A Letter from the Fort Rucker School Liaison Officer

The bell is about to ring in the new 2015-2016 school year! Hope you all had an excellent and relaxing summer. As we look forward to an upcoming school year filled with learning and growth, here are a few tips to hopefully help smoothly transition your family from the laid back summer schedule to the more structured school schedule:

• The first weeks of school can be tiring as students get reacquainted with morning routines and demands of the school day. A few weeks before school starts, reestablish bed time routines so that when the first day rolls around, your children can begin their educational endeavors well rested. Plenty of rest will help facilitate a less anxious student over new teachers, classes and possibly a new school.

• Try a dress rehearsal before the first day. Get up in enough time to get ready for school and see how you do. Include time for a great breakfast and include a time buffer for unforeseen circumstances like misplaced shoes, gathering a lunch/lunch money or forgetting to brush teeth. A couple of trial runs and your family should be well rehearsed in the morning routine.

• Try new recipes for school lunches during the summer. Work with your children on helping prepare nutritious lunches that they will enjoy eating and will help get them through the rest of their school day energized. If you’ll be buying lunches, check on the school website to see about loading their lunch  account with  money so you don’t have to scramble to come up with the right change for lunches.

• Set up a central bulletin board to hang schedules, notices and reminders. This will help not only parents, but students as well to keep well organized all through the school year. Determine a homework area that will facilitate finishing homework in a well lit, quiet area away from distractions.  Keep this area stocked with necessary school supplies.

 

• While you bring in new clothes and school supplies, it’s the perfect time to clean out dressers, closets and desks. Start the new year with organization, which will add to the excitement for beginning a new school year. Also, take advantage of the Back 2 School Tax Free weekend: Florida 1-3 August 2015 and Alabama 7-9 August 2015.

 

• If your child will be starting school for the first time or attending a new school, it may help to soothe anxieties if you take a trip to the school before it starts, to familiarize your child with the cafeteria, where they will catch the bus or be picked up, and their classroom.  Use this time also to answer any questions they may have and to assure them that they will have plenty of support on the first day to help guide them until they are accustom to their schedule.

~ Kim Kozel
Fort Rucker School Liaison Officer