Students, parents and teachers:
It’s time for school

Educators recommend parents prep kids now

By J.D. Long-García, The Catholic Sun
August 2, 2007

Lazy days by the swimming pool, carefree days at camp and going to bed late will all be history once the school bells toll later this month.

Breaking the ho-hum habits of lackadaisical summer days isn’t easy. Teachers and parents across the diocese are already fixing their gaze on academic pursuits. Most Catholic schools are scheduled to resume Aug. 14.

“The hardest thing is getting up in the morning, myself included,” said Betti Martinez, co-president of Christ the King School’s parent association and mother of three.

“Most of the time my kids battle just being tired for those first couple weeks,” she said. “There’s a lot — getting back into the homework and activities, having to be someplace at a certain time.”

Salesian Sister Ignacia Carrillo, principal at St. John Vianney School in Goodyear, said parents could help their children prepare for school’s rude awakening with more structure.

“Some parents think, ‘Well, summer’s almost over, live it up,’” she said. “But it makes it very hard when you don’t have that routine and that structure.”

Sr. Ignacia suggested that parents start getting their kids up earlier at the end of summer vacation. Deborah McFarland, principal at Pope John XXIII School in Scottsdale, agreed.

“At least one week before school starts, families should start the bedtime and morning schedules that will be needed for the school year,” she said.

“I also recommend that families review and discuss what the routines are going to be for the year,” McFarland added. “As children grow, they are able to do more for themselves and the household. Responsibilities may change from year to year.”

Donna Bullock, principal at Christ the King School in Mesa, said shopping could help kids get in the mood for school.

“Helping them pick out school supplies always helps a lot,” she said. “Many of the teachers will start sending postcards.”

One of Bullock’s teachers, Rebeca Nagengast, sends a pamphlet to her incoming fifth-graders, introducing them to the class and providing them with a supply list for the first day.

“Review math and do it for fun,” Nagengast said. She sends a list of Web sites that can help students warm up for school in the pamphlet, including www.softschools.com and www.fossweb.com.

MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent of Catholic schools, said thinking ahead could help teachers, students and parents balance academic and extracurricular activities.

“Organize your school activities into priorities so that school gets the focus and emphasis it should,” she said.

“Activities are important to make our students well rounded, but just as important is being involved with our parishes, attending Sunday liturgies and participating in service activities,” Mueller added.

Knowing the school grounds also helps students acclimate.

“I’d encourage parents to visit the school maybe two to three days before it opens to do a walk through,” Sr. Ignacia said. “Then the child knows how to find their class. That creates less anxiety, especially for younger children.”

Sr. Ignacia suggested students make a list of their summer activities to share with their classmates as well as writing a letter to their teachers.

In Catholic schools, students grow academically and spiritually. Parents wanting to prepare their students for the beginning of school should also start praying more often.

“In first grade, they are so incredibly spiritual. They just get it,” Christ the King first-grade teacher Beth Stevason said. “I went to public school and I couldn’t imagine not sharing my faith while teaching.”

Bullock, her principal, said parents could also prepare children for spiritual growth.

“Get your kids back in the habit of talking to God throughout the day,” principal Bullock said. At Christ the King, each grade level learns a new prayer and they pray at the beginning of the day, at lunch and before school lets out.

“Parents also need to make sure that they do not forget to contact their parish religious education coordinators to enroll their children into the parish programs,” McFarland said, noting that sacramental formation is a parish’s responsibility.

“It is also important to review the family’s spiritual routines. Children should have a voice in which parish Mass the family attends,” she added.

“Children’s spiritual needs change — just as with any person,” McFarland added. “Parents may find it is time to try attending a teen Mass or a children’s Mass for awhile to foster their spiritual growth.”

Besides setting a routine, visiting the school and making sure students have the right supplies for the first day, Martinez said children should learn to relax.

“Too often we just fill up the summer with all sorts of stuff,” she said. “When you just don’t stop through the summer, you go back to school and you’re already on the verge of burning out.”

Christ the King fourth-grade teacher Mary Ellen Thayer agreed.

“Get plenty of rest, listen carefully to what the teacher says and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she said. “We’re going to do all we can to make your child a good student and a well-rounded Catholic.”