Watch Back To School on Viaway

Is it just me or did it seem like Summer just blew right past us? … show moreIn less than one week students will once again fill the halls of the schools in our district, eager to learn in many cases, eager to see their friends in most cases, and upset that they are back in a few cases. As parents many of us have mixed feelings. Our little babies continue to grow and gain independence and this is all headed towards a day when they will leave the nest and venture out into the world. The start of school means that we will have to be more organized, wake up earlier, and we will need to fire the shuttle business back up once again to get kids to school and activities. We will once again have to supervise and help with homework and class projects, and there has never been a time where volunteering at school is more needed.

In the Eberhart house we have one high school senior and one 2nd grader. The costs associated with getting our students through registration and signed up for everything that they want to be signed up for is pretty high this year. You couple those costs with the costs associated with classroom supplies, back packs, clothes, etc. and the number gets really high.

I was at Mount Diablo Elementary yesterday and today and the place was busy, really busy. Staff members working hard to get the school and the classrooms prepared. The office was definitely suffering from the reduction of staff and for a school of that size not to have a vice principal, I just don't know how they are going to manage. Despite that, staff were answering phone calls, handling parents who came in with questions, and dealing with deliveries of supplies. They were doing what they had to do to ensure that students would have a positive experience when they arrive on August 25th. What was most impressive is that everyone seemed to know exactly what they needed to do and everyone had a smile on their face, at least part of the time. As a parent I left there thinking that our kids would be in good hands and I really appreciate that. I also stopped by the office at Clayton Valley High and saw a very similar picture. I was impressed. All over this district in every school the story is repeated. School staffs are preparing for students, stocking shelves, cleaning out dust, and decorating the walls of classrooms, turning bare classrooms into wonderful educational environments.

I'd like to thank the staffs at each of our school sites for all that they are doing to get schools ready for students, despite very difficult financial times. We have made very deep cuts all over the district and our site staffs are having to pick up the slack where we have missing staff members due to layoff. For those of us who are parents and who are at school sites often, please take a moment to thank those people who are doing their best to take care of our children.

I'd like to know how parents and staff members are feeling about the beginning of the school year. How have walk throughs been? Did it feel like the Summer was short? Did it cost a lot to get your student back to school? How does the campus look? What are your impressions of how this year will be? What are you going to do to make sure that your kids have a positive year?

I just thought it would be nice to hear what others are dealing with.

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