Launching the School Year

Today we welcomed our All Saints’ community back to campus for the first day of the 2024–25 school year! The energy was extra special this year—parents and kids were hugging, teachers were smiling at their doors, and everyone was talking about their summer explorations and the quick transition back to being together.

As the younger children got settled in their classrooms, second through eighth-grade students said a quick “hello” in their classrooms before heading out to the Memorial Garden for the Flag Raising ceremony. In celebration of their new leadership roles, our eighth-grade students stood on the balcony overlooking the rest of the community. Father Perry shared a welcome prayer, and our NJHS president led us in the Pledge of Allegiance as our flags were raised over the community. Abel Maldonado, a long-time facilities team member and cherished member of our community, rang the bell to signal the start of the school year—a school that he has been part of for 41 years.

The Student Council and Builders Club presidents spoke at chapel about their excitement for the new year and what it means to be part of the All Saints’ community. We are so proud of our student leaders and can’t wait to see what they accomplish this year and beyond.

The new school year often brings excitement, some nerves, and definitely some adjustments from the relaxed pace of a summer schedule. Here are a few tips for connecting with your child as you enter the new year:

• Ease their anxiety by talking about what to expect each day. Walk through the morning routine, the next day, and pick-up details. Keep it casual and show your confidence in how they will move through it. I highly recommend setting your own alarm earlier than usual for a week or two so they don’t feel you rushing to get out the door. This gives you more time to be present and calm. Goodbye rituals and patterns are really important for kids of all ages.
   
• If your child is working to get back into the routine and the schedule of school, break it down and build on 15-minute increments every day. It is our job to help them feel like they can be successful and adjust.
   
• As parents, we often focus on all the things we want our kids to be or do. It is really important that we are building our kids up over these first few weeks, so don’t go overboard with questions or fixate on issues. Ask questions (but not too many!) to help them reflect in a positive way. It is usually a good idea to have two standard questions every day that show you care but also that you trust them to handle situations well.

For younger children, ask targeted, positive, and easy-to-answer questions. Asking, “How was your day?” doesn’t usually get much. Here are some examples:

• Let’s each share one good part of our day with each other.
• How did you help someone else feel good today?
• Who did you sit next to at lunch?

For older kids, if they start talking, just let them keep talking. Sometimes this happens at 9 p.m. or in the car. Seize the moment when it happens. Open-ended questions or questions that don’t have one correct answer are the best way to go. Here are a few ideas:

• Is there something that you know or learned that you don’t think I know?
• What was one problem that you solved today, and how did you solve it?
• Which is the most difficult rule to follow in school? Why do you think that is?

Most importantly, even if you don’t think they will notice, ending every conversation and day by saying that you are proud of them, that they are working hard, and that you are here if they need anything goes a long way. We also need to say this to ourselves as parents. In a school community, we are all here for one reason: our kids.