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4 Tips for Starting the School Year with Positive Momentum

Smiling group of Walnut Middle School students standing arm-in-arm in the gym
4 Tips for Starting the School Year with Positive Momentum

The 2026-27 school year is fast approaching.
 

With August 12th the first day for Kindergarten, 6th Grade, and 9th Grade, and August 13th the first day with all students, our staff will be busy in the coming weeks getting our schools ready to welcome you and your students.
 

We also know that preparing for a successful school year means a lot of planning at home too. 
 

To get ready for the upcoming school year, we put together a list of tips for you that may help your family prepare for starting school strong.


4 TIPS FOR STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR STRONG

 

  1. Establish A Morning Routine
     

Whether heading to Pre-School, Senior Year, or any grade in between, a good night’s rest is vital for students.  
 

Now is a great time to start establishing what your nighttime and morning routines will be as a family!
 

Once August arrives, implement a consistent bedtime, morning wake-up calls, and breakfast routines that you will practice during the school year.  This will help establish a routine and provide your student, young or teen, with time for their bodies and brains to adjust to the new schedule.
 

A healthy morning routine will also help ensure your student may arrive at school on-time and ready to learn. 
 

GISH student, girl of color, writing notes while referring to her history book.

 

  1. Map Out Your School Drop-Off & Pick-Up Plans
     

Attendance is crucial to student success.
 

A big part of attendance is setting-up students to arrive at school on-time and knowing they have a plan for returning home when school is out.  
 

Start working on school drop-off and pick-up plans as soon as possible.  We encourage families to work together to ride or walk together to school.  Also, please consider leaving a little earlier in the morning this year as there will be increased traffic at our schools.
 

Due to our need for budget reductions, we will no longer be offering many of the bus routes we have run in the past.  You may find our 2026-27 bus routes HERE. 
 

Be sure to check out the district calendars as well so you’re up to speed on all school days for the year. 
 

And don’t forget, school meals are free this year. You may find information on breakfast and lunch at our school on our district website here.
 

School is important and we know that children look forward to seeing their friends and teachers every day in our buildings.  Setting them up for success means also prioritizing regular attendance. 

 

  1. Update Information in ParentVUE
     

Have you updated your contact information in ParentVUE for the school year?
 

If your phone number, mailing address, or student emergency contact information has changed since the last school year, now is a great time to make those changes in ParentVUE.
 

You may find ParentVUE information on our district website HERE. 
 

Updating your information in ParentVUE will help ensure you receive communication from your school and GIPS in the ways you need to.
 

You may expect to hear from both your school and the district regularly throughout the school year.  GIPS utilizes email, text message, phone calls, and direct mail to help you receive important school information and invitations to events and activities.
 

Speaking of which… You will be hearing from our schools soon for “Back to School” events!  Be sure to mark those on your calendar when details arrive.
 

Stolley Park Elementary educator high-fiving students as they enter school.

 

  1. Remind Your Student That We Are Excited to See Them!
     

We are looking forward to launching another school year.  
 

More importantly, our teachers, principals, custodians, nutrition staff, counselors, social workers, paraeducators, everyone is excited to welcome you and your student to school!  Your student is our “why”; we mean that.
 

We would love for you to pass that message along to your student as well.  
 

We want all of our students and families to feel like they belong in our schools.  Our goal is to work together with you to help make sure your student is prepared to start the school year with positive momentum.  
 

If you have any questions about preparing for the new school year, please reach out to your school directly, or send an email to communications@gips.org, or call GIPS Student Services at 308.385.5900.  
 

Let’s make the 2026-27 school year a great one! 
 

#BeHereBelong