In the blink of an eye, August has arrived, which means one thing for parents of school-aged children. We are now in back-to-school mode and the countdown to the first day of the 2023-2024 school year has begun.
Here are a few tips to make sure you and your child are ready for the upcoming academic year:
First and foremost, have you registered your child? Are they in the same school as last year or did they transition to a new school? Does the school have all the required documentation they need for your child? Making sure you’re completely up to date with paperwork, contact information, and any required health/immunization forms will allow for a great start!
Have you purchased the required school supplies? Typically, schools will provide a list for each grade level. This makes it easier for parents to be able to shop ahead of time and take advantage of any sales tax exemptions that each state may provide. Additionally, if uniforms are required, be sure to purchase new ones, or have your child try on their existing ones to ensure they still fit. And don’t forget to try on their shoes and sneakers! Kids grow dramatically from one year to the next, and you want your child to have comfortable footwear for the new school year.
Is your child going to be a bus rider? If yes, find out all relevant information such as location and time of pick-up and drop-off, bus route, and if any forms need to be filled out to confirm the child will be riding the bus. If your child is a car rider/walker/biker, and you are in need of before or after school care, check with the school to see what programs they offer. If the school does not offer any programs, local organizations or nearby youth/recreation centers may have other alternatives. Moreover, make sure you know the drop-off and pick-up schedule for every weekday, as some schools have weekly early release days.
Will your child be bringing a packed lunch every day, or will they be purchasing meals? Many school districts offer free breakfast and based on income eligibility, may also provide free lunch meals. Visit your school district website to see if your family qualifies for the free or reduced-price lunch program or visit your school’s website to view the monthly lunch menu.
Last but certainly not least, knowing how to communicate with your child’s school and district is critical for a successful school year. Is there an app or text messaging system that is used? Have you downloaded it? Does the district/school need permission or have an opt-in clause to be able to send messages? All of these are important questions to know before the first day of school. Parents who are interested in being more involved in their child’s school may also want to find out if there is a Parent Teacher Association, and how to become a part of it. Schools are always in need of volunteers and it’s a great way to feel more connected to your child’s educational journey.
To make the back-to-school experience even smoother, many school districts across the United States are taking advantage of AllHere’s two-way communication platform. An award-winning text messaging solution that reinvents school-to-family communication, AllHere’s AI-powered chatbot provides the perfect system for parents to ask schools and school districts any questions they may have ahead of the first day of classes. Through 24/7, real-time communications, the chatbot will respond in less than a minute in more than 100 languages. More importantly, if the chatbot cannot answer a question, it will send the inquiry to a staff member.
With AllHere as a district tool, parents can be EXTRA prepared for the upcoming school year. To learn more about how AllHere can support your school district and schools, visit https://www.allhere.com/.
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