July Edition 2023
Williams Educational Consultants shares five educational topics that offer wisdom, guidance, and fun for the entire family on the fourth Friday of every month.
It is almost August, and in a few weeks, students will return to school to begin a new year which means their status will change. Personally, I have a third, sixth grader, and a senior! Their grades have changed, which means so have their responsibilities.
Those at the top of the status pyramid (like our senior to the left!) may enjoy privileges, admiration, and a sense of belonging, while others might experience feelings of exclusion and insecurity. While status dynamics can create a sense of competition and pressure, it's essential to remember that true value lies in one's character, kindness, and individuality rather than external labels.
School is a milestone in your student's life that brings excitement and nervousness. As they open their school doors for the first time since last spring, they embark on a learning, growth, and discovery journey. The classrooms become a canvas where they will paint strokes of their educational and social development.
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! The new year lays the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and serves as a gateway to a world of endless opportunities. This newsletter will focus on practical tips and advice for the family on how to navigate a new school year!
5 Wise Words From Wendy:
1. Prepare. Although some of us wake up around 5:30 or 6 AM every morning, most students I work with prefer a later start time! Parents, it is time to prepare those alarms because school starts in a few weeks. Don't worry; you still have time to get your student out of the cycle of sleeping late! To establish a consistent sleep routine, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends, starting tomorrow! Consistency helps regulate your body's internal clock and makes waking up early easier. Limiting screen time, drinking lots of fluids, and setting the alarm across the room, not beside your bed, is also essential.
2. Plan. Before school starts, be sure to gather your materials in advance. Think about what worked last year for your student. How can you increase their success? Maybe use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of assignments, tests, and important dates. Share it with the family, so all know when things are happening in the classroom. This will help you with open communication, organization and time management. Need a few ides? Check out planners on the App Store, Google Classroom or purchase a calendar from your local store.
3. Relax. Staying mindful is a great way to refresh. At the bottom of this newsletter, you will find Mindfulness Moment#13: "Shine" by Angela Cominos Koehler.
4. Support. Parents help your student this year with their academic success by setting realistic educational and personal goals. Take time to be part of the back-to-school events. Schools invite families in at the beginning of the year to build parent-teacher camaraderie, strong relationships, and student support. Demonstrating a positive attitude towards education and encouraging activities outside of the classroom helps develop new skills, build social connections, and explore passions! Be a role model this year!
5. Love. Loving the stage you are in with your kids is a beautiful journey that involves embracing the present, cherishing the memories, and being open to the growth and changes that come with each stage. Stay present, embrace the moment, and find joy in all the little things this year!
4 Current Conversations:
Here are topics that can create great conversations:
1. More colleges are dropping legacy.
2. Looking for a beautiful campus?
3. How important is your essay?
4. Affirmative Action & College Applications
3 School Snippets:
Colleges often give great information on their sites:
1. Xavier's one sheet on college essays.
2. College Unique Traditions
3. How to answer "WHY US?" Check out Rose Hulman's advice.
2 K-12 School Plugs:
A section to focus on news in metro-Atlanta:
1. Back to School Time
1 Recipe Randomness: Watermelon Salad Recipe
INGREDIENTS: ·
Dressing:
2 TBSP Honey
2 TBSP Lime Juice
1 TBSP EVOO
1 Pinch of Salt
Watermelon Salad:
½ Watermelon (peeled, cut in cubes)
1 Cucumber, cubed (about 2 cups)
15 fresh mint leaves
15 fresh basil leaves
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
**Toss dressing with salad and enjoy!
Mindfulness Moment #13: Shine
“Let your light shine. Shine within you so that it can shine on someone else. Let your light shine.
-Oprah Winfrey
Sunny days, vacations, school breaks, and beaches are plentiful. July is filled with carefree, relaxed, lazy days spent exploring outdoors. When you allow for unstructured time, you make space for the wonders in life to appear and for unexpected gifts to unfold. Perhaps you will find shiny sea glass treasures, shells, or rocks touching your spirit providing a gentle nudge in places that cause your own brilliance to come into being - authentic, proud, and true. Go and discover what you find and see what you become.
How can your light shine a little brighter?