School counseling support slideshow for students and parents who are moving and leaving the school community.

1. Leaving Well
What you and your family are about to
experience can be one of the most exciting
times, but it also can be one of the most
difficult.
One thing to know for certain, is that you
will be missed around YIS. The other thing
is that people here are glad to have had a
chance to get to know you.
~ A. Clark
School Counselor
Yokohama International School
Photo: Dice K Goto

2. Getting in touch...
The purpose of this presentation is for you to get
in touch with what this move means so that you
experience a positive change and so that you can
“Leave Well”.
The things that you think about here are to help
you remember those special times in Yokohama
and also to help you as you transition into your
new school and home.

3. Reflecting
Over the course of this
presentation you will
be asked a series of
questions.
You may find it
helpful to write down
your answers or just
think quietly and
reflect.
Photo: G. Unno

4. As you probably already know, saying
goodbye can be a difficult thing to do. You
may find it especially hard to say goodbye to
the friends and teachers you have come to
know while at YIS.
It will also be hard on those you leave behind
as no one likes to say goodbye.

5. Things that won’t change
The experiences you have had here
won’t change.
Your time here has played a role in
who you are and who you will
become.
You will always have this community
and these experiences to fall back on
for support.
Photo: Dice K Goto

6. Write your responses
down…
Again writing your thoughts down as you
go through this will give you something to
look back on when you want to remember
your friends, teachers and school.
Remember that your life is taking an
exciting new direction and that amazing
possibilities will open up over the next
weeks and months.

7. Transition
2
1 3
One of the consistent patterns of transition
that many go through is:
1) a move from a place of stability (like you
have at YIS)
2) through some disruption
3) back to stability again in your new place.

8. Some other factors
• What people sometimes don’t expect is
that there are many emotions that come
up during these times.
• Initially it might be exciting to think of
going someplace new.
• Often, however, that leads to some sadness
as the reality of leaving sinks in.

9. Ups and downs
• When you arrive at the new place, it can
be really exciting again. It doesn’t always
stay that way because often there comes
an in-between period when the “newness”
has faded but you haven’t quite fully
settled in yet.
• This is very common so don’t worry if you
experience highs and lows as you move
forward.

10. Let’s look at your
unique journey…
How did you find out that you are
leaving YIS?
What are the reasons you are leaving
YIS?
How do you feel about moving?
Photo: Ken Funakoshi

11. Telling Your Friends
How did you tell your friends about leaving
YIS?
What were your friends’ reactions?
How did you feel about telling your friends?

12. Troubles with Friends
It is a lot easier to say goodbye to people if
you aren’t getting along. As a result,
sometimes right before leaving conflicts
and issues with friends come up.
If that is happening for you, do you best to
resolve those conflicts. You may think that
you won’t need these friends again, but
actually you might. Remember those lows
mentioned just a minute ago? It will be
great to have someone you know well to
connect with for support after you arrive
at your new place.

13. What are some of the:
o people and places you will miss?
o Important goodbyes you must be
sure say?
o things that you won’t miss?

14. Arriving at a New Place
What are some of the:
o facts you know about the new place?
o things you are looking forward to?
o details you want to get sorted out that
you don’t yet have answers to.

15. Keeping in Touch
Who are some of the people you want to
make sure you stay in contact with from
YIS?
What will be the best way to communicate
with each one of those people? (Have a
plan so you can use it to remain close.)

16. Leaving Well with a RAFT
Checklist
Resolve conflicts with others
Affirm Relationships that you’ve had here.
 Say Farewell to people, places, possessions.
Think about your next destination by gathering
information and planning ahead.
Adapted from Pollock, D., (1990) The Transition Model, Albany NY: Interaction Inc.

17. Best Wishes
Thanks for taking the time to look this over.
I hope some of the suggestions are useful to
you as you move ahead. In addition to all
the other people you know here, please
keep in touch with me. I’d love to hear
from you and learn of all the things you’re
doing. Email or Facebook both work great
for me. ~ A. Clark
clarka@yis.ac.jp