Dan, I have always struggled with the transition years (going into middle school, high school, and college). Those three time periods in a student's life are very difficult transitions. With general transitions, I have a few ideas;

(1) I would encourage you to make a phone call to every family making the transition into a new age-ministry. You don't have to make all the calls, but a call communicates intentional concern and personal touch. A volunteer or student leader could call and say, "I'm calling on behalf of our youth pastor Dan and our high school ministry. We want to know if there's any questions you have or any concerns about your son/daughter coming into the high school ministry?"

(2) I would try to have one event that solely focuses on the specific age group. At Saddleback, every year we have a Freshman Frenzy which is a play-night just for freshmen. During this time, we "staff" the event with our high school volunteers and our student leaders. The freshmen think they are coming to a fun night just for them--and they are--but it's also for the leaders to get to know the freshmen.

(3) "Graduate" some volunteers with each transition class. Every year we try to have some of the junior high volunteers join the high school volunteer team so the freshmen aren't overwhelmed with all new faces. We also go after some of the elementary Sunday school teachers to join our junior high team for that same "familiar face" reason.

(4) Share information. When our junior high leaders inform the high school leaders of who are the students who were in small groups, etc... the high school leaders can use that information to make sure they remain involved. When seniors graduate, the college team should know who the involved high school students were, so they don't got lost in the transition.

(5) Use student leaders as much as possible. Create a "transition team" with your student leaders and tell them that their summer responsibility is to know every incoming student. Adults can greet incoming students all they want, but it's a lot stronger transition when students embrace new students. Some of your "older" students need this type of a challenge/ministry to keep them involved.

I wish I was an expert at transitions Dan... but, I'm in the trenches with you trying to figure it out every year, too. I'm glad you're concerned about this, it shows your pastoral heart. God bless you!

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