The long summer vacation has quickly passed, and as the school bell rings, teachers and students must gather their spirits and return to campus. A new school year symbolizes a fresh start, which many students look forward to; however, it also brings new changes that require students to readjust, be it in the school environment, curriculum content, or classmates. In facing the various challenges and pressures of the new academic year, students may experience symptoms of "Back-to-School Anxiety." How can teachers and parents, as their strongest supporters, help students overcome this anxiety and engage in the new semester?
What is Back-to-School Anxiety?
"Back-to-School Anxiety" was introduced by modern psychologist Dr. Josh Klapow. It refers to the feelings of unease and anxiety that students experience at the beginning of a new semester, particularly common among those transitioning to kindergarten, primary, or secondary school. Recent local surveys have indicated that over half of the students reported high-stress levels when returning to school, with more than 20% showing mild to severe anxiety tendencies, a concerning situation. Although "Back-to-School Anxiety" is not a formal pathological diagnosis, its symptoms can last for several days or weeks, gradually diminishing as students adapt. However, some may struggle with these feelings for years.
Major Changes and Annual Academic Pressure
The alarm on the first day of school often feels more jarring than usual. While students are excited about new experiences, they also feel restless about these changes. In this issue, we are fortunate to have Ms HUNG Sai-kwan, Faye, former principal of Shatin Tsung Tsin School and chairperson of the Shatin Arts Association, to guide readers through the "back-to-school hurdle."
（Ms HUNG Sai-kwan, Faye former principal of Shatin Tsung Tsin School, chairperson of the Shatin Arts Association, and part-time lecturer at the Education University of Hong Kong)
Ms. Hung points out that despite facing different challenges each year, certain grades mark significant turning points in a student's educational journey, leading to peak pressure points. Transitioning from kindergarten to primary one is a major change, akin to a storm in a child's small world. The pressures from homework and social interactions should not be underestimated. She shares that some new primary one student may experience "separation anxiety," such as feeling gastrointestinal discomfort before school, which is a typical physical manifestation of emotional distress. Additionally, students in primary five, primary six, and secondary six are often under significant pressure, with primary five students facing entrance exams for secondary school and secondary six students confronted with the critical DSE examinations.
Tailored School Policies
To alleviate students' back-to-school pressure, schools, parents, and students themselves have corresponding strategies. Among these, the role of schools is crucial.
Another interviewee in this newsletter, Dr. Chan May Kuen, principal of Ying Wa Primary School, generously shares the school's approach.
（Dr. Chan May Kuen, principal of Ying Wa Primary School）
Since the 2004/05 academic year, Ying Wa Primary School has implemented a "Diverse Learning Themes" program, utilizing a special theme to guide the entire year's learning journey. Always brimming with creativity, Dr. Chan collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to devise engaging themes such as "The Source," "Secret Passage," and "Unexpected." They plan a series of learning activities around these themes to create a joyful learning environment. Considering that boys often enjoy analysis and reasoning, the school releases short video teasers about the upcoming theme at the end of each summer vacation, allowing students to become "little detectives" connecting the clues.
（Ying Wa Primary School's diverse learning theme last year, "Unexpected Project WaOW!", encouraged students to unleash their creativity and create surprising products to help those in need.）
When asked about this year's theme, Dr. Chan playfully states that everything is still under wraps, as surprises should be revealed after school starts. This element of mystery builds anticipation for the new school year. Dr. Chan believes that transforming students' feelings about returning to school from anxiety to excitement hinges on helping them perceive "growth as a joyful experience worth looking forward to
Since growth is a significant joy in life, how can new primary one students enjoy this experience? Beyond the adaptation day, each new primary one student is assigned a "big brother" from primary four through a program designed to foster peer support. These "big brothers" are eager to help and accompany their "little brothers" whenever needed. Dr. Chan has witnessed students thriving in a caring environment: with the guidance of their older peers, younger students naturally feel more at ease and often look up to them as role models, eager to learn and grow.
（The primary four "big brothers" will guide the primary one newcomers around the campus, pointing out important details to help them get familiar with their new environment as experienced mentors. )
Creating an environment where students enjoy attending school is essential, and establishing effective channels for emotional expression is particularly important. Dr. Chan frequently invites students to express their feelings through writing letters, which she personally replies to, demonstrating her care for them. Additionally, "canines" play a role in this environment! Dr. Chan sometimes brings her dog Muffin to school to interact with students. She recalls how Muffin once accompanied a primary one student struggling to adapt to school life, helping him overcome his fear of the new environment.
（Dr. Chan's beloved dog Muffin is very popular among the students, bringing smiles to their faces every time they return to school.）
The Key Word: Joy!
When discussing the word "joy," Ms. Hung, who served as the principal of Shatin Tsung Tsin School for over a decade, emphasizes the need for parents to equip themselves with an optimistic mindset to avoid a "tragic send-off" on the first day of school. To ensure that children associate school with happiness, asking them, "What happy things happened at school today?" after class can be more effective than any lengthy explanation.
Of course, practical preparations are also essential, such as buying and ironing new school uniforms, covering books, and previewing the first lesson, all of which convey care and a sense of companionship. "The foundation of a year is laid in September," and a positive start helps children feel good about themselves, laying a cornerstone for their future autonomous learning. Ms. Hung uses "dictation" as an example: if a child performs well on their first dictation, the sense of achievement can motivate them to study for the next one. She believes that parents should provide abundant encouragement at the beginning of each learning journey, prepare the best tools, and celebrate every "small success" with enthusiastic cheers, gradually accumulating the joy of learning with their children. After all, every "small success" is the mother of greater success.
Becoming a "true success 'mother'" sounds easy, but it requires wisdom. As the saying goes, "In a group of three, there must be a teacher for me." Ms. Hung encourages parents to communicate and support each other, suggesting participation in the school's parent-teacher association and establishing WhatsApp communication groups. This way, parents can better understand school policies and their children's performance, promoting school-parent cooperation. Additionally, they can share their experiences, joys, and challenges in parenting, fostering a sense of community that reassures parents that "there are always more solutions than problems," which is especially pertinent at the start of school.
Finding Joy in the Long Journey
"The road ahead is long and winding, I will seek it out in all directions." Learning is an endless journey filled with both smooth sailing and turbulent tests, but it is never dull. Students may face one or two challenges each academic year that require them to grit their teeth and persevere. In facing these challenges, they might join Dr. Chan in proclaiming, "I can do it!" believing in their limitless potential to break through.
Ms. Hung also encourages students that fortune accompanies hard work. Learning inevitably involves enduring tough and tedious times, so it’s vital to learn to "find joy in self-discovery" and set personal growth goals, ensuring that every day is meaningful. Learning extends beyond textbooks; when students find joy in learning from life—whether it's astronomy, geography, or human relationships—they naturally discover motivation for studying. Once they find that motivation, they will be eager to dive into countless books.
"Challenges will come, but we will overcome them." While starting school may present challenges, the key lies in how everyone calmly navigates this essential growth journey. As long as parents and teachers can face these challenges together with students and provide support, they will impart immense strength, helping them embrace the new academic year with ease. If students show signs of emotional distress, community resources are available to assist:
A 24-hour online support platform for youth emotional health via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, SMS, and website text counseling.
An anonymous counseling hotline established by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, offering immediate hotline support