Back-to-School Tips To Help Coweta County Students Excel

School is back in session, and it’s the perfect time for parents to get involved and take steps to ensure this school year will be successful.

Nora Ann Wood, a retired high school counselor from Central Educational Center (CEC) in the Coweta County School System, offers some tips to help parents and students have a great school year.

“You want your child to be successful, enjoy school as much as possible and have a good day,” Wood said.

Tips for Success

1. Find your child’s school supply list. Parents can look on the website for their child’s school to find the list of items they are required to purchase this year.

2. Search for deals or get freebies. Look for sales on back-to-school items, such as clothing, backpacks and school supplies. If your budget is tight, attend school supply giveaways hosted by local churches and nonprofit organizations, including One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The Salvation Army can also help families in need with food and clothing.

3. Attend open houses and meetings with teachers. Before the first day of school, parents should attend the open house at their child’s school so they can get to know the teachers, counselors and other administrators. It’s recommended to bring the child to the open house. If parents can’t attend because of work or other responsibilities, they should try to find a relative or friend who can go in their place. Throughout the school year, it’s important for parents to set up appointments with teachers and attend scheduled parent-teacher conferences.

4. Build relationships with teachers, school staff and administrators. After the school year begins, parents should stay in contact with their child’s teachers and counselors to build relationships with them. This will make it easier for parents to have open communication about their student’s progress.

5. Use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Parents should regularly visit the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to check their child’s grades and track their progress.

6. Get updates from Coweta County School System (CCS)-TV News. To find out highlights and updates from Coweta County schools, tune in to CCS-TV News, which can be accessed through the Coweta County School System’s website.

7. Get involved in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). When possible, parents should join the PTO at their child’s school to get involved with supporting the school’s teachers and educational experience.

8. Be active in your child’s education. It’s important for parents to ask children about their day, which can often be done effectively while riding in the car. Ask open ended questions, such as “Tell me what you did in school today” or “Show me the work you brought home.” Let younger children know that you’re looking in their backpack for homework or notes from their teacher. This shows students that their parents are interested in what they’re doing.

9. Take advantage of after-school programs. After-school programs are a great option for elementary school students. These programs allow students to play with other kids in a safe environment and get help with their homework.

10. Get help with classes early. If your child is having trouble with a certain class or subject, seek assistance when they first start having issues. Reach out to your child’s teacher or counselor for advice on tutoring options or resources before the problem gets too far along. Many teachers are willing to tutor students before or after school.

11. Explore future career paths. Take advantage of technical classes at CEC and work-based programs that enable students to acquire skills in a variety of fields, such as automotive, cosmetology or aviation, or gain work experience in an industry they’re considering for a future career. Students can discover what they enjoy doing and better understand what certain jobs are really like. Also, parents should get involved in the class registration process so they can know what courses are offered.

12. Consider dual enrollment and AP classes. With dual enrollment, high school students can take college courses at local universities, including West Georgia Technical College, University of West Georgia and Clayton State College, free of charge. Students can earn college credit and get some of their college education paid for, allowing them to eliminate some future college debt. In addition, students can take Advanced Placement (AP) classes (college level courses operated by the College Board) and then take the AP exam to qualify for college credit.

Back-to-School Health Checklist

Your child’s health is also a priority during the back-to-school season. The state of Georgia requires that all children attending public and private schools, including day care, Head Start, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten through 12th grade, receive immunizations for these vaccine-preventable diseases: diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Hib, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, tetanus, varicella (chickenpox), polio, pneumococcal, and meningococcal disease, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s District 4 Public Health’s website.

When enrolling in a Georgia school for the first time, students must have these documents on file:

• Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231)

• Georgia Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Screening (Form 3300)

• Certified Birth Certificate

The District 4 county health departments, which includes Coweta County, offer quality, low-cost vaccines. Health department staff will complete the forms that are required by schools. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, folks can call 800-847-4262.

The Coweta County Health Department is at 70 Hospital Road in Newnan. For questions not related to scheduling an appointment, call 770-254-7400. Bring a copy of the child’s immunization record to the appointment. If parents or guardians don’t have a copy of the child’s record and past immunizations were provided in Georgia, the health department should be able to access the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS).

Seventh grade immunization requirements: Rising seventh grade students, or students entering a Georgia school for the first time in grades eight to 12, must have received one dose of the Tdap vaccine and one dose of meningococcal vaccine.

Eleventh grade immunization requirements: Effective July 1, 2021, children 16 and older who are entering the 11th grade must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday.

Immunization and Screening Fees: Children without health insurance are eligible to receive a discounted rate. Most insurance plans or Medicaid cover immunizations and vision, hearing and dental screenings. County health departments accept a range of insurance plans. Payments can be made by cash, Mastercard or Visa.

For more information about the immunization schedules for children from birth to 6 years old and 7 to 18 years old, visit: https://www.district4health. org/services/child-health/immunizations-andschool-requirements/.