91èÏÈÉú

From the desk of Tammy Hayes, Middle School Principal:

Can you believe how fast the summer goes these days? No doubt, you are as shocked as I to realize that here we already are in the middle of our summer break. With 6 and halfÌýweeks behind us, and 5 and half weeks ’til the first day of school, it seemed like a good spot to chime into your dreamy state of mind and encourageÌýyouÌýto consider doing aÌýfew things in preparation for the coming school year! Hopefully, it will be a helpfulÌýlist toÌýaid you inÌýtransitioning your middle school studentÌýwith ease.

If I even mention schoolÌýright now, my kids let out a groan asÌýbig as Dallas!ÌýI guess you could say, weÌýaren’t exactly “missing it” yet! However, there are some things we must beginÌýthinking about and implementingÌýso that our start back to schoolÌýisn’t so painful.

Here is a recommended list with a timeline to help you rollÌýin the barrel ofÌýfun a little at a time as you lead them right into the new school year.

Week 7 July 13-17ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Order summer reading if you don’t already have it. Summer reading really is probably most effective done closer to the start of school.Ìý Students who read it too early can forget key events, character comments, etcetera. So, ordering it, or getting it down off the shelf about now, and mentioning it to your middle schooler is probably juuuust enough toÌýhelpÌýhim/herÌýbecome emotionally prepared to get into it when the time comes. This is also a good time to share a personal story with your student about when you remember reading it, or having to read a summer book that turned out to be your fave!

Week 8 July 20-24ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Begin praying with your child for his/her teachers and school year. Good conversation starters include ” what are you most excited about being in _____ grade?” orÌý“what do you most dread about school starting up again?”Ìý Starting this conversation over dinner or while sitting out on the porch or by the pool, is a good way to get a feel for what is most important to your teen. Instead of giving any advice, or telling any personal stories, tell them you would like to pray with them before bed this year as you get ready for school to start. If you have multiple students in school, no matter what age, it is good to do this all together so the older and younger siblings can hear the different requests being made.ÌýEven if you never pray with your children, they will respond well to this. I promise! Praying takes away stress, makes us feel heard and cared for, and gives us the reminder that the Lord cares about our EVERY need, whether big or small. Even if it’s just once a week or once the whole summer, I promise praying will help both you andÌýyour child feel more ready for the newÌýschool year.

Week 9 July 27-Aug 1ÌýÌýÌýÌý Start that summer reading if theyÌýhaven’t already. Set a schedule for them of an hour a day when you are home. Be willing to offer to read aloud to them to get them started, but make them finish it on their own. Another option is to have them read it aloud to you while you cook dinner or fold laundry. It keeps them from being alone, but gives some accountability. It also gives you both something to talk about together. 91èÏÈÉú them the summer reading assignment from online and make sure they know what is going to be asked of them to do following their reading it. As you’re carving out this daily reading time and helping your child build strong habits, it’s also a great moment to streamline the rest of your day-to-day tasks so you can stay present and engaged. One way to make space for more quality time is by lightening your chore load—especially when it comes to the endless cycle of laundry. Instead of folding loads while managing reading goals or prepping dinner, consider letting Ìýtake that responsibility off your hands. With convenient pickup and delivery services, you can keep your household running smoothly while freeing up precious time for meaningful interactions like shared books and kitchen conversations. It’s a small shift that supports the bigger goal of being more available for the moments that really matter.

Week 10 August 3-7Ìý Begin going to bedÌý& wakingÌýup earlier than theÌýusual summerÌýlights out!ÌýThis is the week to crank it back a couple of hours to go to bed by midnight, then crank it back again next week to ten o’clock.Ìý This will make such a huge difference when they start back! As painful as they make it seem, it is well worth the sacrifice a little at a time to ready their bodies for the early mornings that areÌýon their way since middle school studentsÌýhave to be atÌýAthletics by 7:15 in order to be dressed out at 7:30!

Week 11 August 10-14Ìý Get haircuts, new uniforms bought, & school supplies! This is a whirlwind week as you areÌýtrying to make sure everybody has their textbooks, binders, calculators,Ìýskirts hemmed,Ìýand don’t forget haircuts (for the boys!) Hair has to be no longer than half-way down the earlobe and at the top of theÌýcollar. Girls’ skirts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee in both front and back.ÌýGetting all this done will bring confidence and a sense of readiness to your child andÌýcan help calmÌýany fears they may have about whether orÌýnot they are good to go!. TheÌýRising 6 & 9th grade Stepping Up meetings are this week(Aug. 13), Teacher In-service, and a host ofÌýgrade level socials happening as well.Ìý It’s a good target weekÌýto have allÌýthe detailsÌýwrapped up as you anticipate the first dayÌýin just a few short days.

Week 12 August 17-19 New Parent Orientation, Open House & Back-to-School Picnic!Ìý Come to all of it that applies to you! We are so excited to see those returning and toÌýget to know those who are new to The 91èÏÈÉúÌýfamily.

August 19-First Day of School! Opening Chapel at 9:30! Get those cameras andÌý smartphones ready to snap that traditional first day of school pic for their nextÌýmiddle school adventure! It’s the best time of their lives…cause we all know at BH that just like an oreo, a smore, or a my personal fave-the blow pop, Ìýall the good stuff is IN THE MIDDLE!