As summer vacation draws to a close, students from across Rocky View Schools (RVS) are getting set to head back on Sept. 2 – and parents need to set a routine early, said Barb Gross, family resource services manager with Community Links.
“Get into a routine and have that discussion with the family, what that is going to look like,” she said.
Community Links has developed an acronym to help parents prepare for the upcoming school year – “READY.”
Gross said the ‘R’ stands for setting up a routine.
“‘E’ is for eating healthy. That’s very important – we recommend getting the kids involved in that and having a snack ready when they get home from school,” she said. “(That deals) with that witching hour, that hour of crankiness before supper.”
Gross said “A” was focused on activity – with a particular emphasis on family time, but only an amount “you can feasibly do without stress.”
“The ‘D’ is for downtime,” Gross said. “We wouldn’t recommend screen time, but reading or going for a walk is a nice break between school and homework.
“It’s like adults – we need that time to recharge.”
The final letter of the acronym, ‘Y,’ stands for “you need to be involved,” which Gross said was “imperative” for parents of students.
“Parents (need) to be involved with the school. They don’t realize how important that becomes. Take every opportunity you can to attend school council meetings, have kids introduce you to their friends,” she said. “That way, if there are any real challenges that come up, you’re likely to hear about it before it becomes a real issue.”
The division is set to see an influx of about 940 new students this year, according to RVS Superintendent of Schools Don Hoium. He said the introduction of the RVS four-year plan and an investment of $2.4 million on inclusive education are initiatives to look forward to.
“It’s always exciting, but it’s doubly exciting this year,” Hoium said. “We have a new plan and we’re preparing to open new schools next year.”
A full list of school supply lists for all RVS schools is available online at www.rockyview.ab.ca/registration/schoolsupplies
