Hey, Parents, we got you!

 It’s that time of year when parents, caregivers, and families are trying to squeeze in one more precious day at the beach while also scouring deals for stylish back to school clothes and backpacks.  Oh, and don’t forget to schedule those haircuts and get the new sneakers!

It’s a time for some families and students to be anxious or concerned about the approaching school year, especially as they head into a new grade or school building. It's typical for kids to wonder and worry about who their teachers will be and whether or not they will see familiar and friendly faces in their classrooms and in the cafeteria:  Will I be at the right bus stop? Who will sit with me at lunch?  What does my high school schedule look like? Do they know I have to take my allergy medication at a specific time? Will kids hang out with me? Will I make the team?

These are natural and normal questions students (and their parents) have as they transition from the generally unscheduled, lazy, and warm days of summer to the early morning alarm clocks, structured class schedules, and homework routines of the fall.  My advice to families and students?

Relax… we’ve got your back!  All summer our principals, counselors, secretaries, and teacher leaders have been prepping for students’ arrival on August 30th.  And we are ready.  There will, of course, always be glitches and mistakes like a missed bus stop, class schedule with a missing class, or incorrect spelling on a name; but those missteps are quickly addressed, and each Needham Public School student can expect a warm welcome and a great beginning to the 23-24 academic year.

Caroline Miller and Rachel Busman of the Child Mind Institute have some good advice for adult caregivers during those first few anxious days of school, including:

• Take your own temperature and see if you are passing on any undo stress or worries to your children.  Remember that everyone’s routines will be changing as a result of a new school year.

• Listen to their worries and acknowledge that you understand they are anxious. Share a story about an experience you had when you were worried about school.

• Do some test runs to the school or walk down to the bus stop.  It’s OK to visit a school and stop in at the main office and say hello and introduce your child to the staff so they can have some familiarity with it.

• Let someone know at the school if your child has a particular concern or need before or right after school starts. For example, let the nurse know about any health needs. (By the way, NPS nurses are awesome!)

You can read their complete article here:  Back to School Anxiety

Finally, I encourage parents to review what I have previously written about the best and most courteous and professional way for parents to communicate with staff and teachers about concerns parents have.  

For sure, the beginning of the new school year can be nerve wracking for families, caregivers, students, and even superintendents(!)  However, working together, listening carefully to one another, and trusting in the good work of the teachers and staff of the Needham Public Schools will mean success for your child.  We got you!

Sunita Williams students waiting to assist arriving
Kindergartners on their first day of school,
August 2022