Need Help Deciding What to Do About School

I grew up in a small town that then combined 5 grade schools into what is now considered middle school. It was actually a great opportunity for me to meet new people and make new friends. Plus, I agree with some of the other comments...you may move by then, friendships change, etc. You have some time.

That is a long way off but I'd think about that too if I were you. You just can't help it. Shawnee Mission School District allows you to transfer to any other school within the district.

This year they have opened all High Schools to transfers too.

I've had my daughter transferred into a different elementary school for 3 years now and its been very easy to do. You don't need a reason, you just fill out forms. I would think you'd easily have that option as well.

Robin,
You can transfer your children to MOST Shawnee Mission schools (there are a few High Schools that are closed to tranfers.) You need to call the District offices to find out the details about a year before you would like to transfer. I have my 13year old son tranfered and it's really easy to do, but you do give up free bus service if that is ever applicable. I have found A LOT of parents are transferring their children now a days and the forms are so easy to complete! Hope this helps!

C.

I have a similar situation to tell you about. My son is currently in middle school (8th grade) and most kids next year will go to the "popular" high school and the others, (which includes my son)will go to the other one. We too are in the SMSD. My son has made a lot of friends in his middle school over the past 2years and most of them are going to the "popular" high school. Kids can transfer to another high school, but with very strict requirements to do this. I've even heard of it costing more to do this. It's never been an option for us to transfer, he will actually be going to the high school I went to! I've also heard of some families moving just to be w/in the boundaries or using a different address just so they can enroll in the "popular" high school....pleeeeez! At first my son was disappointed that he would not be going to the high school with a lot of his friends too, but I explained to him he will meet soooo many new kids next year he may not even miss those other kids! The same being with elementary schools onto middle schools...there will be so many new kids to meet! We visited the high school and have already enrolled for next year, and I know he's more excited. I totally understand how you feel, I want my kids to be happy too and they will be. It's a little scary, because they do grow up a lot in middle school and you just want what's best for them. I think your kids being in that 25% gives them a great advantage, that just means they get to make 75% more friends in middle school. Good luck with your decision.
Take care,
V.

I'm a grandmother now so I have a different perspective. I thought it was important, but have found that kids don't really remember as much about elementary school as you think. I made a big deal about keeping my daughters in the same school, I've found that now that they are in their late 20's they have a few friends they keep in touch with, but only one or two really good friends. They have forgotten a lot of people that they were very close to in elementary school, if I see some and try to remind them, they usually don't remember.
My granddaughter just this year had a similar experience, we wanted her to stay in they same school she had last year, even went so far as to fill out a transfer, she was approved, but her brother wasn't so we decided they needed to go to the same school. She has done so much better at this school, she has made tons of friends and loves the school.
Remember they will still see them at sports events, they can still have sleep overs, just see this as a way to expand their horizons, don't you have friends that you don't see as often? My son is 16 and now has kids all over town, the internet and Facebook has expanded so that kids can stay connected better when they aren't in school.
She still has a long way to go, don't stress about it!

Robin--I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you the value of "life long school friends," both from my own experience, and watching my son. I still have a friend from elementary/middle/high school that I see monthly (lunch at Ponak's!). She was a God-send at my recent wedding (Thanks, Lu!), she was there almost every day when I had bi-lateral knee replacements (and brought me new work out clothes and athletic shoes for physical therapy!)and she is someone I can talk to, e-mail, and share a laugh or concern with at almost any time. Lucy is a treasure that is irreplaceable, and now, all of these years later, I realize that to the depth of my soul.
In our school district (USD 500, KCKS)they made a concerted effort when my son was in school there, to make sure that the whole elementary school's 5th grade class moved to the same middle school, and the middle school students then, when the time came, all moved to the same high school. Even though my son graduated in 2005 and left for the military 60 days later, I still remember how happy he was when, one holiday he was home on leave, and he saw one of his classmates that he had attend school with from elementary all the way through graduation. He was so excited that he called me from his cell phone, saying "Mom, Mom, I just saw Carolyn from school!!!" He was so thrilled. He still delights in seeing his "lifelong friends" (you can have them at age 22!)whenever he comes home.
I have a quote that hangs in my office from a book by Bob
Greene entitled "And You Know You Should Be Glad"; this book tells the story of the life of a group of "lifelong friends, as they rally around one of the friends who is dying of cancer. The quote includes the following "The friends who mean everything to us--the friends without whom our lives would be empty--are our most enduring models of grace and good fortune. When we lose them--and we all do; we will--we realize, then and forever, that our lives have been filled to over-briming with the grand, invisibe gifts they have given us. We know that our time on earth would have had paltry meaning had not, one fine day, our lives connected for the first time with the lives of people who would turn out to be our most treasured friends."
The only thing I would wish for your children is that when they are in their 50's that they also have shared in the wonderful experience of "lifelong friends." JAHC

robin, a couple thoughts. i know you're just looking out for your kids, but really, we all know that the majority of a child's influence is at home. your kids are perfectly capable of dealing with this situation (or will be, by then) without huge trauma. if you freak out about them losing their friends and not being able to make new ones, they will too. just look at it as an opportunity to meet lots of new interesting people.

but also, you're talking about something basically ten years away. things may be totally different by then anyway. choose your battles wisely girl. we have enough to worry about and stress over, as mothers, without looking for things to add to it. you can't worry about friends that your kids may or may not end up keeping. it's a life lesson to be able to make new friends, and keep in touch with old ones.

I wouldn't fret to much about it. So many things could happen. Seven years is a long ways away. For instance:

1. You could move out of your current home.
2. The district could change their guidelines.
3. You may be happy that you have to remove their children from a couple of their peers.

As long as you are happy with the elementary school, I say roll with it.