Manassas Park Community Matters Blog: Back to School Basics - By Brian Hanifin

It’s that time of the year again, Summer is coming to an end and school is about to start. The first day back to school is always a fun time but can also be overwhelming. Whether you are starting Middle School or High School, you should always be prepared and organized your first day.

If you are making the transition from Elementary to Middle School here are some tips that may help with adjusting to your new surroundings.

Get Oriented. The first day of school is your first chance to find your way around. Since it is a lot to learn in just one day, you may want to write a few notes for reminders. It will also be a good idea to write down your locker combination in a few places so if you misplace one, you have a back up!

Don’t get discouraged. If you have a bad first day or two, don’t let it bring you down. It’s new and you are getting used to your new surroundings. Trust me, once you know your way around the school and get your routine down, there will be nothing in your way! If those feelings don’t fade, talk to your mom, dad, teacher, or school counselor.

Get enough sleep. It is important to get a good nights rest before every day of school. Getting enough sleep helps you stay more alert in the morning and throughout the day.

Eat a healthy breakfast. Did you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? It is crazy to think that just one meal can effect your entire day. Think of breakfast as your brain power food. Eating a healthy breakfast in the morning helps you AND your brain wake up for a full day of learning!

Be prepared. Whatever you put in your backpack, make sure you pack it the night before. This prevents the morning panic when you can’t find your homework or lunch box.

Try your best. Always put in 110%. Make sure to write down your assignments and turn things in on time. Don’t rush through your school work, if you don’t understand something; ask your teacher, they are there to help.

Middle school is a fun and exciting time. Before you know it, you will be in high school!

Now that we have talked about some tips for Middle School, let’s talk about high school. Whether you’re an anxious new freshman or a confident senior, heading back to school signals a time of transition: new classes, new teachers, new schedules, and a new social scene.

Here are some ways to make the transition from summer to school a little easier.

First-Day Mania. There’s no escaping the fact that the first day of school can be crazy. If you are new, you are trying to find your way around (similar to middle school, so you know the routine!) and if you are going into your sophomore, junior or senior year, you are reconnecting with friends that you didn’t see this summer and hanging out in the hallways until the bell rings.

How can you combat first-day chaos? If you’re headed to a new school, try to arrange a visit before classes begin. You can even ask for a school map.

Make sure you are prepared. It can help to pack your backpack the night before school starts so you’re not scrambling around at the last minute looking for what you need. In addition to packing basic supplies (such as notebooks, pens, pencils, and a calculator), hunt down any of the school forms that were mailed to your family over the summer: immunization (shot) records, permission slips, and class schedules.

What to wear? It is the first day of high school. What in the world are you going to wear? Lots of people check out who’s wearing what on the first day of school. The key is to wear what makes you feel good, whether it’s a brand-new outfit or a comfy old sweater.

Math equations. Don’t worry. I am not going to make you start your math homework now! But it is always good to remember this equation: new place = new emotions. See that wasn’t hard! Lots of people feel anxious, scared, or excited about school. Although students who are coming back as seniors may be happy they’re in their final year and can’t wait to visit with friends, most freshmen or new kids are likely to be tense or worried.

It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous on the first day of school. Getting back to the school routine and adjusting to new workloads takes some getting used to after a long summer break. If you feel yourself starting to get a little anxious, think back to some previous “first days.” Remember how scared you may have been going into Middle School? Now you look back and think “why was I ever nervous? It was so fun and easy to find my way around!”

As always, if you still feel uncomfortable after a few days, talk to the school guidance counselor, a favorite teacher, or someone else you trust about how you’re feeling and what you can do. But give yourself time — most problems adjusting to school are only temporary.

Stay alert. School seemed simple when you were younger. Everyone told you where to go, what classes to take, and how to finish your homework. Now things are different; there are so many choices and priorities competing for your time. Stretch yourself too thin and you may find yourself feeling stressed out.

You may want to get some things in order to stay on track and manage your work load. Schools usually have planners that you can use, if they don’t you may want to go and buy one. Use it to mark dates for quizzes, tests, projects and even when homework is due. It will help you see what is on your plate and help you manage your workload.

I hope this survival guide helps you get through your first day of any grade that you are going into. No matter what grade you are going into, school is a time to make friends and try new things, but it’s also a place to learn skills like organization and decision making that will come in handy for the rest of your life! Your parents, guardian, teachers and even I am here to help you with anything you need.

I wish you all the best of luck in the upcoming school year. Enjoy the last week of Summer and don’t forget that after school you can always come by the Community Center to take advantage of the Teen Passport and all of our NEW programs for teens. This Fall and Winter we are offering programs like Volleyball League, Indoor Soccer League, Photography, Breakdancing, Yoga, Zumba®, Poetry Class, Guitar Class, Tutoring and much more!

Brian

Brian Hanifin is Recreation Specialist, Teen Coordinator for the Department of Parks and Recreation. He can be reached at B.Hanifin@manassasparkva.gov or 703-335-8872

Community Matters is a blog created by the City of Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation. The blog features program updates, announcements of new services, special event notices, or information of general interest.

Sources:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/back_to_school.html