Incoming Berkeley High Freshman boy seeking new connections

Hi Folks, 

Our 14yo is (hopefully) starting at Berkeley High in the fall after attending school in San Francisco from K-8th grade. We are hoping to help him make new connections with other incoming 9th graders who ideally would have a similar temperament and/ or interests including: basketball, video game playing, and rock climbing. He is somewhat introverted but after a hangout or two comes out of his shell. Thanks in advance!! 

Parent Replies

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You can check into the climbing team for his age group at Ironworks gym in Berkeley or Bridges gym in El Cerrito. Both are nice communities and many of the kids at Ironworks go to BHS. 

Does your son ever attend summer camps? When my now 21 year old daughter was entering BHS as a freshman, coming from three years of private school, she reported that she had met lots of the kids in her classes at summer camps. While these connections didn't always lead to friendships at the time since she often went to camp with a friend, she definitely felt like she new some other kids in classes at BHS because she'd had that more informal connection prior. You could list your son's interests and ask for recommendations to the best camps. Also, you can let your son know that there are lots of clubs at BHS that he could join to make it feel like a smaller place.  Good luck with this transition!