August 20, 2017
It seems like just yesterday we were sharing, Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer. Now, here we are preparing for the start of school. The back-to-school transition is upon us, and our school community is bustling with excitement.
Everyone, children and adults alike, handles transition differently. Some people naturally embrace it, celebrating and welcoming the change. Others worry about the unknowns or focus on what they didn’t accomplish, instead of what they did, dampening their enthusiasm for what lies ahead.
Wherever you are on the back-to-school-enthusiasm spectrum—and we find that most Mounds Park Academy students and family are high on the scale—we hope that our Lower School families in particular will find some useful tips below as you prepare for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Celebrate The Summer
For parents of school-age children, particularly those in elementary school, summer days can swing from moments of pure joy to ones of frustration. You can wish for the summer to never end one minute, and then beg for late August to arrive the next. That’s why we think it’s important to reflect on the summer as a whole and celebrate the adventures, big and small, that made up your 2017 summer. Here are some suggested ways to celebrate the summer:
- Spend a carefree afternoon. Summer should include some relaxation, yet in today’s world, relaxation can be rare. So lounge by a lake, on a beach or in a hammock in these remaining days of summer and enjoy some quiet time.
- Create a photo book of summer memories. This could be as simple as creating a collage with photos printed on a home printer. Engage your child in its creation and reflect on their favorite parts of the summer.
- Draw pictures of your best family memory or write a story about it. Grab the crayons or the markers and some paper and draw or write away. Don’t let your child have all the fun, though. Release your inner
- Focus on what you accomplished, not what you didn’t. Many people start the summer with a long list of potential summer activities. Often we run out of time to pursue them all. Celebrate what you did do instead of starting the school year with a pang of we-didn’t-quite-get-to-that regret.
“I take time to reflect and write down everything I did (big or small) that I can remember. My list usually ends up being so long that I cannot believe I did so much in such a short time. I end up being very excited about all the things I did that summer and look forward to making a new school-year list.” – Karen Rossbach, MPA Lower School and Upper School Art Teacher
Commit to monthly adventures. Family field trips and adventures are among the best aspects of summer. They build bonds and create lasting memories. But many families don’t always feel they have the time for family adventures during the school year with homework, school events, youth sports, and other extracurricular activities. Make a point to explore some of the wonderful family adventures our area has to offer.
- Examine the summer to-do list and schedule what remains. Didn’t quite get to the Minnesota Zoo this summer? Plan to go one Sunday afternoon in September. Put it on the calendar now. Didn’t see your friends as often as you’d like? Invite them to join you.
- Write a new list of fall family adventures. Apple orchards, fall hikes, family fun runs, and fall festivals all offer opportunities for adventure. Don’t let the start of the school year be all about routines and transitions. Keep the sense of fun and adventure inherent in summer vacation alive throughout the year.
- Plan a fall weekend away. Road trips aren’t just for summer. Look ahead to MEA weekend and plan a brief getaway if you can.
- Get outside. Many Minnesotans spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer. But embrace the outdoors all year round so you don’t miss this aspect of summer. Exploring the outdoors is a year-round pursuit!
“I believe it is so important for children to have opportunities to explore nature, get dirty, dance in the rain, and learn how to take care of the earth.” – Debbie LaChapelle, MPA PreK Teacher
Embrace the start of school. By the end of the summer, most parents and kids are ready to head back to school. Our back-to-school night is always abuzz with excitement about the upcoming academic year. Build upon that energy and momentum.
- Set goals for the school year. What does your child want to accomplish this year? What does a successful school year look like? In what ways will your child dream big and do right? Talk with your child about his or her goals for the school year both from an academic and social perspective. Hang the goals up on the refrigerator and refer to and adjust them as the school year progresses.
- Get together with another MPA family. Make a point to connect with another MPA family and talk about what you’re looking forward to in the 2017-2018 school year. It doesn’t have to be a big to-do. Meet at a park. Grab dinner together. Go on a bike ride.
- Make back-to-school shopping an adventure not a chore. If you have multiple children, try to take each child out alone. This way you can talk one-on-one about your child’s hopes and fears about the upcoming school year without the ears of siblings. It also removes the inherent sibling bickering, which peaks in mid-to-late-August. Make a point to have lunch together or grab ice cream.
- Create a homework area together. Ready an area in your home where your child will do homework. Have them decorate the space. If your homework area is your kitchen table, build a mobile homework station that has all of the supplies needed.
- Read back-to-school-themed books. Some particularly good ones include: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray, or If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Joffe Numeroff.
- Share the back-to-school letters with your child. Many MPA teachers send letters to their students, welcoming them back to school. Read the letter with your child and use it as an opportunity to talk about the year ahead. Help your child decide what they’ll say about their summer vacation, as it’s a common assignment.
“I sent a welcome back letter to each child, and on the first day each child is to bring a picture, an item, a journal, souvenir, that will tell about an event or summertime activity. This is a wonderful transition activity.” – Mary Beggin, MPA Second Grade Teacher
Prepare for the school routine. The daily preparation to ensure that kids are ready for school takes finesse, organization, and patience. Recognize that there will be bumps along the way. Below are tried-and-true, oft-suggested ways to help with the back-to-school transition:
- Adjust sleeping schedule. Most parents are more flexible about bedtimes in the summer. But as the school year approaches, it’s important to make sure your child gets enough sleep. If your child’s bedtime has drifted to an hour or more off the latter, adjust the time in fifteen-minute intervals rather than dramatically shifting it at once.
- Create a family command center. Most parents today keep a busy schedule throughout the year, balancing various activities across different family members. But the school year by its nature requires a higher degree of coordination and organization. If you don’t have one already, take the time before school to create a family command center to help keep track of forms, papers, deadlines, and schedules.
- Put key school dates on the family calendar now. Take some time now before the start of school to add school events to the family calendar.
- Create a back-pack drop zone and activities area. In addition to the command center, designate a place for the kids to corral their school bags, coats, shoes and other items needed on a daily basis. Also, it’s helpful to have a separate go-to spot where uniforms, cleats, athletic equipment, musical instruments, or other activities-related items are kept to avoid the mid-week, after-work, last-minute search.
At MPA we’re so looking forward to welcoming you and your child back to school. We hope you’re as excited as we are for this coming year. Enjoy the remaining days of summer and the start to an adventurous fall.
