Happy new school year!

Teaching Pre K-8, Aug/Sep 2002 by Laminack, Lester

Wow - it seems like we just got out for summer break and here it is time for school to begin. If you're like me, you probably get excited seeing all the school supplies coming back to the store shelves. I look forward to fall and the beginning of school as a time filled with promises of new beginnings, new friends and new possibilities. I hope this new school year holds just such promises for you and your children.

Here are a few suggestions for making the transition back into the routine of school:

First things first: go to the school to meet the principal and teachers your children will have for the year. Introduce yourself and establish a rapport with them in order to keep lines of communication open throughout the year.

During this meeting you might want to provide the following:

1. Phone numbers where you can be reached during school hours and after school. This will send the message that you expect to be notified of any concerns with your children. It also makes it easier for the school to contact you in the case of an emergency.

2. Emergency contact information, including the names and phone numbers of other adults who should be contacted in the event you cannot be reached. You may also want to notify the school of any situations where specific relatives are not allowed to take your child from school without your permission.

3. Provide school personnel information such as allergic reactions to insect stings and food allergies since snacks or school lunches may be prepared with ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction. This is important when food is brought in for special occasions by other parents and the teacher does not know the ingredients.

4. Notify school personnel of any reservations you have about your children participating in any school sponsored events such as field trips, celebrations, assemblies and the like.

5. Any concerns regarding your children's behavior and behavior management.

During this meeting you might also ask for the following:

1. A copy of the school calendar. Review the school calendar and plan for days when school will be closed for staff development or teacher workdays. Note holidays and other scheduled school breaks.

2. Attendance policy. Become familiar with the school's or district's policies on attendance and how you'll need to handle any absences due to illness or family emergencies. Ask about the policy on making up missed class work, tests and homework.

3. Grading policy. Become familiar with the evaluation procedures used in your children's school. There may be overall guidelines in place and some may vary from teacher to teacher or from grade level to grade level. You'll want to know how often progress reports are sent and the scale or rubric used to assign grades. You may find it helpful to know how individual assignments are evaluated and the impact each has upon the progress report.

4. Policies regarding school closings. Schools will have various policies regarding inclement weather conditions or other unplanned events that may require closing during the school day. Most schools or school districts have a system of notifying the public in the event of an unexpected closing. Designated radio stations, television stations and info lines are used.

5. Safety regulations. School districts and individual schools have plans for making the building a place that is both physically and emotionally safe for children and staff. Ask for a copy of policies governing school safety and help your children understand those safety measures.

6. Availability of homework help, tutoring and after-school enrichment programs. Many schools and communities have a homework help line or after school tutorial service that can provide assistance with homework. These services are often provided at no cost and may make a significant difference in your children's progress. There may also be opportunities for participation in enrichment programs with emphasis on the arts, sports, technology, chess, etc.

7. Field trips. Some teachers will have field trips planned from the beginning of the year. Most often these trips are provided to enrich understanding of concepts being developed at school. Finding out about these trips and knowing how they are related to the overall curriculum can help you plan if you are interested in accompanying the class as a chaperone.

8. Opportunities for parent involvement. Most schools have a variety of ways in which parents can be involved. It's helpful to let the school know of any special skills, collections or hobbies that you have.

I wish you a wonderful new school year filled with new friends, new experiences, new adventures, new promises and new possibilities.