School Calendar-Supply List and Hints as New School Year Approaches
It is almost that time of year again! Though the weather screams the dog days of summer, the calendar reads that it is almost time for students to head back to school in Jefferson County. Principals and Supervisors have started the daily grind and in just a couple of short weeks, teachers and students will be reporting to classes. This year teachers will start back on August 3rd and students will have their first day, which will be a ½ day, on Friday, August 7, 2015.
With the first day of school only two weeks away, there are some simple things that parents can do to ease the transition from summer free time to classroom time. Most educators agree that a sleepy child doesn’t make the best student. But sometimes it is difficult to transition from that lazy, hazy days and evenings of summer, where bedtimes are more an idea than a reality. Experts contend that getting into the right bedtime habits are important for learning, though it may take a little planning on the part of parents to ease the transition back from summer chaos to school time ritual. Starting two weeks out ( which is now) determine what time the child must get up in order to have a reasonable time to get ready for school including breakfast if they do not eat at school. Count back eight to nine hour and that is the time that the child should be falling asleep. Bed time should be set around fifteen minutes prior to the falling asleep time to allow the child to wind down. However, after a couple of months of lackadaisical bedtime routines, it can be difficult for a child to get back into the routine of going to sleep earlier, especially when it is still light outside. Instead of expecting the change to come all at once, move their normal summer bedtime up twenty minutes every two or three days until they are at their regular school bedtime. It is important to wake the child up every morning at the time they will have to awaken for school. This helps establish an early morning routine and will ensure that the child is tired at bedtime. For a little incentive in getting out out out of bed, plan something fun for the mornings.
Every parent of a school age child is aware of the dreaded supply list, that sends generally normal people into a frenzy looking for dry erase markers at the closet big box retailer. Helping the student establish a home work space well before school begins and having them make a list of their needs for home will head off that potentially stressful moment when there is not a pencil to be found to do homework with. Encourage them to keep their work space clean and neat, as well as stocked.
And for those students that simply loathe giving up the freedom of summer, remind them of the things that they do like about school such as friends, clubs, sports, recess. Transition is often hard for children and it might be the time for a play date with a school friend to establish ties before the new year starts. Something as simple as breakfast with a friend and his/her mom on that first day of school can ease the fears of starting something new, especially if the student is transitioning to a new school.
For a list of school supplies for Jefferson County Students click here.
For a 2015/2016 school calendar click here.
