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Schools

2011 Back to School Guide

Council Rock Schools open Aug. 29. Are you ready?

Summer vacation is winding down and the new school year is just around the corner.  Making the shift from the lazy days of summer to the demands of the beginning of the school year is difficult. Patch is here to help you get ready with our back-to-school guide.

Breathe easy if you're feeling overwhelmed thinking about all of the back-to-school shopping that still needs to be done.  Council Rock schools provides lists on their website of all required supplies. Go to www.crsd.org then find your school to locate supply lists.

When shopping for back to school supplies, remember the key to success is to stay stocked and buy in bulk.  Plan ahead and avoid the scene of running out of supplies late at night when a project is due the next morning. An added bonus -- buying in bulk is usually cheaper. 

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Back-to-school time is the perfect opportunity to clean out closets.

Now is the time to collect clothes that no longer fit and donate to charity.  A good tip for parents of younger kids is to have them do a fashion show by trying on all of their old clothes to see how they fit.  Have fun with it: turn on some music, make a cat walk and have an audience. 

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Be productive and have fun. Bribe the older ones by telling them no new clothes until the old ones are packed up.

Organization is the key to a successful school year.  If you have a child or children who are involved in several activities, better get the busy schedule on a master calendar or else things will be missed.

Click here to find the Council Rock's school calendar. Also, make sure you check the e-friday folder found here and keep an eye out for emails from the district.  It is also helpful to check out your school PTO website. (Click here to find your school.)

Finally, an important piece of advice for a successful school year is to stay in touch with your child's school.  In order to stay connected with the Council Rock school district, parents need to be familiar with the three different communication systems the district uses.

Home Access Center: This is where parents can log in and check their child's bus information, attendance, grades and other pertinent information. They can also check transportation information and teacher assignments.  For more detailed registration information visit the HAC Registration Guide

Global Connect: This is the Council Rock School District emergency calling system. This is the system used for weather related information like delay of opening or early dismissal. We would also use this system if there we an emergency at a school such as a gas leak or water main break.

The CRSD Email Listserve: This is the system used by the superintendent (and sometimes by principals) for periodic updates about things going on around the district and also initiatives that need to be communicated to the public. It is also used to send out written explanations of incidents involving specific schools.

So there you go, food for thought as we all get ready to get back to routine, and try to remember how to set our alarm clocks.

Here's hoping students from the Council Rock School District have a wonderful school year, filled with growth, development and many exciting learning opportunities.

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