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Start the School Year Off Right

Start the School Year Off Right

Getting ready for the first day of school is about more than just buying new pencils and notebooks. By equipping your child with good physical health, mental health, and nutrition, you can empower them to thrive in their new class. Find tips below from the experts at Mary’s Center to ensure a successful school year.

Check Back-to-School Physicals off the List


All students are required to have a physical before the new school year, and their immunizations must be up to date. “The physical exam ensures your child is healthy so they can participate in school activities, including sports,” explains Dr. Letizia Valentin-Friebele, Pediatrician.

Dr. Valentin-Friebele recommends that you book your appointment at Mary’s Center as soon as possible to ensure your child can be in the classroom. Call today at 1-844-796-2797 or request an appointment online here.

In addition to making vaccine slots available at our health centers throughout the week, Mary’s Center offers these convenient options:

  • Saturday vaccine clinics by appointment at our Fort Totten and Petworth locations in DC through October 8.
  • Mobile vaccine clinics at schools across DC every week through September, in partnership with DC Health. Find the full schedule here, and pre-register here

Another important reminder from Dr. Valentin-Friebele: All DC students 12 and older must be vaccinated against COVID-19. If your child only needs a COVID-19 vaccine, stop by any of our walk-in clinics.

Learn more about the back-to-school requirements in your area:

Prepare Your Child for the Transition


Starting a new school year can cause anxiety for students of all ages. Mental Health Therapist Anne Giebel describes the adjustments students face as they return to school, and how to address them:

Change in routine: Everyday routines like eating, sleeping, and even going to the bathroom change when transitioning from school to summer and then back to school. If we don’t sleep or eat well and our bodies aren’t 100%, then our brains won’t be 100% and things like anxiety can feel bigger and scarier.

Discuss this with your child and implement more of a routine in the final weeks of summer so that it’s not quite as jarring or disorienting when they return to a school schedule.

Change in socialization: Some kids spend their summers without seeing a lot of friends, and others may go to camp where are around different people all the time. Either way, going back to the classroom will be a change.

Try to normalize social anxiety. Explain that anxiety tells us to worry about the worst possible scenario, and it’s okay to feel nervous. Remind your child about how they made new friends in previous years.

Have these discussions a few weeks prior to the first day of school, as anxiety may be at its worst prior to an event. Talking about this and checking in on what specifically is causing anxiety for kids can make the first day feel more approachable.

Get Back on Track with Nutrition


Your meals may be less consistent in the summer, but you can get back into a healthy routine for school with a little preparation. Carolina Sierra, Bilingual Nutritionist, has tips to create easy and delicious breakfasts and lunches to keep your children satisfied throughout the day.

Breakfast: We’re always rushing in the morning, so we want to make it very simple. Here are a few options:

  • Fruit smoothie, with your preferred non-dairy or low-fat milk
  • Greek yogurt with fruit
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
  • Oatmeal

Lunch: Involve your child by selecting a few items for them to choose from. Be sure to include…

  • Protein: low-fat cheese sticks, hardboiled egg, tuna sandwich, or hummus
  • Fiber: cut up vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, or mini carrots
  • Whole grains: whole wheat bread, whole grain tortilla, or whole wheat cracker
  • A healthy treat: graham cracker, low-sugar granola bar, a few dark chocolate chips

Offering different options will motivate your child to have an open mind and explore new foods. Remember to let your child know how proud you are when they try new things, and thank them for helping you create these amazing meals.

Form Good Relationships with Teachers


Your child’s teacher is an ally; you are on the same team working for the same goal, which is your child’s, academic progress and social/emotional well-being. Elizabeth Bergner, Adult ESOL Teacher at Briya Public Charter School, Mary’s Center’s partner in education, offers strategies to build a strong bond with teachers from the beginning of the year.

  1. Take advantage of opportunities to meet the teacher before the school year begins. Especially at the early grade levels, schools host a back-to-school night or many teachers will do a home visit or a meeting with the parents before school starts. You know your child best, so this is a time to not only ask questions, but also share information about your child’s personality and their strengths and struggles.
  2. Go to parent-teacher conferences. Parents sometimes miss these opportunities because they’re working during the time of the conference, but teachers are sympathetic to working parents and they can often be flexible to find another time to meet.
  3. Keep the conversation going. Check in occasionally to ask how your child is doing, and if there is anything you can do at home to better support your child’s progress. You can also share any stress or worries your child has that may affect them at school, or certainly any bullying concerns.
  4. Show your appreciation. Teaching is a fun and fulfilling profession, but it’s very hard, and even a short note or a small gift can make a big difference. Oftentimes what is most meaningful to teachers is when you share your child’s successes that you see at home, especially when they finally achieve something they have been working toward in class.

Mary’s Center wishes you and your family a healthy, happy, and rewarding new school year!