The DOs and DONTs of Back to School Season

It’s that time of the year again! Back to school season. Cue the late night runs to Staples and hunt for the perfect book bag. Thoroughly preparing students to go back to school is essential for starting the school year off on the right foot. After years and years of searching for the right pencils and waiting anxiously for the “first day of school”, I know a thing or two about how parents and students can ensure that back to school season goes as smooth as possible. Without further a due, here are the DOs and DONTs of preparing your student for a new school year! 

DO make sure your student’s schedule is correct

The biggest hassle for high school students and parents is scheduling difficulties. Most of the time, SOMETHING on a student’s schedule will not be correct or to their liking. Make sure to get these scheduling issues straightened out before school starts unless things will get complicated quickly. You don’t want your student in the wrong class on the first day of school! As always, remember that you and your student should plan your courses out for all four years from the beginning of high school to prevent scheduling difficulties such as this. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to get that done as soon as possible! Trust me, a plan makes both students and parents feel more comfortable. Check out our free downloadable “Four Year High School Courses Planner” below, it will help you in your planning process! If your student does need to change their schedule, book an appointment with a counselor, handle it at open house, or follow your student’s school’s schedule changes policy as soon as possible. Which leads me to my next point…

DO go to Open House 

So many parents make the mistake of missing open house. Don’t let it be you! Open house is a day or evening event hosted by the school, before school starts, where teachers and the administration are present. Open house is the perfect opportunity for parents to ask questions, meet teachers, and address any other concerns before school starts (including scheduling issues). Attending open house also enables you to introduce yourself to your child’s teacher and establish a first impression before they get in the classroom. Teachers see so many students in a day, therefore it is important that you and your student make yourself known. Beginning to establish teacher relationships is the perfect way to start off a great school year!

DO Get Organized

Make sure to get organized before school starts. The morning of the first day of school is NOT the time to start setting up binders. Students should get their book bags, binders, notebooks, and whatever else they need ready before school to ensure that everything goes as smooth as possible on the first day. I think it’s safe to say that both parents and students feel better when everything is organized. You don’t want anyone forgetting anything on the first day!

DON’T Go Last Minute BTS Shopping

Have you ever seen a picture of a store after Black Friday shopping? It’s a complete MESS and there are not many good things left. That’s exactly what it looks like when you go last minute back to school shopping! Don’t wait until it’s too late to go back to school shopping because you could miss out on great deals and important supplies. The best time to go back to school shopping is after you get your student’s school supplies list from their teacher at open house. Take it from me, someone who has roamed the aisles of Staples searching for sticky notes and college ruled paper, last-minute back to school shopping will leave you feeling rushed and unprepared.

DON’T Slack on First Day of School Signatures

On the first day of school, students will bring home a ton of papers, ranging from photo consent forms to information about important events. Some of these papers require a signature, and while it’s easy to just let them sit on the kitchen table, don’t forget about them! Be proactive and get those papers signed the first night your student brings them home. It will be one less thing you have to worry about.

DON’T Let Your Student Stay OFF Schedule 

Back to school season brings a change in schedule for parents and students. It’s hard to snap back into “school mode” when you’ve been in “summer mode” for so long. The easiest way to encourage this transition is by getting students on schedule again. If your student spent their summer nights staying up watching TV until 2 am it’s time to reel them back in! Adjusting to a new school year is tough but getting back on schedule is essential for creating a productive semester.