Nerves

The first four days of school seemed to go fairly smoothly for most of the students! It has been great to see old friends and begin to get to know the new faces. If this is your child's first year at Hope, s/he might still be experiencing some "unsure jitters." While Hope is a very caring and friendly place, it often seems huge and confusing to many 5th graders. If your child is still a little anxious about his/her new school, s/he might complain of not feeling well. S/he may test the rules a little and try to get you to allow him/her to stay/come home. S/he might try to balk at the new routine.

I just want to encourage you to listen to what your child is really trying to tell you. Is there some part of his/her day that is causing some anxiety? Is s/he making friends? Is s/he comfortable in the classroom? Does s/he know how to do the locker combination yet? Does s/he know which arts & fitness class to go to on which day? Is the lunch account all set?

What can you do? Make sure your child gets 10-12 hours of sleep every night... I know that sounds like a lot, but that is the doctor-recommended amount for children in 5th and 6th grade! Make sure that s/he gets something to eat in the morning. Not a breakfast eater? Send him/her to school with a granola bar, string cheese, or apple to eat a little later in the morning. Or, consider letting him/her eat whatever sounds good - mac & cheese might sound like a weird breakfast to you... but, kids' brains need some fuel to get them going for their day at school. It's better for a child to eat SOMETHING than nothing at all. Finally, keep in regular communication with your child's teacher. Use the Agenda to write notes to the teacher and let him/her know if your child is having worries. You are also welcome to call or email the teachers or me at any time. We are all here to help! Not until children feel comfortable, safe, and confident in their environment are they ready to learn. Let's work together to ensure that happens.