District

SPEAKING OF EDUCATION BY KURT LINDAU

Soon students in the Winter School District and across the State of Wisconsin will be going back to school. School starts in the Winter School District on September 4. Back to School Open House is August 30^th. Refer to the District’s website for further details.

Getting back into the school routine can be a challenge for everyone in the family. To make the adjustment easier, start early. Here are some tips to help students and parents prepare for the upcoming school year.

• A few weeks before school starts, move bedtime back to an earlier time.
• Put a positive spin on going back to school. Talk about the fun things your child will learn, the old friends he'll see and the new friends he'll make.
• If your child is anxious about starting the next grade, reassure her that other children have these feelings too.
• Establish school-day schedules for homework, TV, baths and bedtime.
• Arrange play dates with friends from school to re-establish connections that may have been dropped for the summer, or to create new ones.

• Many schools send out school information and a packet of forms to fill out before school starts. If you can discipline yourself to fill out the paperwork several days before it's due, you'll avoid a last-minute panic.
• Have the necessary immunization records available for easy reference.
• Update school emergency contact and health information for the coming year.
• As you read through all the school information, mark important dates (such as open house, parent-teacher conferences and school holidays) on the family calendar.
• Start a folder for school newsletters and other papers so that you can easily find and refer to them if necessary.
• Establish a "get ready the night before" policy. Pick clothes for the next day and pack the backpack every evening before bedtime, and you'll save precious time in the morning.

Our beginning of the year mailing went home to parents last week. Please let us know how we can help your son or daughter prepare for the upcoming school year. We want your student’s back to school transition to be a smooth one.