Do you have young people in your home that will soon be heading back to school? You’ll want to give them the best start possible of course, regardless of their age. Our thanks go out to Lesley Kennedy, Principal of Caledon Central Public School, for this fabulous list of tips, sorted by grade levels, to help give the students you know a great beginning this fall.
Back-to-School Tips for Families.
Our goal is for students to start the year off confidently, organized, and ready to jump into a great school year and that takes some preplanning and effort.
All Students
- Start school routines now.
- Begin going to bed earlier.
- Start waking up earlier each morning.
- Practice morning organization.
- Pack lunches the night before.
- Lay out clothes ahead of time.
- Consider organizing outfits for the week. One helpful strategy is using a hanging closet organizer with five shelves or pockets, one for each school day.
- Establish after-school routines before school starts.
- Visit the school grounds.
- Walk around the property.
- Help children become familiar with entrances, playgrounds, and outdoor spaces.
- This is especially helpful for students who are new to the school.
- Gradually reduce screen time.
- Begin a slow withdrawal from television, computers, tablets, and phones.
- Many students struggle with technology withdrawal during the first month of school.
- Remember that public schools have a no personal tech policy during the school day.
- Get outside and stay active.
- Visit the bus stop ahead of time.
- Walk the route to and from school if applicable.
Kindergarten to Grade 3
- Start conversations about friendship.
- Discuss how to make friends and keep friends.
- Talk about ways to include others and solve minor conflicts.
- Prepare for outdoor play.
- Ask: “What will you do during recess and outdoor play times?”
- Discuss games and activities they might enjoy.
- Talk about healthy eating.
- Discuss foods they will have in their lunches.
- Explain that food fuels both our bodies and our brains.
- Create a lunch plan.
- Decide which foods to eat first.
- Remember that most schools have two 40-minute nutrition breaks:
- 20 minutes to eat
- 20 minutes to play
Grades 4 to 8
- Encourage involvement in school life.
- Talk about teams, clubs, and extracurricular activities they may want to join.
- Students who are involved in school activities often feel more connected and excited about attending school.
- Set social media expectations now.
- Discuss appropriate use after school hours.
- Establish clear boundaries and family expectations.
- Decide which platforms your child can access.
- Put parental controls and rules in place before school begins.
- Establish homework and learning routines.
- Even if formal homework is not assigned, students should read for at least 20 minutes each night.
- Reading can include:
- Books
- Magazines
- Age-appropriate online reading platforms
- Visit the local library and borrow books for the next couple of weeks to help build a reading habit.
- Younger students can read with a parent or caregiver.
Grade 7, Grade 8, and High School Students
- Practice using a locker lock.
- Students at Caledon Central in Grades 7 and 8 have lockers, as do most high school students.
- Learning to open a combination lock takes practice.
- Start practicing now to build confidence.
- Single- and double-digit combination locks can be easier for beginners.
- Avoid key locks if possible, as keys are easily lost.
- Consider writing a letter to your new teacher.
- Share interests, strengths, and hobbies.
- Explain any worries or fears about the upcoming school year.
- This can help teachers better support students from the start.
- Mental Health Supports
Talk now about folks in the building students can access for support (guidance counsellors, support staff, principals, even the front of house office team can be helpful)
But routines in place that will promote good mental health – minimizing tech time before bed, finding relaxation routines for evenings and mornings – reading, meditating, praying, having a cup of milk/tea
School Supplies
Basic Supplies for Older Students
- Binder
- Loose-leaf paper
- Pencils
- Pens
- Pencil case
- Pencil crayons
Helpful Classroom Donations
If families are interested in supporting the classroom, the following items are always appreciated:
- Large box of tissues
- Paper towel
- Boxes of pencils
- Boxes of pens
- Pencil crayons
- Crayons
These supplies are often used throughout the year, and teachers are always grateful for donations, as many purchase classroom supplies with their own funds.
Parents
Start talking now about what a great school year is going to be.
Ask specific questions
“tell be the best part of your day?” “what made you feel happy today?” “How did you help a friend today?” “Tell me one thing you really like about your classroom/teacher/friend?” The more positive we are about school as parents the more positive our children will be.
Write a welcome back to school note to your child’s teacher – send a flower from your garden or an apple – set a positive relationship from the get go.
Final Thought
Plan something fun before the summer ends, my family and I are going to the drive in tonight, take some time with each child on their own before school kicks in (a tea date, a play date, a nail appointment date) invest in each one before the busyness of life starts again.
A successful school year begins long before the first day of school. By establishing routines, promoting healthy habits, encouraging involvement, and preparing gradually, families can help students start the year feeling confident, organized, and ready to learn.
Lesley Kennedy (she/her)
Principal
Caledon Central Public School
