School change for DD11

twinkltoes

Tue, Nov 20 2007, 9:53 am

My DD11 is in 6th grade. Here in Israel, the break between elementary and junior high school is between 6th and 7th grade. The school she's in now is unusual in that it is continuing through 7th grade (at least). She is adamant that she wants to stay where she is, mainly, I'm positive, because her best friend from her class is also staying through 7th.

For certain reasons, I feel that if not for 7th, then definitely for 8th grade it will be time for her to change schools, if not a necessity. So over the past several weeks I have been make inquiries regarding the two other girls school options in our town (we live in Israel). One had a half-day open house for the girls who will be going into 7th grade and my DD went to that and the same week they had an evening for the parents to hear about the school and ask questions which I went to. I'm not sure that school is for us.

The other option is having an open house evening tonight for parents AND girls together. DD is adamant that she doesn't want to come with me and is being very stubborn about it. I told her that it doesn't cost anything to listen and look and that if she still wants to stay where she is after having what to compare to that's fine by me. I really don't understand why she's being so negative about it and not sure if I should force the issue. It's just that if I go to the meeting tonight by myself, I know as soon as I get home she's going to want to know all about it, how was it? who was there? what did they say? what did you think? VERY hard for me to give her an impression of the school 2nd hand!

I think that if she stays where she is for 7th and wants to switch schools for 8th grade it will be very hard to come in as a new girl to a class where the girls have already been together for a year.

What should I do?

JewishMother18

Wed, Nov 21 2007, 2:21 pm

It's so much harder with girls than boys at this age.

My DD is in 7th grade here in Israel and we sent her to a more religious school rather than the school where all her friends were going. It's been a bad choice. She fights with us every day about ruining her life and causing her to lose her friends.

She's so unhappy in her new school and I'm seriously considering giving in and sending her to the other school which isn't as religious ie. girls from non-religious homes in a religious school, which has a whole other set of problems.

Consider your decision very carefully.