Back to School Tips from a BCSD Teacher

MK: Who are you? 

Gretchen Fritz: Gretchen Fritz. I teach at River Ridge Academy-4th grade ELA/Social Studies. This will be my 18th year of teaching. 

MK: Complete this sentence: One thing that I wish the parents of each of my students knew is...

Gretchen: I always have your child’s best interest in mind. Sometimes, what happens at school doesn’t always get communicated correctly by the time it gets home. Parents and teachers need to establish a caring, respectful relationship to best meet the needs of OUR kiddos. 

MK: Susie’s son is really anxious about the start of 3rd grade. What advice can you offer to Sarah to help reassure her son? 

Gretchen: I think it is really important to be sure to go to the school’s back to school events. If you can’t make the school’s open house, contact the teacher before school starts and set up a time to meet with them. Another thing to do would be to visit the local library and find some books about heading back to school. The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, is a really good one if children are anxious about leaving mom and dad.



MK: What practical advice can you give parents to ease the transition back into the school routine? 

Gretchen: The biggest thing I can recommend is to start your back to school routine BEFORE school starts. Things like getting to bed early and getting up early can be practiced in the days leading up to school starting. Before the kids head back, discuss setting a homework and reading time after school, and establish a family calendar at home. If your child has an agenda book or reading log that needs to get signed nightly, pick a place where your child will leave it each night so it is easy for you to remember to sign. I have found that packing up backpacks and making lunches the night before is a HUGE help with alleviating morning chaos. 

 
MK: Are there any school “hacks” you use to make your life easier? 

Gretchen: I have found that signing up for online payment for lunches makes life so much easier. Beaufort County uses paypams.com. You can see your child’s lunch account balance and get notifications when the balance hits a certain amount. Another key thing is finding out your child’s PowerSchool account login so you can view their grades in “real time”. This way, you can address questions about your student’s grades along the way, rather than being surprised at interim or report card time. Communicating with teachers regularly will make everyone’s lives much easier. The best form of communication for me with parents is email. It is much more accessible than the phone during the day. Also, if you have an elementary school student, checking their agendas nightly is helpful. This way, you will see what your child has for homework and what events are happening the next day at school!


MK: You’re a mom. Give us some advice! How do you balance working full-time and “managing” your kids? 

Gretchen: It takes a village! I rely on friends, coworkers, and my parents. You need to find time for yourself and don’t sweat the small stuff. You can’t do it all, so you need to find the right people to create your village. Honestly, some days are just easier than others.