JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
A familiar sound will echo through the homes of Hampton Roads residents this fall -"Mom! Five more minutes?"
It's almost that time of year again - time to go back to school.
For most Joint Base Langley-Eustis youth, school begins Sept. 2, and JBLE school liaisons have tips for a successful start to the year.
"Parents should watch for school letters in the mail during the last couple weeks before school begins," said Christine Stiefel, Fort Eustis school liaison. "The letters typically contain important information regarding school guidelines, students' classes and parent-teacher associations."
Since the summer season allows for a more relaxed atmosphere for children, Stiefel said they often stay up later than they normally would during the school year. To get students back in the habit of going to school, she recommends parents to set an earlier bedtime routine for children the last couple weeks before school begins.
The American Academy of Pediatrics provides the following school year health and safety tips:
- Attend any available orientations and take the opportunity to tour the school or ride on the bus.
- Point out the positive aspects of starting school. Refresh their positive memories about previous years, or remind them that there are probably a lot of students who are uneasy about the first day.
- Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Keep in mind, the filled backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's body weight.
- If walking to school, ensure the child's walk is along a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection. Brightly-colored clothing will make children more visible.
"One of the most important pieces of advice I offer families of school-age children is to attend their school's open house," she said. "Open houses give parents insight as to how the school operates, and gets children comfortable with the idea of school beginning soon."
If children have an individualized education plan, Stiefel encourages parents to take the time to build a relationship with teachers prior to the first day. A positive relationship between parents and teachers is integral to children's success, she explained.
For information concerning JBLE community school specifics, including open house dates and supply lists, use the following resources:
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA Handbook for Parents of School Age Children
Hampton City Schools
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Burbank Elementary School
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Lindsay Middle School
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Hampton High School
York County School Division
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Bethel Manor Elementary School
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Grafton Middle School
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Grafton High School
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Tabb Elementary School
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Tabb Middle School
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Tabb High School
Newport News School Division
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General Stanford Elementary School
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Greenwood Elementary School
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Epes Elementary School
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Mary Passage Middle School
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Woodside High School
Poquoson City Public Schools Division
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Poquoson Primary School
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Poquoson Elementary School
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Poquoson Middle School
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Poquoson High School
Families are invited to attend the Back-to-School Block Party from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 12, at the Fort Eustis Youth Center (1102 Pershing Avenue). The party will feature school supply raffles and developmental screenings for children.