Here’s help for school prep

A guide to getting ready for in-person school attendance this year

By Norma Melo, JBLM school liaison officer

August will be over faster than it began, and soon students will be preparing to get back to the business of their education.

Locally, schools have publicly stated that they plan to open in a full-day, five-day-a-week schedule. This is a full turnaround from the past 18 months of attending by a hybrid model of two days in classroom and three days of online learning.

As you look at your preparation list, it may look like: • School supplies. • School clothes and shoes. • Immunization records review and appointments made if shots are needed. • Transportation or bus schedule downloaded and posted. • School name and child’s teachers names on your emergency list. • Local emergency contact provided to the school administration office.

The JBLM School Support Office offers insight into how to prepare your family’s students for the start of the school year and help you from feeling overwhelmed that first day.

Entering kindergarten

For a child entering kindergarten for the first time, everything will be new and the student will learn new routines of how school and classrooms work.

Waiting in line and having to wait their turn to ask questions will be the biggest frustration that most students experience.

Try to calm your child and share that they are learning how to become a member of the classroom and a greater part of the community. It provides them with a sense of being and belonging to something greater than themselves.

Some students will find that the days are long and may be tired when they arrive home. If this happens, try to begin their night routines earlier so they can get enough sleep. When our children don’t get enough sleep, they become irritable and don’t focus very well. Children need at least eight hours of sleep per night to be rested and ready for the next day.

Returning to school

For students returning to their school, remind them that things will be different from the two days a week they encountered this year and that there may not be any more online work. Some students may be confused having to be in the classroom all day for five days a week.

Again, calmly remind your child that school attendance is supposed to be a weeklong event. We hope that most students will be happy to be among all their friends instead of just those who were in the same cohort they had last year.

Middle & high school

For students who are in middle and high school, you may want to see how they’re feeling about being around so many students at one time.

Many students have stated that they’re anxious about being around so many kids at once. This is a far cry from the norm where teenagers are socially connected to their friends.

Take time to talk about how being isolated has affected them (be cautious if you get a vague answer). There’s nothing wrong with feeling anxious — in fact, it’s normal! If your child shares more-than-normal anxiety, please make an appointment with a Military Family Life Counselor at their school or with an embedded MFLC in one of the brigades. You can call our office to find out who the MFLC is in your child’s school.

Preparing your children

If your child needs a physical or immunizations, make those appointments now so they can be conducted before school starts and your child won’t need to miss class for their appointment.

You also may want to move their bedtime schedule ahead before the first day of school. Try moving their bedtime 20–30 minutes earlier every other day two weeks prior to the first school day. By the time school starts, it will be normal for them.

For younger students, it’s a good idea to ensure that they’re reading a short book (less than 20 minutes) before bed. This will get them into the habit of reading every evening so when teachers send home reading assignments, they’re used to reading before bedtime.

School registration

Registration for most school districts is being conducted online only. Most schools are going to online registration to cut down on the number of people inside the school. If you need help in the online registration process, call the school.

You may want to email the school office or your child’s teacher to ask questions (remember to give them some grace; they have every parent asking them questions). We find if you email your question, you can get a faster response than waiting for someone to call you with an answer.

State of health

Students may be required to wear masks during the school day this school year. Many school districts are waiting for guidance from the County Department of Health, the Washington State Health Department and the CDC guidelines for School and Child Care Centers.

The school board does not make this ruling — it’s handed down by state and federal governments.

We’re waiting to hear how close the proximity will be for masks to be worn. Remember to look for what your school district puts out.

Drive with care

Please remember that as school begins there will be children who are excited, walking and talking on the way to school and not watching the road.

Drive with care and follow the speed limits around schools. If you’re at JBLM and receive a ticket, that ticket could cost you big bucks and the possible safety of a child.

For more information

If you’re new to JBLM and are unsure of where you need to register your child, have issues with credit transfers or just need some guidance, please contact School Support Services at 253-967-7195.

We’re located at 2295 S. 12th St. at Bitar Avenue, Lewis Main.