Lower School Division News: August 23, 2024

By Dr. Debra Sass, Lower School Division Head

It’s a privilege to be working with Lower School parents and students again. Your kind support makes my job a pleasure. Your children bring us all such joy! As we move into our first full week of school on August 26, I'd like to share the below tips to help your student have the best year possible!

Back-to-School Tips for Your Elementary Student

Develop a healthy sleep routine.

• Set a consistent bedtime for your child and stick with it every night. Getting enough sleep is critical for staying healthy and being successful in school. Not getting enough sleep is linked with lower academic achievement, as well as higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness. 

• Create a consistent bedtime routine to help your child settle down and fall asleep. For example, a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, tucking them in and saying goodnight.

• Have your child turn off electronic devices well before bedtime. Try to have the home as quiet and calm as possible when younger children are trying to fall asleep.

Provide healthy food options during the school day.

• Children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better. They do better in school, and have better concentration and more energy.

• Consider nutrition if your child will be bringing food to eat during school.  Provide healthy choices, such as fruit, low-fat dairy products and water.

• Choose healthier beverage options  - such as water to send to school each day.  A 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60%.

Support good homework & study habits.

• Children typically need extra help organizing their homework. Checklists, timers, visuals, and parental supervision can help overcome homework problems.

• Create an environment that is homework-friendly starting at a young age. Children need a consistent workspace in their bedroom or another part of the home that is quiet, without distractions, and promotes study.

• Schedule ample time for homework. Build this time into choices about participating in after school activities.

•  Establish a household rule that the TV and other electronic distractions stay off    during homework time.  Always supervise computer and internet use.

• Take steps to help ease eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying. It may be helpful to close the books for a few minutes; stretch and take a brain break periodically.

A LOOK AHEAD:

• Monday, September 2 - Labor Day Holiday NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, September 4 @ 8:15 a.m. - PTO Meeting
• Tuesday, September 10 @ 5 p.m. - Winston Parent Open House
• Thursday, September 19 - North Texas Giving Day

GENERAL UPDATES:

NEW OPPORUNITIES FOR LOWER SCHOOL PARENTS
We are also providing a new opportunity for Lower School parents to join us in recognizing exemplary student effort.  On the first Friday of every month we will be publicly celebrating student success. We will meet at 2:30 in the theater on each of these dates. Your child’s teacher will notify you in advance when your child is being recognized. Our first assembly is scheduled for Friday, September 6.  

A NOTE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE:

This year, we've added a new photo sharing tool called Flickr. This page and full albums are only accessible via this link and others shared in THE NEST each week!