School Transitions at Bishkek International School
At Bishkek International School, we recognize the unique challenges faced by cross cultural kids and students transitioning between schools or even between different sections of our institution. Our mission is to built on an unwavering commitment to ensuring smooth, supportive, and seamless transitions for every student.
Holistic Approach to Transitioning:
Understanding that transition is not just about changing classrooms or buildings, but also about adapting to new cultural, social, and academic environments, we have developed a holistic approach. From Preschool to Primary, Primary to Middle, and Middle to High School, every phase is marked by its unique set of experiences, challenges, and milestones. Our specialized transition programs are designed to respect and address these nuances.
Support for Cross Cultural Kids:
Being a cross cultural kid is a journey of rich experiences, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Adapting to new cultures, making new friends, and sometimes even learning a new language can be daunting. At BIS, we provide specialized counseling sessions, mentorship meetings, and integration activities. This not only ensures that our cross cultural students feel understood and supported, but also fosters a sense of belonging.
Collaborative Effort:
Our teachers, counselors, and administrative staff collaborate closely to monitor and support students’ transition phases. Regular meetings and feedback sessions with parents are organized to ensure everyone is on the same page. Our aim is to create a cocoon of care and understanding around every transitioning student, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and supported.
At Bishkek International School, every transition, whether it’s moving from one section to another or adapting as a cross cultural kid, is treated with the importance and attention it deserves. Because at the heart of our school is the well-being and success of every single student.
For more information please read Transition Statement of Practice

This book examines how frequent moves, cultural transitions, and living between worlds shape a TCK’s identity, relationships, and emotional development. While highlighting the many strengths of this lifestyle the book also addresses common challenges, including grief, hidden losses, and rootlessness.
Packed with real-life stories and practical advice, this book is a valuable resource for parents, educators, and anyone supporting children in globally mobile families. It encourages understanding, connection, and the development of healthy strategies for navigating change and building a strong sense of self.
This book also exists in the Japanese language 新版 サードカルチャーキッズ 国際移動する子どもたち | スリーエーネットワーク

Sometimes we can be helped to understand our emotions by hearing about the experiences of others, as other people can often put words to feelings that we aren’t able to ourselves. Often it can help to read accounts of people who have experienced something similar before us. This book is about returning to a home country, but many of the principles apply to transition in general and it is a quick read.

Children who grow up outside of their parent’s passport country, third culture kids (TCKs), experience a significant number of losses during their developmental years.
This book describes how parents and those who work with TCKs can help uncover hidden losses so they can be acknowledged and worked through.

A practical guide to preventative care. If you are working with or raising third culture kids from any part of the globe, this book will give you practical ways to be proactive about the way you support third culture kids.

Using interactive and reflective activities to integrate and embrace all the experiences of a third culture kid. Deeper relationships are built as families and groups do the activities together. Young and adult TCKs, parents, teachers, sending agencies and others who care for TCKs can all find meaningful activities that bring understanding, integration and joy.
Books for young children
Websites
Families will spend a lot of time processing emotions and experiencing transition together, and we recommend this course called the ‘Expat Family Flight School’. This is an 8-week self-paced course that families can work through together as they anticipate and experience a period of transition.
Expat Network: Moving overseas with teens:
Parents of secondary school students may find it useful to read this quick article on supporting older children.
Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child
A guide on the emotional effects of raising your children as global nomads and how to deal with the psychological effects of constant change.
https://www.rootswithboots.com
This website has lots of resources for families transitioning in many ways, and you can sign up for their newsletter to receive tips about transition.