured? Is | | | | you. If you like Karate, take a karate class. If you're |
| it done just by test scores or by other things as well | | | | into writing, get into a writer's symposium or poetry |
| such as accomplishments and portfolios? | | | | reading. Try new things like art classes, guitar lessons, |
| Other questions that should be asked are about the | | | | or the basketball team or even something else. Get |
| library and the hours of operation, computer usage | | | | out of your element and meet new people. |