Whether it will be in a few days or a few weeks, soon the first day of school is approaching which means that meeting new friends, doing homework, and attending school events will soon fill up your schedule. However, the school year hasn't started just yet which means that there are a few things to check off of your to-do list before back-to-school arrives.
Here are the items to complete before the first day of school bell rings:
Go back-to-school shopping
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As stores start to curate school supplies for back-to-school displays, be sure to check off all of the materials on your list for next year. College-ruled notebooks, erasers, post-it notes, and highlighters are a few supplies that come in handy no matter what grade you're going into.
To figure out what you need to buy, inventory what you already have and consult a list of recommended supplies for the grade that you're going into (your school might have provided you with a list but you can also look online). Also, ask friends or family members in older grades what materials they ended up using.
If you're not sure what you're going to need, you can always hold off on buying school supplies until the year starts. Normally, teachers will provide a list of recommended supplies for their class within the first week that you can shop based on. However, buying basics like lined paper and mechanical pencils lead are good to get ahead of time.
Find a planning tool
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While back-to-school shopping, consider buying a planner. Not only do planners help you keep track of daily tasks like homework and club meetings, but they also can help you plan ahead by giving you a place to write down test dates and extracurricular meetings. In addition, planners also help with organization and making sure that you remember important dates and deadlines.
For students who would prefer an online planner, there are several options including creating your own through Adobe Express, Canva, or another site. Through these platforms, you can create a free and customizable planning tool that is perfect for improving time management skills through time blocking and for having easy access to your planner no matter where you are.
Research school clubs and activities
Typically fall activities begin in the first few weeks of school (or even the last few weeks of summer break) which means that now is the time to research any extracurriculars that your school offers. To get a sense of the options available, check your school's website and social media accounts, ask your friends for suggestions, or think about starting your own club.
If there is not a lot of information online about school activities, during the first few weeks of school, attend club fairs and read your school's bulletins and newsletters in order to find out when different sports and clubs are hosting tryouts, auditions, or their first meetings.
Attend registration (and orientation if a freshman)
Many schools spend the week before school officially starts welcoming students back to campus in order to pick up their textbooks, confirm their class selections, and take an ID photo. Oftentimes counselors will also be present during registration which means that you can stop by their offices to ask questions about your schedule before the school year begins.
If you are an incoming freshman or entering middle school, consider signing up for orientation. During this multi-hour-long event, new students can meet upperclassmen who show the new students around campus and answer any questions they may have about their new school. Orientation is also the perfect place to reach out to new people before school starts and learn more about the campus.
Finish any summer assignments
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Depending on the courses you signed up for next year, you might need to complete a summer assignment before the first day of school rolls around. Occasionally, honors and AP classes will have summer readings, projects, or other assignments that will be due during the first week back.
Schools with summer assignments will typically post on their websites under the academic or library pages about what students have to complete before they return to school. If you didn't hear about any summer assignments before the school year ended, you can reach out to former students who were in the same class just last year or email a counselor for more information.
Plan your first day of school outfit
The morning of your first day is probably going to be busy, so think about planning out the perfect outfit ahead of time. Consider wearing styles that both show off your personality and are also comfortable.
For schools that require athletic clothes for physical education courses, double-check that you bring a spare set of clothes to put in your locker.
A new school year means new opportunities to make friends, try out a sport, and explore your academic interests. To maximize your first few weeks back, be sure to have all of your back-to-school to-do's checked off before you jump into your first day. Remember to also enjoy the end of summer break and finish your summer bucket list because the school year is coming up!
