It’s Back to School time here in North Central Florida. Meet the teacher is here, and schools are getting ready to start. In Marion County, classes resume on Wednesday, August 10th. In Alachua County, school starts on Monday, August 15th.
Each school provides a list of what materials your students will need. Check their websites or look for your student’s list at “Meet the Teacher.” Information on school lunches can also be found at each school board website. With private schools, check their websites for similar information, or at any Back to School event.
Public schools also typically have “parent portals,” to which parents can sign up. This is a great resource for parents, and everyone should sign up. Infinite Campus gives parents access to everything he or she needs regarding their son or daughter. This includes your student’s grades, assignments, attendance records, and other services.
You can sign up by going to the front office of your child’s school. Tell them that you want to sign up for the parent portal, and they will provide you with an appropriate password. You can access the portal both online and through the Infinite Campus app, which can be downloaded.
If you miss Meet the Teacher, check with your student’s school for Open House. This is usually held a few weeks after Back to School. Here in Florida, both parents are freely given access to their children’s records and teachers. It is called shared parental responsibility, and is granted in virtually all cases. Sole parental responsibility is typically awarded only if allowing it to be shared is detrimental to the child, such as cases involving convicted sex offenders.
And as we start Back to School, let’s not forget the many teachers and aides who donate their time and money to our kids. Consider getting them a small Target gift certificate to help cover school supplies. Sure beats giving them an apple!