Back to School Checklist
Jefferson County Public Schools offers a checklist for parents to use for the first day of school that can help ease the transition from summer break to the start of school. One of the most important tips for parents is to prepare your child for returning to school by practicing bedtime and morning routines. Establish a weeknight bedtime and practice waking earlier. If you are not already in the habit of reading daily with your child, begin now. Remember to talk positively and encourage your child about starting the new school year.
Here is a checklist of helpful tips to use as a guideline to prepare your family for the first day of school:
-Is your child registered? When is the first day of school? What time does school start?
-How is your child going to get to school? If your child is walking or biking, does he or she know the school rules for bicycles? Practice the route for getting to school. Have you reviewed safety precautions regarding traffic and strangers?
-Is your child riding a bus? Do you know your bus number and pickup time? Have you reviewed safety precautions and behavior expectations with your child?
-What time is lunch? Can your child buy lunches at school? How much will they cost? Will they need snacks?
-What clothes will your child need to wear? Does your child's school have a dress code? Will your child need different clothes for physical education or art classes?
-Have you checked with your school about any supplies that you will need to purchase?
-Have you filled out all the health forms or emergency contact forms that have been sent home?
-Has your child developed any new health problems over the summer that will affect his or her school day?
-If your child needs to take medication at school on the first day, have arrangements been made?
-Does your child know where he or she is going after school (home, babysitter, after school program)? Does he or she know how they will get there? If you will not be there when they arrive, do they know who will be responsible for them, what the rules are, and how to get help in case of an emergency?
-Have you made alternate arrangements in the event that school is dismissed early due to inclement weather? Have you communicated these arrangements to your child and to the school?
Call your local school to get your questions answered early.
Public Schools On Par With Private Schools
In a report released by the U.S. Department of Education, data showed that students in public schools generally did as well as or better than comparable students in private schools.
The report compared public and private schools in terms of student achievement as measured by National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) federal mathematics and reading tests. It examined test scores of 700,000 4th- and 8th-graders at public schools and those of 25,000 private school students.
The private schools appeared to have an achievement advantage when the raw scores of students were considered alone. But those perceived advantages disappeared when the researchers took into account variables like race, gender and parents' education and income.
The report concluded that when students of like economic, racial and family backgrounds were compared, public school students did as well or better than those in 4th-grade reading and mathematics and 8th-grade mathematics. The exception was 8th-grade reading, in which private school students did better.
Arts Showcases
The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts will host artists and exhibitors from across the country at its annual Arts Education Showcases in October. The one-day events, held at locations around the state, will familiarize Kentucky educators and parents with performing artists, visual artists, arts organizations and cultural institutions that are available as resources for their schools.
Showcases are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at:
-Madisonville, Glema Mahr Center, Oct. 4
-Somerset, Center for Rural Development, Oct. 5
-Lexington, Singletary Center, Oct. 9
Contact: Shannon Levine, (502) 562-0118, slevine@kentuckycenter.org
www.kentuckycenter.org/education/