Start The School Year Off Right

As your prepare for the academic year to commence next week, here are some tips for starting the year off strong:

• Establish a school night routine and a definitive bedtime. A good night’s sleep is critical to school success.

• Include nightly read aloud time with your child, all ages. Reading together is one of the best ways to support your child’s intellectual and emotional growth.

• Have your child help prepare uniforms, backpacks and snacks each evening to support a stress free morning.

• Determine options for a healthy breakfast and nut-free snacks for school. 

• Remind your child that everyone gets nervous at the start of a new school year. Encourage them to be open to new classmates and friendships. 

• Don’t panic if there are some challenging moments during the first weeks of school. It takes at least 3-4 weeks for the new school routine both at home and in the classroom to feel comfortable and familiar. 

• When your child shares an opinion, observation, or preference, follow up with the question, “What makes you say that?” This requires your child to reason with evidence, and supports our efforts to create a schoolwide culture of thinking. 

• Make time to unwind and relax after the school day. Encourage outdoor play, device free activities and physical movement. Try not to over schedule after school hours. 

Lastly, embrace the excitement of a new school year and know that in just a few short weeks, life will settle back into its busy and time bound routine. Along the way, lots of learning, fun, friendships and growth will take place. 

The Lower School Faculty and I are looking forward to working with your family this year.  We can’t wait to get started! 

Kathleen Malanowski

Lower School Principal