Methodical Transitions:
Pre-Departure through the Return Home – Continuity and the International School
By Brad McClain
The American School of Buenos Aires
Moving and the transitions involved are tough on everyone but they are especially tough on families with children. Time and again, the plans to support families in transition get interrupted, rescheduled, cancelled or forgotten. Finger pointing doesn’t help: the family had too much to do, the relocation was fast-tracked, the company didn’t have a plan. Often, no one is to blame; best intentions get renegotiated and the variables expand geometrically. A constant in these situations can be the international school. International schools can support the myriad of needs presented by a family in transition by planning proactively with programs addressing Pre-Arrival, Orientation, Transition, Pre-Departure, and Post-Departure issues.
Pre-Departure
By developing a methodical transition program the school can build bridges which connect families to their new lives. Important pre-departure work can be initiated by early contact from the school prior to departure. This work can involve the entire (and at times extended) family. Saying good-bye (to not only people but places and things) can set the stage for productive transition.
Arrival
Upon arrival, orientation to the school and its resources becomes invaluable. Often, the international school becomes the social hub of expatriate life. The establishment of early connections to school and community resources builds familiarity. With familiarity comes increased comfort and confidence.
International schools are in a unique position to provide in-services and presentations on the broad subject of transition. Among others, these presentations might involve understanding TCK (Third Culture Kid) issues and benefits, parenting strategies with distinct focus on raising children overseas, understanding and dealing with the “transition cycle,” as well as appreciating and supporting the role of accompanying spouses.
Departure
Pre-departure support reflects pre-arrival support in content. This time though, the international school is providing on-site impetus and ownership for the project. Discussing and implementing strategies can be essential to productively draw a family’s international experience to a productive close. This productive closure enables and supports positive transition home or to another international location. Either direction has unique, important characteristics.
On the Return Home
Finally, maintaining contact after departure not only supports the family but also the international school itself. Post departure surveys provide the family a way to maintain contact with professionals and friends at the last post while providing valuable information to the school on issues including program improvement. School to school contact can also support the smooth transfer of academic and educational information which might be indispensable with a change in curriculum or different national system.
Everyone benefits when international schools provide multifaceted, multi-timed support for a family’s transition. The different phases of transition from pre-arrival to pre-departure can be systematically addressed. When this occurs, the result is most often a well connected, content, and confident family.
Brad McClain is the Elementary School Counselor at Lincoln, The American International School of Buenos Aires. He has over 25 years of experience at international schools in Colombia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Argentina. Next year he will “transition” into the role of ES Principal at Lincoln.
Brad's contact information can be provided by request on our Contact Us page.
