r2i forum

I had a question with regards to timing the r2i from a standpoint of continuity of kids educations. Schools in the US end in June, close to the time they begin in India.

Admissions to good/much sought after schools in India would likely be around November (?)
I dont think you could "book" an admission while still overseas - besides having to be sure of location, assessing the different choices etc.

If you arrive in India in June after the end of their current calendar year then you are of course scrambling to get to what is available at a time when school is already started.

If one had the luxury of picking the date for a move - say for 2011 - and had 2 kids in school - say 9 and 6 - what would be a good strategy of timing the move so as to not have the kids be stranded between the two systems.

Eventually it will all settle-down I am sure, but I just wonder if there is a right time that minimizes the inconvenience/adjustment issues from the kids standpoint.

This is a very interesting topic. I think you need to plan your R2I depending on the following:
1) Kids age (You are fine since they are 9 & 6)
2) Class/Grade that they will be attending in India (I guess 4th & 1st)
3) Kids interest in going to school

I would suggest not to take them in April or May or June for the following reasons:
1) Hot weather
2) Very big long education year since they continuously attend school without any vacation
3) They need time to adjust to new home environment

IMHO, December to February would be the best period even though they attend only 3 or 4 months of school in US. You could put them in tutions in India and get them ready for the next school year, they would adjust to weather, local environment, enjoy summer vacation and get ready health-wise for 5 months in India.

I would also like to hear from others. Gurus - please participate.

Thx
SeattleDude

makepaisar2i;322793
IMHO, December to February would be the best period even though they attend only 3 or 4 months of school in US. You could put them in tutions in India and get them ready for the next school year, they would adjust to weather, local environment, enjoy summer vacation and get ready health-wise for 5 months in India.
SeattleDude

Interesting.. I didn't think that was easy to do. Wouldn't the Indian school be needing some kind of "pass certificate" for Grade x before admitting in Grade x+1? If the kids join in Dec, they would have missed part of Grade x.
I had always thought joining at an Indian school at the beginning of the year would be best for the kids.. if they join in the middle, it might be difficult for them to adjust as the rest of the class would already have made their friends etc..

makepaisar2i;322793
IMHO, December to February would be the best period even though they attend only 3 or 4 months of school in US. You could put them in tutions in India and get them ready for the next school year, they would adjust to weather, local environment, enjoy summer vacation and get ready health-wise for 5 months in India.
Thx
SeattleDude

Thanks SeattleDude - my thoughts exactly....I am sure mid-school-year relocations would not be that uncommon even within India - job transfer, new job, etc etc - and so if one can integrate the child around Feb or so, into the same Grade in whichever school has availbility for that year - the child has a few months to integrate/blend in and then gets a break for the summer, and during those months one can look to - if necessary - look for the school that promises to be the right fit taking into account a variety of factors. Dont know how feasible this is, or if anyone has actually relocated with kids in the midst of the school year.

Check with the school on when their year actually starts. For my daughter, the school year starts in April with 4 weeks of classes followed by a month and half of summer break. I think this is more prevalent with ICSE board and schools in North India when they have adjusted the schedule due to the extremely hot summers. Applications for her school were done in November and personal interview in February. We had luckily planned our R2I for feb anyways.

Hi, i am planning r2i in 2012 to Chennai. My son will be 6 yrs in June 2012. I guess, he will be going to 1st std. When is the best time for me to make the move? His Kindergarden in USA will end by May 2012 only. So, its a short time for him to get adjusted.

Can i move by Jan/Feb 2012? will my son get admission(in UKG i guess) in school during that time, so he has time to get adjusted. Any advice...?

prakashpr;364607Hi, i am planning r2i in 2012 to Chennai. My son will be 6 yrs in June 2012. I guess, he will be going to 1st std. When is the best time for me to make the move? His Kindergarden in USA will end by May 2012 only. So, its a short time for him to get adjusted.

Can i move by Jan/Feb 2012? will my son get admission(in UKG i guess) in school during that time, so he has time to get adjusted. Any advice...?

Since your kid is in KG, not attending the school for the last two months of the academic year will not hurt. So you can try moving sumtime during mid March 2012. Just my opinion.

why not move in june have a settling period for three months of private tuition, recouping etc and joining during vijayadasami??

prakashpr;364607Hi, i am planning r2i in 2012 to Chennai. My son will be 6 yrs in June 2012. I guess, he will be going to 1st std. When is the best time for me to make the move? His Kindergarden in USA will end by May 2012 only. So, its a short time for him to get adjusted.

Can i move by Jan/Feb 2012? will my son get admission(in UKG i guess) in school during that time, so he has time to get adjusted. Any advice...?

IMO, anytime should be fine for lower grades :) . It should not be an issue. My kid is 6 now and got admission in Jan'2011 for UKG. He will be going to 1st standard this April.

Note : He was already in 1st Grade in USA for couple of months (September / October), though he was eligible for 1st standard here, we didn't want to put too much pressure on him and wanted the transition to be smooth.

For good schools, admissions start in Dec. Better to make a visit to India with family during Christmas holidays and take care of school admissions. Move back to India after the school year is completed in US preferably in last week of June. Summer heat should be receding by then. It might work well for US taxes as half year income in US would be at lower tax margins.