Come August 27, many parents with kids in San Marcos CISD will be jumping for joy while the kids drag their feet as they go back to school. No matter how excited some may be about the school year, it’s a struggle to prepare for a change and say goodbye to summer days.
However, it helps to get ready for school now to ease the adjustment and stave off last-minute scrambling. Here’s what you can do to ease the transition.
Access online accounts
Many schools and school districts offer a web-based system that lets you check the student’s grades, absences, and school updates. Visit your school or district’s website to confirm you have access. If you’re new to the school or district, sign up for an account. You might be able to sign up for email newsletters and alerts.
San Marcos CISD provides a Home Access Center where parents and guardians can view grades, discipline, transcripts, course requests, classwork, and schedules.
Update your calendar
Review the school calendar to enter all important dates in yours. Here’s San Marcos CISD’s calendar. Better yet, post a calendar where everyone can see it every day. Add important dates to keep the family on the same page.
Get school supplies
The Texas Sales Tax Holiday has already passed, but retailers continue to hold sales on clothes and school supplies. Check for coupons online at RetailMeNot, Ebates, Honey, and in your local newspaper.
Some schools sell school supplies in one packet. It can be cheaper to buy the packet from the school or PTA. Buying in bulk leads to deeper discounts, which are passed on to your family. Pump up your kids about school by treating them to one colorful or fun school item of their choice.
Start bedtime routines
It takes 21 days to change a habit. In the summer, most kids head to bed later and sleep later. Rather than waiting for the day before school starts, put the kids to bed earlier.
If they’ve stayed up an hour past their bedtime, put them to bed 15-30 minutes earlier for several days. Continue to move the time up until they’re back at their standard time. Same goes for wake-up time. Add anything else that’s a part of the routine like selecting an outfit for the next day, story time, and brushing teeth.
Create a study space
Designating a study space can make it easier for kids to get in the habit of studying in that space without distractions. Add pencils, pens, scissors, crayons, and other supplies to the study station. This way the kids don’t make excuses for not having what they need to do their assignments.
Next year, families living in the TRACE community will be super excited about the 2019-2020 school year because that’s when the new elementary school in TRACE opens. View pictures of the new TRACE elementary school.
When the first day of school arrives, remember to take pictures! Some families have their kids hold a sign showing what grade they’re entering. Some take a photo in the same spot every year. Have a fantastic first day of school.
