Danville District 118 students will head out the door Thursday to begin another school year, with other districts in the area following suit soon if they haven’t started already. That means a major change in family schedules and the addition of buses and children walking to school early in the morning.
All District 118 students should be registered already. Their first day will end an hour early, with the regular schedule beginning in earnest on Friday.
Again this year, the district will provide book bags for all students, with pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade also receiving school supplies to start the year.
All District 118 students also can eat breakfast and lunch for free. For information, visit the district’s website at district118.org or call the food service director at 217-444-1070.
Students in other area schools should check with their respective district office for information.
District 118 elementary students begin classes at 7:45 a.m., which means buses and those who walk to school will be on local streets even earlier. Local drivers will need to be extra alert for the next few weeks until everyone settles in to their routines. Children walking to school, especially younger ones, don’t always think about safety when crossing streets. As we get closer to the end of the year, the mornings will become darker as the sun rises later, creating even greater hazards for everyone.
Creating routines also plays an important role in children’s success in the classroom. The Kids Mental Health Foundation finds that routines such as getting ready for school, doing homework or preparing for bed at the same time each day helps children feel safe and helps reduce conflict. New habits take practice, so don’t expect children to go along with the changes right away.
Establishing routines to get ready for school also can help create free time for parents as children begin to take on tasks themselves such as getting dressed and gathering items to take to school.
Perhaps the most important routine families can establish is support for education and teachers. Parents who are unjustly critical of teachers or who place little importance on school work do a huge disservice to their children.
Public education can open all sorts of doors of opportunity for those who work hard to succeed. Learning reading, math and other skills in the classroom leads to better jobs. Parents who disparage schools often hurt their children’s future. Knowledge is a wonderful thing. It should be encouraged, not criticized.
Studies show students whose parents are involved in their education perform better in the classroom, experience fewer behavioral problems and develop better social skills, according to Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, Calif. Help your child become a successful adult and support their efforts in the classroom.