This weekend, students across the county will be gathering up the last of their back to school items for their big first day of school on Tuesday.
Over the past week or two, teachers have also been easing in to a new academic year. Some schools have offered orientation classes for new students – either those new to high school or kindergarten.
Most parents will remember the anticipation with which kids head back to school. Friends they have not seen in months are usually taller and different in one way or another. Much of the chatter will involve what each other did over the summer.
For those less familiar, embarking on the watershed moments of the first day of high school, college, university or kindergarten, there will be the requisite butterflies that go along with all things new.
It is an exciting time, but also an anxious time for many. Siblings or parents need to remember the stresses that go along with new surroundings and take the time to talk about how the early days are going. Show a keen interest in how the school year is progressing.
Our editor actually modified the schedule for our mental health series, recognizing that young people will have additional strains next week. It speaks to issues of anxiety and depression in young people.
While those of us on the other side of 20 survived school and all the change that went with, today’s students have more challenges than clothes and hair styles.
The internet and potential for bullying makes any problems students had way back when, look pretty minor. In an instant today, kids can be on the receiving end of some not-so-nice dialogue and it can spread like wildfire.
The first few weeks also will involve a series of choices that affect the school year.
Good choices will include trying out for Sports teams or joining clubs with hobbies of interest. Poor choices of friends and activities will also affect the school year, often not in a positive, purposeful way.
Again, parental interest in what is going on during school and after, goes a long way to keeping students on a straight path.
Rightly so, Wellington OPP has also issued their annual reminder to motorists. It’s been a while since we’ve seen school buses on the roads so it might be wise to leave for work a little early and not be under pressure to get past a bus holding up traffic.
In town there are hazards too, as kids seem to lose their bearings, running out from behind parked cars or across a street to see their friends. Until everyone settles in to the routine, extra driving caution is in order.
Tuesday is the big day – good luck.
