My son is moving from a small private school to a large public one. As a school counselor, this is how I'm easing the transition.

The author said her son (not shown) is transitioning from a small private school to a large public high school this fall.

Rawpixel/Getty Images

As a parent of an incoming high school freshman, I want to do all I can to support my son's transition to his large, urban high school. He has just finished nine years at a tiny private school and knows virtually no one at the school he will be attending in the fall.As a mom, of course, I'm anxious for him. Learning to navigate the academic demands of high school while building a whole new social circle will be a big change, which might mean some adjustments in how I show up for my kid.Professionally, I'm a middle school counselor, so I know my son will be just fine. My husband, a high school science teacher, and I value the diversity and egalitarian nature of a large public high school and are thrilled to cheer on our kid as he takes the next step in his educational journey.As educators, we know the right support can go a long way, and we've worked hard this summer to set our son up for success at his new school.We had an intentionally calm summerWe have prioritized a calm summer schedule, giving our son the best possible start to the new year. Our family typically travels for 3 to 5 weeks each summer, both to international destinations and to visit family on the East Coast.