CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 39 You're stocked up on pencils and paper; you've already hit the back-to-school sales for clothing; and the kids are up to date on vaccinations and sports physicals. All set for class to begin? Hopefully so. But just in case you're forgetting something, CityView's supermoms came up with this checklist to make sure you cover the bases for the new school year. We asked for a Top 10 list; they came up with 42 among the four of them, and we trimmed those to a dozen. (See the expanded list at cityviewnc.com.) Thanks to General Manager Ashlee Cleveland (and her hubby, Jeb) and account executives Vesna Benbenek, Kayti Gutierrez and Jennifer Hammond for sharing their expertise. Don't forget to … Our back-to-school checklist helps parents prepare for the return to the classroom. FEATURE ✔ ATTEND OPEN HOUSE: It's incredibly important, especially if your child is entering a new school or prekindergarten or transitioning to middle or high school. Meet their teachers and understand their expectations. For older kids, take the time to visit every classroom so they are confident about finding their way around. ✔ CHECK LUNCH MENUS IN ADVANCE: If your child will eat breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria, find out what payment platform the school uses and learn to add money to their account. If you plan a combo of packed lunches and cafeteria fare, print the menu to keep on your fridge to highlight what days you'll be packing a lunch. ✔ ARRANGE FOR A BACKUP drop-off or pick-up person for bus or car riders. Life happens, and sometimes you can't be there yourself. ✔ MAKE SURE YOUR RISING KINDERGARTNER knows how to open applesauce, yogurt, juice, and other food containers you pack in a lunchbox. Teacher won't have time to open every child's food in the 20 or so minutes allotted to eat. ✔ START YOUR EVENING/MORNING SCHOOL ROUTINE a few days before the first day of class so it's not a shock to your teen or preteen's system to wake up at 6:15 instead of 9 to 11 a.m. If you're lucky, the first week of school will start on a Thursday, avoiding four or five days in a row without a break to start the year. ✔ CREATE PREDICTABLE SYSTEMS and a homework routine early and stick with it. Have a dedicated spot for backpacks, shoes and paperwork that needs a parent's signature. This is especially important for sports and extracurricular activities. ✔ PUT SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND TEACHER WORKDAYS on your calendar now and make a plan for child care so you aren't scrambling later. ✔ IF YOUR CHILD TAKES PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, make sure the pediatrician writes a second prescription to be used by the school nurse. All medications given at school must be in a pharmacy bottle with dosing instructions on the label. ✔ FOR PRE-K THROUGH SECOND-GRADE CHILDREN, put a change of clothes in a gallon plastic bag with your kid's name on it. Include a top, bottom, socks and underwear and stow it in their backpack. ✔ HAVE A WEEK'S WORTH OF CLOTHES or uniforms ready to go. Nothing is worse than hearing, "I can't find my ...!" five minutes before you need to leave the house. Sports bags should be packed the night before. ✔ SCHEDULE HAIRCUTS well in advance so everyone has time to get used to the new look before the first day of school. ✔ HAVE AT LEAST TWO ALUMINUM INSULATED WATER BOTTLES per child. Water fountains are so yesterday, so you'll need to have a clean water bottle every day.

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