A Message to Our CommunityWelcome Back to School!Fall 2005

For some children, the start of a new school year can be frightening – new surroundings, new teacher, and new students. Parents can help their children feel more secure with the transition to the new environment with a few simple steps.

The National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) offers some good suggestions on how to help students cope with change. For students of any age, it is important to talk to them about the upcoming school year, such as what are they expecting? What are they looking forward to? What are they afraid of? And parents should make sure to ask them if they have any questions.

Most schools will have a back-to-school night within the next few weeks. Attending that event will help parents get a better understand about what is going on at school.

Remember: parents have the right to have someone at the school answer questions about any aspect of their child’s schooling. Parents may also request a private conference with the teacher, and if necessary, request an interpreter.

For children starting kindergarten, the NPTA suggests that, if possible, parents go with their children to visit the new school, meet the new teacher and see the classroom and building. At the very least, parents and kindergarteners can walk around the outside of building before school starts to help children become familiar with the new school.

Parents can also help their children put school supplies in their backpack, and give them a small family photograph to carry to school as a reminder that the family is always with them.

For students going from elementary to middle school, encourage them to become familiar with their class schedule, locker procedures, and school rules before school starts in order to decrease anxiety.

For students going into high school, they are becoming more independent but it is important for parents to stay involved in their lives. Parents can know who their teen-ager is friends with by offering to drive the students someplace, or even encourage the teen to bring friends to the house.

The NPTA has more information about starting school and other education related subjects at its Web site, www.pta.org.

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer, and welcome back to school!

A version of this article is appeared in Vision Hispana and the Castro Valley Forum.

Sheila Jordan is the County Superintendent of Schools. She may be reached at 670-4144 or by e-mail at acoesuperintendent@acoe.org.