Dear Parents, Guardians, and Families:
By now (or very soon) you will be hitting the back to school sales and specials to get the supplies your students’ need to start the new school year on September 6. Every first day it’s a brilliant sight to see so many students arrive with colorful new backpacks stuffed with supplies and their faces filled with anticipation.
I appreciate you taking such great care of your children getting them ready with their supplies, a new sleep schedule, and a positive attitude. I’d like to share some information with parents and caregivers that might be very useful as you support your child through this school year to ever higher levels of learning and success.
The first resource gives some specific research based tips to make the transition from summer to school mode as smooth as possible. It’s a quick read with a comprehensive list of ideas that make that switch from lots of free time to greater structure happen with the least amount of stress possible. (https://goo.gl/LKCTMa )
“Practical Information that Parents Can Put to Use” is a set of 18 two-page guides providing parents and caregivers with great tools to encourage their children's success in school. They were developed through a joint effort between the National Parent Teacher Association and the National Education Association. Just a few of the many topics you’ll find: Helping Your Child Learn to Read, 11 Ideas for Better Communication between Parents and Educators, Helping Your Child Get the Most out of High School and Hey Mom, I want to be an Engineer! (http://goo.gl/ueVCGZ)
As our schools evolve to reflect the growing diversity of our community and the world, efforts to understand, value, and incorporate differences become increasingly important. An excellent resource I recommend is “Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice”. This free download booklet, available HERE, (or http://goo.gl/l2JSQJ) gives age-specific practical advice from experts about the challenges and rewards of parenting in today's diverse world. There are mini-chapters with tips from experts on age groups from preschool through high school. This is a great resource for parents raising kids ready to excel in the increasingly diverse future.
Our district has adopted a new policy and procedures to eliminate bullying. The updated policy, procedures and forms for reporting bullying can be found HERE on our district website (http://www.ocfsd.org/parents/bullying). Parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. In addition to understanding our new policy, I recommend the following site from the U. S. Health Resources and Services Administration: www.stopbullying.gov. It has one of the best overviews with suggestions and resources to help parents and students that I’ve yet discovered.
If your child is 13 or older and preparing for high school, you should check out some very interesting options for them at Get Schooled.org. Here teens can find: “Tips for succeeding in high school (including text wake up calls!), selecting classes or even advice about navigating homecoming; Games that teach everything from refresher math for ACT to college application tips; A searchable database of scholarships; Tools to find a job that will help pay for college, and tools to explore college options.” It’s a project of the Gates Foundation, Viacom, and AT&T that “ ...uses our digital platform, gamification and a recipe we call ‘sizzle and substance’ to inspire and engage students.” To get to some of the more specific services, teens have to register, so look it over before passing it on to them; but they do have a strongly worded privacy policy for your consideration. As in all things with teens, if you choose to share it, don’t recommend it too strongly or it may reduce the cool factor. (https://goo.gl/yPI9Tb )
I hope this is not too much “homework” for you. I know you are already working hard to get the kids ready to join us again. However, I believe adding these tools to your “backpack” of ideas and information could really help this be the best school year ever.
Looking forward to engaging, challenging, and inspiring your students this coming school year.
Regards,
Tim Culver
Superintendent
