All posts tagged back to school

Back to School

By Sandy Regan

Yes, it’s that time of year again, back to school for the kids. I can’t believe that my daughter is starting high school this year. Where did the time go? I remember so clearly the day she started kindergarten. Today, she gets up 5 a.m. to get ready to catch a 6:30 bus that takes her to high school. My son boards his bus at 7:30.

Fall is always a high-energy time for me. Being an optimistic person, I believe with all my being that the coming school year will be the best ever, and I go to great lengths to help my kids prepare for the upcoming year. From school clothes to school supplies, I start out each year promising myself that I will be much more organized than the year before, and that with my help, my kids will reach the enormous potential I am certain they both have.

I wish I had the ability to go into one of my kid’s classrooms and see what they are like during school. I wish I could ethically attach a mini-cam to their backpack so I would know all the things they don’t tell me. If you don’t have school-age children, let me tell you, the amount of things they don’t tell you could fill up a library. What are his teachers really like? As I get ready to meet my son’s teachers tonight at curriculum night, I know that the teacher I meet and the teacher my son experiences each day are two different people. As a teacher appears to a parent, she appears much differently to the child in her classroom because as a parent, the teacher tries to satisfy the needs and questions of the parents according to what adults think a child needs. What the child feels he needs may be entirely different. Getting the child to tell you this information is extremely tricky, especially if you have a child that is generally quiet and responds to questions with one word answers, like my son does. “

“How was your day?” I might ask.

“Good,” “Okay,” or “Fine.” These are the responses I get.

Probing for more info, I’ve found, is usually pointless.

“What do you want to know? It was school.”

This is supposed to satisfy my curiosity. How am I supposed to find out what “school” for him means? I can ask his teacher, who would give me her perspective – but it would be her perspective, not his. I guess the best I can do is keep asking – and going through his backpack. Good luck this year, kids. I’m here for you, even when you may not want me to be.

Diary of Starting Preschool

Written by Mommy (Meredith McKay)

August 25:
Mia, today was your last day Debbie’s home daycare. You’ve been going there since you were 6 months old. Mommy took it very hard, and as we drove out of Debbie’s driveway you asked me why I was crying. I didn’t want to upset you and tell you that on Monday you would no longer be spending 5 days a week at Debbie’s comfy and familiar home. You would be going to Preschool, a building full of adults and other children that you don’t know yet; to play, learn, eat, and nap with. So I quickly responded, “Mommy is sad because summer is over.” You said, “But Mama, it will be back.”

Mommy cried off and on for the next couple of days. I don’t do well with change, and this is a big one.

August 29:
Today was your first day of school, and you were so excited that I could barely get you to pose for a picture. Mommy and Daddy brought you to school. We helped you put your new backpack, lunch bag, and nap mat in your cubby. You didn’t cry, but let me know, “I’m gonna miss you”. I reassured you that I would be back.

Mia on her first day of preschool

Day 2:
You had a great day at school. At dinner you showed me how you raise your hand and say“Here” when your teacher takes attendance.

Day 3:
Rough morning…Mommy brought you to school. All the kids were playing outside. When I left and walked by the play area, you tried to climb the chain link fence. I saw your tears but I promised you that I would be back later. Mommy made it out of the school parking lot before breaking down in tears.

Labor Day weekend, a long weekend away from school, and I’m all ready dreading how your Tuesday morning drop off will be.

Day 6:
You started crying at home when I enthusiastically announced, “Mia, you’re going to school today!!!” Through the tears you wailed, “I’m gonna miss you.” Mommy brought you in to school and as I was leaving, you ran ahead of me and tried to leave the building. Your teacher reassured you that I would come back later.

Days 7 and 8:
Daddy drove you to school without Mommy. Everything went so smoothly. I think this is the answer to the morning drop offs, and now Mommy feels silly for even second guessing my decision to send you fulltime.

Day 9 [September 12]:
You are 3 today! You lead the whole school for the Pledge of Allegiance and proudly waved the American flag. Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, and Grampy arrived at snack time with cupcakes for your class. Your classmates sang “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed the cupcakes. After the celebration you were not going to let any of us leave the preschool without you, so Grammy brought you to her house for your special day.

Leading the Pledge of Allegiance on Your 3rd Birthday

Days 10-15:
Daddy has been dropping you off every morning and Mommy picks you up after work.

Day 16:
After Daddy brought you to school, he sent Mommy a text that said, “Wow! The saddest thing ever. Mia chased me down the hall crying real tears. Made me tear up a little.” Now you know how I feel Daddy…

We are now going on the fourth week of preschool and it has gotten easier for you, and easier for Mommy and Daddy. You are getting used to the routine and have made many friends. The teachers have told me that sometimes during the day you miss me, but it quickly passes and you have a great day. Mommy wants you to know that, “I will be back,” just like the summer!

5 Comments

by lghwell on September 26, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Meredith McKay, Uncategorized

Tagged back to school, floating hospital for children, lowell general hospital, meredith McKay, merrimack valley moms

Posted by lghwell on September 26, 2011

http://mvmoms.com/2011/09/26/diary-of-starting-preschool/

Backpacks: Pack Them Light, Wear Them Right

With Labor Day upon us, many parents (and children) are thinking about backpacks for school. The following is an article submitted by Dr. Elliot Suarez, a pediatrician with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates on how to pack backpacks light and wear them right this school year:

With school back in full swing, backpacks are a practical way for children and teens to carry books and supplies back and forth to school. They are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body’s strongest muscles, and when used correctly, backpacks can be useful equipment.

Unfortunately, many parents and children are unaware of the potential dangers of improperly worn backpacks. Backpacks can be a leading cause of back and shoulder pain for millions of children and adolescents. Studies show that young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of heavy backpacks is a major factor.

Doctors and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10% – 15% of their body weight in their backpacks. For example, a child weighing 50 lbs should carry no more than 7.5 lbs in their backpack, and a child weighing 130 lbs should carry no more than 19.5 lbs. However, studies show that over half of all students carry considerably more than these recommendations each day.

Parents may need to adjust their child’s backpack and/or reduce how much the child is carrying if they see their child struggling to get the backpack on and off or they lean forward to carry the backpack. Most importantly, parents should never ignore any complaints of back pain from their child.

Here are some additional tips for proper selection and wear of backpacks:

Use backpacks with two wide, padded shoulder straps. Backpacks with one strap that runs across the body cannot distribute the weight evenly
Shoulder straps should also be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child’s back
School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages. Choose the right size pack for your child’s back as well as one with enough room for necessary school items
Size is important. The backpack should never be wider or longer than your child’s torso, and the pack should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline
Children should use all possible compartments to distribute weight. Heaviest items should go closest to children’s backs
If possible, encourage your child to make frequent trips to his or her locker between classes to reduce the number of books in the backpack at one time

To see the full article on the Chelmsford Patch, please click here.

Lowell Schools Lauded

From the Lowell Sun:

The School Committee heard noises in the Council Chamber last night that they have not heard for a long time — applause, cheering and hooting.

The chamber was packed with staff members from the Shaughnessy, Wang, Morey and Lincoln schools celebrating the schools’ having been named “Commendation Schools” by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for raising student achievement on the MCAS exam, while consistently narrowing achievement gaps between groups of students.

Read the rest of the article here.

Congratulations, Merrimack Valley Moms! Have a great weekend. We’ll see you on Monday with a new post from Meredith McKay!

Back to School Tips

By Amy Dienta

My son will be switching schools as we have recently moved to a different zone in Lowell. When we first approached him about changing schools he was fearful about changing. He cried and pleaded to stay at his old school. I felt horrible switching him to the neighborhood school.

When my husband got home we went to see the school building. It is surrounded by trees and has a huge playground. We let him play in the playground and then we played a family game of soccer in the field.

He then decided that he liked the school and was okay with switching.

I thought I’d share some tips that helped my family prepare for the first day of school:

1.   Start putting the child to bed on a school schedule a few weeks before school starts.
2.   Let the child pick out what they want for lunch on the first few days.
3.   Send lunch money in case all the other kids are buying lunch.
4.   Let your child pick out their perfect backpack.

You may not like the cheap plastic Spiderman bag but your child will love it and all the other kids will have the same one!

5.   If you know a parent of another child in the school try and arrange a meeting for the kids. My friend’s children, for instance, attend my son’s new school.
6.   Read the pile of papers that come home the first day and keep them for future reference. There is usually a welcome letter from the principal, info from the teacher and paperwork you will need to fill out.
7.   Buy a few necessary school items, but wait until after the first day to buy most of the supplies. Teachers will pass out lists of supplies needed.
8.   I always put together a package for the classroom filled with hand sanitizer, tissues, stickers and a snack. My son brings it on the first day of school and gives it to the teacher.
9.   Put a note in your child’s lunch box or backpack saying you love them.

10. You can only drop your child off for their first day of school once, so take lots of pictures!

3 Comments

by jflojennings on August 31, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Amy Dienta, Mom Tips, Mommy Blogs

Tagged back to school, floating hospital for children, lowell general hospital, merrimack valley moms, mommy blog, mommy bloggers, new school, tips

Posted by jflojennings on August 31, 2010

http://mvmoms.com/2010/08/31/back-to-school-tips/

Maternity Services Link:
- Advanced Maternity Services
Pediatric Services Link:
- Advanced Pediatric Services
Categories
Archives
Email Subscription

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 61 other followers

Merrimack Valley Moms

All posts tagged back to school

Back to School

Diary of Starting Preschool

Backpacks: Pack Them Light, Wear Them Right

Lowell Schools Lauded

Back to School Tips

Maternity Services Link:

Pediatric Services Link:

Categories

Archives

Email Subscription

Follow “Merrimack Valley Moms”