Transition between School Settings
Key Points:
- School transitions can be challenging when you are recovering from concussion.
- The process for returning to school will be the same between all school settings (elementary, secondary, and post-secondary) but the level of support will be different.
- Planning ahead will make transitions smoother and less stressful.
- There are lots of great alternatives to consider when your original plan doesn’t work out.
Transitions can be Challenging
Going through the following school transitions can be challenging when you are still recovering from your concussion:
- Grade to grade
- School to school
- Start of a new school year
- Between semesters/terms when courses change
- Following breaks (eg. summer break, spring break)
During school transitions you will have to adjust to new courses, classmates, teachers, schools, and/or expectations.
Planning for these changes can make adjusting easier and less stressful.
Differences Between Settings
The Return to School Protocol can be applied to all school settings (elementary, high school, and post-secondary) but how it’s used between these settings will vary, including:
- the level of monitoring
- accommodations available
- who is involved in the support team.
See Your School Support Team for more information
The transition from elementary to secondary school results in more social and academic demands.
If you’re transitioning out of elementary school you might want to consider the following prior to starting at a secondary school:
- Attend orientation session(s) to become familiar with new setting and staff
- Access the school website to become familiar with school routines and rules
- Select appropriate courses for the upcoming term/semester based on recovery progress
- Communicate with school counsellor as an introduction, and to notify them of the injury and resulting symptoms
- Visit and walk through when the school is open but empty as a strategy to familiarize yourself with the physical environment, timetable, classes, and locker location.
- Participate in a transition meeting with necessary secondary staff (eg. learning support team, school counsellor, and/or grade administrator) if you think you’ll need individualized programming and long term support.
Post-secondary students are expected to be independent, and take complete responsibility for themselves and their health.
If you’re transitioning out of secondary school you might want to consider the following prior to starting at a college or university:
- Complete “Special Consideration for Admission” form if you feel your concussion will impact your eligibility for admission to post-secondary institution.
- Become familiar with the application process/deadlines/requirements for post-secondary programs
- Determine appropriate course load based on recovery needs
- Select appropriate courses based on recovery needs
- Become aware of important dates and deadlines for courses (eg. withdraw without impact to your academic record)
- Determine possible services you may require in the post-secondary setting and contact the Disability Resource Centre to determine if you qualify for support. UBC example for special considerations [link].
- Investigate on and off campus living arrangements to determine what will meet your needs
- Sign up for a guided tour/orientation of the post-secondary institution, if available
Unfortunately, sometimes post-secondary plans are best to be postponed or changed because of your injury and symptoms. This is not your fault - and these situations are beyond your control.
In this case, it’ll be important to find out what the school’s process and deadlines are for deferral.
The good news is that you can return to school when the timing is right, and when you are feeling your best.
As disappointing as this may seem, you may not be aware of great alternatives such as the following:
- Consider attending an alternate post-secondary institution as a ‘stepping stone’ to your original plan. This is a great way to stay involved and to be able to practice self-management and learning strategies in a less stressful environment.
- Consider getting a job. The skills you’ll learn from paid employment opportunities will be helpful when you transition back to your original post-secondary plans, and adulthood overall.
- Take a gap year. Gap years are meant to give students the chance to experience learning through experiences other than academics. This is a great way to discover yourself, and allow more time for healing and future planning. A gap year can take many forms including: travelling, pursuing hobbies/interests, and paid and/or volunteer work.
See Return to Volunteering and Part Time Work for more information.
Helpful Websites
For career exploration, try the following links:
For post-secondary educational programs in BC, try the following:
For trades-related occupations, try the following:
For post-secondary funding information, try the following: