Surviving Back to School

Kids give high marks for green gear and caring parents and teachers.
By Dava Guerin

Marquis Lichtenstein, who turned 11 in June, is no ordinary sixth-grade student. This Bryn Mawr pre-teen has been attending the Baldwin School since she was five-years-old, and wakes up every day looking forward to learning. An accomplished ballerina, she has already performed twice in Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, and has attended summer programs at both the New York City Ballet and the prestigious Boston Ballet. What fuels her enthusiasm and passion, at such a young age, is her exposure to teachers who create learning environments that are stimulating and fun, and the unwavering support of her mother, Toby Lynn.

While Lichtenstein may not have a severe case of back-to-school anxiety, most children experience some form of stress when the new school year begins. Allaying their fears through positive reinforcement, and highlighting memories of past positive school experiences, can give them the head start they need to transition from the relaxation of the summer season to the academic rigor of the fall.

How to Overcome the First Day Jitters

Almost all children, especially young ones, experience some form of separation anxiety when they leave the lazy days of summer behind for the routine of a new school year. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers parents detailed back-to-school tips that range from—helping them get through the first day, and developing good homework and study habits—to healthy eating and dealing with the schoolyard bully. Kristen Waterfield, president of the Malvern School, which focuses on early education, is also the mother of four young children—two boys and two girls. She knows first-hand the importance of establishing a routine to help kids deal with the inevitable fear of leaving the security of home and returning to an unfamiliar school environment.

“All children will feel some sort of alienation from their parents and friends when the summer is over and they head back-to-school,” said Waterfield. “This is especially true for kids transitioning from fifth to sixth grade, and from eight to ninth grade. The most important thing parents can do is talk to their children, and get them excited about the adventures that they will experience as the new year begins. But for me, personally, organization is key. Children need a routine and explaining to them what they will be doing in school and what is expected of them really helps with the transition. Also, it’s important for them to know that change and flexibility are good, and being open to new and different experiences will help them enjoy school even more.”

Some of the tips Waterfield recommends for easing younger children back to school are: taking them shopping in late summer for their favorite school supplies and clothing; putting special items in their backpacks that remind them of home or their fun summer experiences; spending extra time with them before school starts and talking about their concerns and anxieties; easing them in to and keeping them on a more regimented routine; and above all, loading up on extra hugs and kisses.
Teachers can also play a part in the successful transition from summer- to- school, especially during the critical first week. “Our teachers, as part of their curriculum, explain to the children exactly what they are going to learn, and talk about what their schedules will be like, Waterfield added. “They also encourage them to share their experiences, and help them feel comfortable with getting to know their new schoolmates, meeting new friends, and understanding what is expected of them both academically and socially.”

Jared Dobkin, 16, is a sophomore at Central Public High School in Philadelphia, one of the most difficult schools to be admitted, and known for its academic rigor and percentage of graduates attending college. A solid student, who is on the school’s wrestling team, completes 45 hours of community service each year, and loves world history, English and science, nevertheless, still, nevertheless, feels stress at the beginning of the school year. “I tend to be more worried in August about the school year ahead,” said Dobkin. “Once I know which teachers I have, and what the workload will be, I tend to relax and get down to business. I think anytime you have a new routine, that can be stressful, but around October or November, I’m in to the routine and I really enjoy it from there.”

For Lichtenstein, she can’t wait to get back to the classroom.

“I get really happy because there is a certain vibe about school, and every year I look forward to meeting my teachers, going to classes and seeing my old teachers again. I like learning, too, mainly, because the teachers don’t pressure us. They understand you, and care, and that gives us a really warm feeling,” she said.

Lichtenstein added that at Baldwin, the teachers encourage the students to keep in touch over the summer and take an interest in their lives in and out of the classroom. “Our teachers write to us, and there is a school journal where the teachers and students can catch up with each other. You do it in the summer too. Another thing they do is let us ask for help without being scared. If you don’t understand something, even if you learned it in the past, you can always go to previous teachers for help,” Lichtenstein said.

Kids Go Eco-Friendly

Kids are concerned about the environment at surprisingly young ages. Green school supplies are making their way on to store shelves, and have also become top-sellers online for both parents and their kids.

“Even though I’m 11, I am very concerned about our environment,” Lichtenstein said. I never want to waste water, and would rather use a glass cup than paper or plastic, and I try to remember to recycle.”

Dobkin, while not obsessed with being totally green, still prefers using products that have an eco-friendly component. “I really like the notebooks I use that are made from recycled paper,” he said. “It’s something I do believe in.”

So, what are today’s “green” kids filling up their backpacks with before heading back- to- school? Some of the most popular items are: recycled backpacks, with or without wheels; Smencils, which are fragrant, scented pencils made from recycled newspapers and housed in a corn-based, bio-degradable freshness tube; a bamboo utensil set by To-Go-Ware, which is made from durable and sustainable bamboo and is stored in a colorful pouch made of recycled plastic; the Bento Box, a colorful box that holds foods in separate compartments and is free of Phthalates and Bispheneol-A; Satire Sneakers, which are made from recycled tires and organic cotton and suede; the Underground Sport Back-Pack by Roots that is made from 51 percent recycled pop bottles and sustainable lightweight fabrics; and notebooks by Pistachio which are made with 100 percent recycled post-consumer waste, with lettering painted on the covers with vegetable and soy-based ink.

There are also many back-to-school items that kids won’t leave home without. Some of them include magnetized pencil cases, chalk boards and other accessories for their lockers; back-packs on wheels; clothing from Justice; Converse All-Star sneakers; Silly Bands; and anything from their favorite stores—Abercrombie, Urban Outfitters; and American Eagle.

“I think it’s really important to take care of our planet,” said Lichtenstein. “But it’s most important to me to do well in school.”

Mom’s Unite for Fashion and Friendship

While parents are the guideposts for helping their kids transition from the swimming pool to the schoolyard, once the kids are finally back in school, they can sometimes feel anxiety themselves.

For three busy working moms—Alison Kendall, Charlotte Baron, and Jeanie Zender—each mothers of young children, their solution was a novel one. In an effort to connect with other mothers across the country, they created Be Mom Couture, a company that brings busy moms together through one-of-kind handbags, jewelry and organic clothing that reflects the many roles moms play on a daily basis.

For example, the Marathon Mommy Collection reflects the persona of an energetic mom on-the-go, while the Mamarazzi line might be a perfect fit for a mom’s more daring and whimsical side. (They can be ordered online at www.bemomcouture.com, or through private parties.) Kendall, Baron, and Bender also have created an online talk show called, The Changing Table, where moms can dish about their tragedies and triumphs, and share their ideas about parenting with one another, online and in person.

“So much of our lives as mothers revolve around our children’s school,” Bender said. “Through our business we’ve met many moms, just like ourselves, who are always looking for solutions from– school-related issues like helping the kids adjust to their first day—to other things like peer pressure, and homework. We’re finding that we’re becoming better parents by utilizing the best practices of our new community of moms. And, if we can wear our personas for the entire world to see, well, that’s a real bonus!”

Dava Guerin is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s Profile Editor.

Never too old for Back to School
Live like a kid again.
By Diane Burns

Summer was almost over and opening day of school was on the horizon. I was beginning to hear the moans and groans of the kids in the neighborhood as well as from my own grandchildren.

I started to think how lucky they were to be going back to school…I’m sure they wouldn’t think it was so great, but the thought entered my mind,” I wish it was me.”

Back to school—this was something that I had thought about from time to time over the years since I graduated high school. I always pooh-poohed the idea for a variety of reasons; age, time, but mostly fear, I had been out of high school for over 30 years and just knew I had to be brain-dead.

The closer September came, the more the idea of returning to school kept creeping into my head and I finally decided to bite the bullet; after all I was only going to inquire about the enrollment process. I went to the admissions office of a nearby college and discovered that it wasn’t going to be difficult to begin classes. The counselor recommended that I start out enrolling in only two classes to get my feet wet. So before I could talk myself out of it, I enrolled.

The first day of class I felt like a kindergarten child going off to school for the first time. I had butterflies in my stomach and sweaty palms. The little voice in my head kept saying, “Are you crazy!? You’re over 50 years old and haven’t had to take a test or study in over 30 years.
What are the young college kids going to think about this older woman attending classes with them? Is my brain ready for the influx of all the information I was about to learn?”

I’m sure that everyone who faces any new challenge has had the same fears and apprehensions.
Day by day went by and soon some of the fears and uncertainties were gone and in their place was a new belief that maybe, just maybe, I could do this. I had found that I wasn’t alone in my concerns. The younger students had the sane fears. What becomes obvious was that around every corner there was help available to get you through; the administration, faculty and surprisingly, my fellow students; all of whom were much younger than I. They accepted me as one of their own and invited me to join their study group. This was probably one of the best things that I did to enable me to get back into the swing of studying.

I was working full time back then so I was not able to take more than two courses a semester, but I went all year round. Week by week, month by month went by and soon I was caught up in graduation fever. I had made it. My dream was about to be fulfilled. Of course, there had been obstacles put in my way, frustrating and stressful periods but I had kept my eyes on the goal, a college degree.

The fulfillment of the dream I had for so many years was just around the corner. As I walked down the aisle to receive my diploma, I was acutely aware of the changes in myself. I had achieved a long hoped for goal. I had overcome the obstacles that had been placed in my way and was now going to be a college graduate.

Someone once said, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off
the goal.” If returning to school to continue your education is your desire, keep your eyes fixed
ahead on that goal and success will be yours too.

Diane Burns is a freelance writer from Bucks County, PA.