Hacienda La Puente Unified Features Wellness Wednesdays: Preparing for Back-to-School

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is launching a Wellness Wednesday initiative for the 2024-25 school year, which will offer engaging social media posts, valuable well-being resources for families, interactive webinars, town halls, and a variety of support services to promote a healthy community.

The days of summer vacation will quickly turn into a new, busy school year, and while there is excitement and anticipation, there are also questions and nerves.

“Families should work together to prepare for the school year by communicating goals and worries and planning and maintaining a schedule that is simple and easy to follow,” HLPUSD’s Director of Equity and Access, Family Engagement Martha Calderon said. “Hacienda La Puente Unified is home to numerous support services for our students, families, and staff, and we are here to provide everything needed to thrive.”

Below are some mindfulness tips from the National Alliance on Mental Illness for the HLPUSD community to help prepare as the first day of school on Wednesday, August 7 quickly approaches.

Ways to ease the transition from summer days to school days, and ensure a successful year:

·        Mark your calendar.

o   Note important dates, like back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences. This is especially helpful if you have children at more than one school and have to juggle obligations.

·        Create routines and schedules.

o   Establish clear routines, such as goodbye or drop-off rituals, to eliminate daily decision-making.

·        Re-establish bedtime and mealtime routines, and coordinate drop-off and pick-up times.

o   Set alarm clocks and prepare for earlier bed and wake-up times.

·        Turn off the TV, phone, and tablet.

o   Encourage your children to color, journal, do puzzles, use flashcards, stretch, or read as early morning activities instead of watching shows or movies. This will help ease students back into the learning process and school routine. If possible, maintain this practice so your children arrive at school better prepared and more alert to learn.

·        New school, teacher, grade.

o   Prepare for changes this school year by talking with your child. Call your child’s school site to schedule a classroom visit or explore the school’s website.

·        Designate and clear a space to do homework.

o   Older children should have the option of studying in their room or a quiet area of the house. Younger children usually need an area where a parent or guardian can monitor, help, and encourage the student.

·        Select a spot to keep backpacks and lunch boxes.

o   Designate a spot for your children to place their school belongings as well as a place to put important notices and information that is sent home for you to see. Make a practice of emptying backpacks every evening to keep students organized.

·        Back-to-school anxiety.

o   Your child may be worried or stressed about going back to school. Talk with your child, validate their feelings, and help them find healthy ways to navigate their worries.

·        Safety measures.  

o   Remind your child that their health and safety are the top priority. Remember to travel to and from school in groups.  

“Hacienda La Puente Unified supports the whole child – this includes not only their educational foundation and physical health, but their emotional, psychological, and social well-being as well,” Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez said. "Through our Wellness Wednesdays Initiative, we are committing to destigmatizing mental health challenges, and promoting healthy coping skills for students, staff, and families alike."

 

For more resources, please contact the Equity and Access department at (626) 933-5302 or visit our District webpage.