Transition — a word that evokes mixed feelings of sadness, optimism, gratitude, thrill, doubts, motivation, and more. Especially for the global community that keeps going through a door, which keeps revolving and evolving all the time.

People that transition have something unique to give, which other regular citizens cannot: stability and support from people who have been here for quite some time, wisdom and understanding from those that are going away, and curiosity and learning from those who have just come in.

Having gone through the revolving, evolving doors several times, both ways, we at the American School of Bombay (ASB) take all things related to "TRANSITIONS" very seriously. We have had students from over 80 countries and teachers from more than 20 countries passing through our portals. 

 The things that matter most for the transitioning community in terms of education are: Delivering a globally recognized and highly relevant educational program, preparing the students and parents to be successful in their new-and often very different-school systems, and placing the graduates into the universities of their choice, around the world, when they move out of ASB. What makes this more challenging is the fact that the student population comes to this school from over 90 different educational systems around the world.

The foundation of a student's happiness and academic success rests on the relationships they are able to create with both their peers and their teachers, and their intrinsically motivated engagement in what they believe is a relevant educational journey.  For a new student at ASB, it begins with an individualized meeting with the counselors (along with parents), EAL program for non-native speakers of English and a social media group for the high school run by existing students. For the elementary school, a buddy system ensures that each new student has a support system of peers upon entering the school.

Going beyond the student's education at school, we also engage and empower the parents. Our goal is to ensure that families, as a whole, are genuinely happy and highly satisfied with their tenure in ASB, in Mumbai, and in India. Some of the ways in which we engage our parents include New Parent Breakfasts and Parent Coffees with the Head of School, as well as various Parent Interest Clubs including a Parent English Conversation Class, a Parent Yoga Class and, a Host Country Club; parents are encouraged to sign up for tours of interesting sites in Mumbai and simply get together to share some wonderful local food. The other Parent Interest Clubs at ASB include Volleyball, Art, Cooking/Baking, Walking, Running, Book, Craft, and Holistic Healing & Meditation. In addition, we offer a program entitled, ASB Cares, where parents, faculty and other members of our community learn about and interact with various non-profit groups working in Mumbai. These programs were formed with the idea that parents, as well as students, need opportunities to engage with the surrounding local community in a positive and effective manner. At the end, when the children have a dream and pursue it, and if a school (and parents) can empower the children with the skills and dispositions necessary to achieve their dream…well, they will be successful and happy wherever they go and in whatever they do.

For teachers that move to India, the transitioning begins with the ready-to-move-in-and-live housing, childcare and kids camp, wellness consult with doctors, house help arrangements, guided city tours, and local shops familiarization visits. Guidance and documentation assistance for services like visa applications, banking accounts, phone and vehicle purchase help put the minds of those new to the country at ease.

And so, we — the transitioning teachers and parents at ASB feel good and proud of the job we have done and  our journey with the students!

 - Craig Johnson, Head of School, American School of Bombay

The above article was published in American School of Bombay’s Guest Edition dated February 27, 2018.