Surviving the back-to-school blues

Elizabeth Joseph and Michelline Nawatises Schools reopened on 8 January for the new academic year. As usual, parents as well as learners were excited and nervous about the brand new school year.My Zone visited Delta Secondary School, among others schools, to catch up with the new grade 8 leaners during their orientation. It was a colourful and very cheerful morning as the learners were instructed to march around the sports field. Everyone had smiles on their faces and it was obvious that they were all ready for the year to kick off. The head girl Cameron van Wyk was very optimistic and when asked what some of the lessons were she wished to instil in the learners, she had this to say: “As a new learner coming to high school, you are going to be exposed to so many new adventures. Always be open-minded and look forward to new possibilities.” Although optimism was the order of the day, the principal of the school, Angelica Jacobie, highlighted some of the challenges which comes with a new school year, for the teachers as well as the parents. “With a new academic year comes new challenges that we as teachers have to face head-on. Thousands of children are still looking for a place and we have not received textbooks for grade 10. Some subjects for grade 10 has no syllabus yet. At Delta, because we are experienced teachers and make an effort to get everything that we need, I believe we will be fine,” Jacobie said.“It’s scary; I feel for the parents. What is so unfortunate is that there are only five grade 8 classes. Its chock-and-block now. Parents sit outside shocked and in tears, wondering what to do. “My advice to the grade 8s is that they must grow into it; there is a season for everything. They start from the bottom again; they must grow into high school. It is scary for most of them as primary schools usually don’t have huge buildings. They feel lost for the first few weeks, but they should grow together as a team, have fun and just do the right thing,” Jacobie added.The Zone as well visited Hochland High School and had a chat with the new grade 8 learners. A brave learner, Fabian Strauss, stepped out to the front to talk about his experiences at his new high school thus far. “I had so much fear the first day of school because I recently moved to the capital city from Rehoboth, and to top it all off, I did not know what to expect from high school. As soon as I entered the yards of the school my fear vanished, because everyone was so kind and helpful,” he said.Another learner, Manuela Narciso mentioned that she enjoyed the orientation process, but is more focused on getting distinctions in her first year. “Orientation is all fun and games, but what really matters is academics. My aim is to work hard and make my parents proud,” she said. Selma Iyambo, a learner representative council (LRC) member, promised that they will host events for the new grade 8s that the previous LRC’s did not seem to pull off. “Our first event for the newbies is to have a concert as there was no concert held last year for the grade 8s,” she said.Iyambo further mentioned that the aim of these events is to make the new learners feel at home, as most high schools are a different setting, when compared to primary schools. Tips for school1. Set semester goalsHow do you know where you’re headed if you haven’t mapped out a goal plan for yourself? Create concrete goals for each semester to work towards achieving. 2. Set up a study routineAs you prepare to head to university, creating a study routine becomes increasingly important to your preparations. Try and set aside a certain amount of time each day to focus on your classes.3. Befriend your teachers Start the semester out on a good note with your teachers and talk to them. Also, be active during class participation. You will need teachers who know your unique personality when it becomes time for testimonials, so getting to know each of your teachers on a personal level will certainly come in handy. 4. Search scholarships on a regular basisEnsure you meet your goals throughout the school year, as this can go a long way to paying for university and it will be easier to obtain a scholarship. 5. Avoid distractionsIf you want to stay focused and pass your matric with satisfactory points, you might as well just cut out all unnecessary friends before it’s too late. Focus on what your priorities. 6. Ask if things are unclearRemember when your mom used to tell you, “ask if you do not understand”. The classroom is the perfect platform to ask questions. If a topic of a certain subject is not clear, use the time to revert back to the teacher and ask questions until you understand. 7. Always choose the front seatThis will help you to remain focused and it is generally the best seat to ensure that you are able to ask as many questions as possible. If you land in the back, it’s still okay. Just do your best!8. Pack a lunchboxEveryone thinks that packing lunch is not cool. This is a myth, because packing your own lunch saves money that could be spent elsewhere. If you have a super cool lunchbox, why not? 9. Make friendsThis goes for especially grade 1 grade 8 learners, because they have entered new territory. You might not have those friends for life, but they will definitely make your school journey more fun. 10. Enjoy orientationAlthough some parents may question the way in which their child is being welcomed at the school, this is truly a life-changing experience. The bonds that are formed while doing those orientation activities are strong and very meaningful. You will miss this by the time you’re a senior.

Surviving the back-to-school blues

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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Surviving the back-to-school blues

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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