As the start of the school year quickly approaches, many Steamboat Springs parents and students are gearing up for changing routines, new faces, and hopefully not too much homework! Stay up to date with the latest from the Steamboat Springs School District so your child can hit the ground running.
Back to School Supply Drives Around Steamboat Springs
If you need help preparing your student for the first day of school, contact their campus first and see what resources might be available. Many schools will be able to lend a helping hand to ensure that students have what they need to be successful in the classroom.
Supplies for Success: School Supply Drive
This school supply drive gathers supplies for students all across Routt County. The drive includes packing backpacks for children supported by Integrated Community. If you still want to donate, reach out to the Main United Way of the Yampa Valley Office and see how you can help. Families in need of assistance can also reach out to inquire about supply availability. Supplies are scheduled to be delivered in early August.
If you want to help support the drive, there is an Amazon shopping list and a Walmart list available via the website. Shoppers can choose to pick up in-store or have their purchases delivered to the United Way office on Oak Street.
Packz 4 Kidz
📷 Photo courtesy of Kenzis Causes
Packz 4 Kidz is a program that helps provide underprivileged kids with the school supplies they need to learn in the classroom this year. Every child deserves to feel prepared on the first day of school and beyond. This donation-driven event lends support to children across the Centennial State via brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies. By donating to this cause, you can help invest in a child’s future! Packz 4 Kidz has a track record of helping students all the way from Pueblo, the Denver area, to Greeley and Rifle. With a donation of $50, you can be responsible for sponsoring a backpack with brand-new school supplies that will be given to a child in need.
Back to School Dates & Information for Steamboat Springs Families
The 2024-2025 Steamboat Springs School District calendar kicks off on August 19th — the first day of school for kids! Go ahead and circle your calendars for school holidays, including Labor Day on September 2nd and Thanksgiving Break from November 25th through the 29th. After all, everybody enjoys a good countdown to days off of school and holiday breaks!
Other important dates will depend on which year of school your child is in and which school they’re attending this year. Steamboat Springs High School’s fall sports registrations are due at the end of July and the first day of fall sports practices is scheduled for August 12th.
The district has released some of the supply lists, including the Steamboat Springs Middle School core and encore supply roundup. The list includes 4 composition books, 1 package of loose-leaf paper, wired headphones or earbuds for the school-issued Chromebook, graph paper, and $30 for various classroom supplies. Calculators are class-dependent, so teachers will provide students with further direction on the first day of school.
Preparing for the Upcoming School Year in Steamboat Springs
Whether you’re a parent to a teenager going into their senior year of high school or your little one is attending their first day of kindergarten this year — there’s a healthy amount of jitters that are natural for parents and students alike. Ease your mind by creating a back-to-school checklist to ensure your family is prepared to tackle this academic year like a pro!
Practical preparation includes organizing school supplies. Most districts and schools will provide a handy checklist of the necessary supplies, which is grade-dependent. Once you’ve collected the supplies, organize them at home and help your student pack them in their backpack for the first day.
In some cases, students may need updated immunizations. Double-check their health records and ensure they match the district requirements. This is also a good time to make sure emergency contact information is up to date!
Sit down with your student and go over the school calendar for the upcoming year. This is a great time to look ahead and make sure you know when holidays are, as well as parent-teacher conferences and other school-specific events. If your child is old enough to manage their own schedule, it’s still a good opportunity to get everyone on the same page.
13 Back-to-School Ideas to Get Your Kids Excited to Learn!
If you’re struggling to get anything more than an eye roll out of your child when it comes to talking about going back to school — try and change their tune with this list of back-to-school inspiration!
Practice the Morning Routine
It can be a wake-up call when kids and teens have to set their alarm early after getting used to the summer schedule! Help set your kiddo up for success by running through the morning routine before game time. Make it fun by whipping up a family breakfast, such as pancakes or their favorite cereal. This not only establishes a routine in your little learner’s mind, but it also associates positivity with getting up early for school.
Boost Your Child’s Independence
Especially for younger students, going back to school is a time to foster increased independence. Help your child gain confidence by teaching them how to pack their backpacks and allow them to help decide what they want to eat for breakfast and lunches. Learning how to make healthy choices that keep their body fueled and their mind active can be positive for both the school year and the rest of their lives.
Craft a School Countdown Calendar
Make the countdown to the first day of school extra exciting with a countdown activity! Use fun stickers and positive reminders so your child can check off each day before they get to the grand finale — the first day of classes!
Make Back-to-School Shopping an Adventure
Try turning supply shopping into a scavenger hunt. Bring your student to the store with you and let them pick their favorite colored pencils, notebooks, and folders. Search for the perfect lunchbox and allow them to decide which eraser speaks to them.
Write Down Bucket List Goals
Instead of focusing on one singular day of school, the first day, look at the broader picture. Engage your students to determine what they’re most looking forward to, what they most want to accomplish, and what they’re most nervous about. Overcoming challenges can be as good of a bucket list item as any! This helps give your student a list of things to achieve throughout the school year.
Plan Meals and Snacks
If your kid likes the idea of eating a chocolate bar for breakfast, help explain to them why this won’t fuel their mind and body for the rigors of the school day. Make your child an active participant in preparing school lunches and snacks. Add something exciting to their bag so they look forward to taking a break from learning to enjoy a taste of home. Bonus points if you sneak a positive note into their lunch!
Host a Back to School Party
If you have the means, hosting a small gathering of friends, family, and peers can be a great way to kick the school year off right. The party can be as simple as a picnic in the park or a playdate at the ice rink. Kids are more likely to be excited to see their friends every day than they are about the prospect of homework!
Participate in Events at Your School
As the school district releases information about parent-teacher conferences, orientation activities, and even school tours for new students — stay engaged with students, teachers, and other parents to make back to school more exciting. After all, the more you familiarize yourself and your student with school, the less nerve wracking it becomes.
Decide on a First-Day Outfit
Whether you go shopping for back-to-school clothes or you pick something out from the closet, this can be a fun way to let your child express themselves as they return to school. Help them build confidence by making it a fashion show at home and deciding on which outfit fits the first-day-back vibe!
Make Milestones a Big Deal!
Whether your student is in 1st grade or 11th grade, being celebrated always feels good! Recognize your child’s first week of school or that B+ they worked so hard for on their first test. Make small milestones into celebrations, which can help instill confidence in your student and potentially raise their level of achievement throughout their academic career.
Pick Out Songs for a Back to School Playlist
Music is a fun way to express yourself and this holds true for your students as they return to class. Choose some of their favorite songs and queue them up on the first day of school so they can dance the jitters away. Whether you jam out to songs on the drive to school or in the morning at home, make it a family dance party and potentially create a cherished morning tradition!
Create an End of Summer Reading Challenge
Whether your kid is a voracious chapter book reader or prefers to stick to comic books, engage your kiddos with books about going to school, riding the bus, making new friends, etc. These stories can help them see returning to school from different perspectives. Plus, a reading habit is always helpful for the upcoming year!
Discover a New Extracurricular Activity
If your student is interested in playing sports, learning a new instrument, or taking an art class — these can all be great additions to their back-to-school routine. While academics aren’t always fun, having an extracurricular that they look forward to can be motivating when it comes to completing homework and waking up on time.
Make This School Year the Best One Yet!
Stay up to date with your school’s beginning of the year events and activities, which can help foster a positive environment where your student can thrive both at home and in the classroom. If you want to donate school supplies or if you need help completing your student’s shopping list, there are resources that are available to ensure academic success and instill confidence in your soon-to-be student.