The New School Year Survival Guide for Round Rock Students and Parents

From kindergarten to college, our new school year in Round Rock always ushers in a 'busy season' which lasts until the school year ends in June. A barrage of papers to fill out, meetings to attend, schedules to juggle, homework to get done and tests to study for means that planning is essential.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of ideas to keep things on the right foot.

If clothes are laid out ahead of time, lunches are made, and book bags are sitting by the door, mornings will run more smoothly. Set your alarm for a half hour earlier than you need to get up. At first this will seem hard if you like to linger in bed, but you’ll appreciate the extra time for eating breakfast or relaxing before the day starts.

Meal planning is trickier than it was during the summer, since your family is bound to have more varied schedules. Try to make food ahead of time and reheat it the next day. Having 'to go' foods ready to grab before or after school is also a good idea, which can include fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, healthy muffins, and trail mix, and more. You could even do OAMC (Once A Month Cooking) with your family, giving your family ready-to-go meals for an entire month!

Start with a family calendar so everyone can check it for family events and appointments, and make sure each family member has their own calendar in their room to mark when assignments or projects are due, or when sports or band practices are scheduled. Also, plan on having your children do homework at the same time each night. This will create a healthy habit, while allowing you to better coordinate your own studies as well.

Make it a habit to do a fun family activity each week. Go on a bike ride, go out for ice cream, or explore some local attractions. Here are some upcoming family-friendly events to consider:

• Round Rock Market Days: Enjoy arts and crafts, live music, food, and more on the first Saturday of each month.
• Special Family Storytime: On September 10, head to the Round Rock public library for a presentation on Williamson County’s wild bird populations.
• Car Show at Centennial Plaza: On the third Saturday of each month, downtown Round Rock holds their family-friendly car show featuring vintage and new cars from community members.

Did we miss any of your best back-to-school tips? Share with us in the comments below!