The new school year has started and it's a good time to think about two of our community's most important assets - our children and our schools.
If you are a parent, see to it that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Research shows that students who have 95 percent or better attendance do much better in school. Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep each night and has breakfast every morning - either at home or at school.
Also, check your child's backpack each day for homework, school notices, teacher notes, etc. Talk to your child about what he or she learned at school each day. Have your child read, or read to your child, depending on their age, at least 15 minutes every day. Make sure you have contact with your child's teacher not only at conference times but whenever you have concerns about his or her schoolwork.
If you don't have a child in school, you still are important to our children and our community schools. Consider volunteering at your neighborhood school. Many of our children need extra tutoring or a caring adult to mentor them. You'll likely find that you will get has much out of your volunteering as the children do. School resources are tight so think about making a contribution to a school or buying cookie dough, snacks, wrapping paper or whatever students are selling for school fundraisers. Also, many schools collect Campbell's "Labels for Education," Kemps "Nickels for Schools" milk caps and/or General Mills "Box Tops for Education." The schools can turn these in to get items such as gym equipment, library books, etc. for the school. Attend concerts, plays, math competitions, science fairs and art fairs at your local schools to encourage the students. And don't forget to attend the games of Henry and North high schools' sport teams and cheer on our student athletes!
Let your public officials at all levels know how important our children and our neighborhood schools are to our community. When candidates are out door knocking or at events, ask them what they plan to do to help our community's schools.
Last but definitely not least, all of us also need to be mindful of children walking to and from school and on bus stops. While children are told that they should look both ways before crossing streets, not play at the bus stops or run into the street, kids don't always remember. Please slow down and keep an eye out for our children.
We can all help our community children be safe, become lifelong learners and be the best they can be!