Parsons: Preparing for the back-to-school bell

By Lynn Parsons

Relax. It's summer. Time to rest and take it easy, until it's time to reapply your sunscreen ...

Uh-oh. There it is, in the back of your mind. The first day of school is rapidly approaching. Anxiety about it builds in the brains of students, parents and teachers.

These worries are bad enough when moving from one grade to another, and they intensify with a change in schools. Students worry about making new friends and finding their way around. Parents are concerned about how their child will fit in and wonder whether they will get enough help to pass the STAAR test. Teachers are taking classes and preparing materials to make sure their students will meet more stringent state standards.

Here's how to help your children feel better prepared for school:

Keep them reading during the summer.

Stick to a regular schedule so adjusting to school hours won't be such a shock.

Make positive comments about the upcoming year.

Attend information nights and pre-semester activities.

Talk to friends in the neighborhood about school expectations.

Take the kids to any events that will allow them to look around their building.

And instead of using parental energy fretting about the future, take time to prepare:

Make a folder with registration information (birth certificate, proof of residence, shot record, etc). Check your school Web page for specifics.

Watch for school supply sales so the effect on your budget won't be so harsh.

Visit with other parents to learn how they prepared their children.

Set up a system to track school supplies and important papers.

Check the school website for information about registration, start times, lunch money, etc.

Make sure your youngster knows your first name, emergency contact numbers and address. You'd be surprised how many high school students don't even know this basic information.

Go now and get any booster shots required by law. The school will have no choice but to send kids home if they aren't vaccinated.

Carefully read the requirements for extracurricular activities to make sure your child can participate if desired.

If you're concerned about the STAAR test, call the Texas Education Agency. School staff members can't legally modify your child's test or exempt them from it.

It will be tempting to do some of these things, but resist the urge:

Don't contact school staff members at home. They need this time to rest and prepare.

Avoid making promises you can't keep, like ensuring that your child has a particular teacher or schedule.

If registration is required, do so on the announced date. The registrar won't be ready earlier, and signing up late may affect the class schedule.

Try not to dwell on past bad experiences with the educational system. Don't blame new staff members for errors made by former ones. Get over it.

Staff members have trainings and are busy getting their classrooms ready before school begins. Please don't show up during this time expecting a personalized tour or parent-teacher meeting.

Walk your child to the front door on the first day, but don't plan to stay. It makes the separation harder for the younger children, and is very embarrassing for the older ones.

Teachers, you've survived the STAAR test, and you can do it again. Just remember to keep your focus on the kids, and it'll be fine.

Above all, remember that hundreds of thousands of children will be returning to school this year. It's going to be OK. Take a deep breath... but don't forget about that sunblock.

Lynn Parsons of North Richland Hills is an educational diagnostician who has four grown children and two grandchildren. She is a member of the 2012 Star-Telegram Community Columnist Panel.

ldparsons60@gmail.com

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