Starting BCC from a non-feeder school. How to meet people?

[Anonymous]

DC is starting 9th at BCC next year and is coming from a non-feeder school and does not know anyone in the school. DC is social but not athletic so does not want to do sports but might join clubs once school starts.

Are there good ways to meet kids before school starts? Does BCC have a bridge program or other ways to meet people?

[Anonymous]

Join a club or sport in the fall. Crew is a large club team where almost everyone who starts has never rowed before, but there's also Bocce. Even if your kid only participates in the fall, they will have been exposed to a new thing.

If no interest in sports, join another club or 2 and attend regularly. It takes time and repeated contact to make friends.

BCC is big and a substantial number of kids are new every year. In addition, there are 2 feeder middle schools so lots of people are new to each other. It is a natural time for friendship circles to expand and change. Your DC shouldn't feel like they are breaking into an already tight circle.

Over the summer ask your neighbors if there is a neighborhood pool. Swim or dive teams or simply hanging out at the pool can help. Join the high school list serv and ask if any one is interested in a meet up.

[Anonymous]

It will take time. Set the expectation. Have a plan for lunch because they go out of school. The two middle schools are very clicky. Make sure they have friendships for weekends with kids from outside of school. Check out sports tryouts for summer from poms to soccer. Or Learn To Row even if not an athlete is a great place to meet kids. Join clubs and do volunteer stuff. Ask school for any new kids and try to connect with them.

[Anonymous]

Agree that friendship circles changed a lot the first year of high school and there are lots of activities.

If he is interested in crew there is a summer learn to row session which is announced on the listserv IIRC.

[Anonymous]

Activities, activities, activities. And I'd say sports. You shouldn't allow a pass re: the sports. There's something for everyone. See what starts in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that friendship circles changed a lot the first year of high school and there are lots of activities.

If he is interested in crew there is a summer learn to row session which is announced on the listserv IIRC.

Yes!! Several folks have suggested B-CC crew here. As a parent of two kids who’ve enjoyed and made buddies through the program, I enthusiastically echo those posts. No experience is necessary! And nor is having a history as a jock. Curiosity and enthusiasm help, of course.

Rowing gets kids out on the river, develops their grit, and expands their teamwork skills. No prima donnas allowed— boats of eight and four require kids to work in synch and listen to their coxswain. Your DC might get motivated to try it by reading the book and/or seeing The Boys in the Boat movie (inspiring for all rowers not only boys!).

Here is a link for the team’s summer learn-to-row program. It’s not required to join the team but your DC would meet other rising frosh while learning how to row.
https://www.bcccrew.org/summer-camp

[Anonymous]

I know you said your DC doesn't know anyone at BCC but connecting with a friend-of-a-friend helped my new to MoCo/BCC DC find a group to eat lunch with starting on the first day. It was a big group and she ended up being closer to some than others and sophomore year switched groups completely, but it helped to make some connections and not eat lunch alone.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. Do you know if they do a bridge program? Or where to find information about sports tryouts?

[Anonymous]

baronsathletics net
FALL Sports Team Tryouts start August 14th.
Must be at the school on that day to try out and play on a school team in the Fall.

[Anonymous]

Where can you find that tryouts are August 4th? I do not see it on that website

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where can you find that tryouts are August 4th? I do not see it on that website

Sorry I meant the 14th. I do not see that

[Anonymous]

Sports teams, at least at our other MCPS high school, also each have one or two "managers" who earn SSL hours and help in all sorts of ways-- carry gear, send out communications, and act as cheerleaders for the team. It's a good way for a less athletic kid (or one who's an athlete in another sport but not playing this season) to get involved in the sports environment and make friends. Plus it's a LOT of SSL hours! Reach out to the coach (via the school's athletic director, if you aren't sure who the coach is) if interested in being a manager for the team. Good luck to your kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where can you find that tryouts are August 4th? I do not see it on that website

Sorry I meant the 14th. I do not see that

By contacting athletics Dir or school. In this day and age, email or call the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that friendship circles changed a lot the first year of high school and there are lots of activities.

If he is interested in crew there is a summer learn to row session which is announced on the listserv IIRC.

Goodness, do not push him into crew if he's not athletic and doesn't love the water and rowing. It's a grueling time-suck! Plenty of other sports he can do, in or outside school, if he wants to exercise and socialize.

Have you received an offer to sign up for BCC summer classes? Perhaps it might be a way to meet people and navigate the school before the official start of school.

Otherwise, no worries, entry into high school is a huge transition for all students, not just new people. He definitely should join a few clubs. My rising 9th grader DD wants to start a new club - all you need is to get a staff member to sign off on it, if I understand correctly.