Making the most of a new school year: Tips for parents, teachers and students

Special to The Criterion

In the hope of helping parents, teachers and students make the most of this new school year, The Criterion invited the archdiocese’s three assistant superintendents of Catholic education to share some helpful tips toward that goal.

Here are the slightly edited insights from Sarah Watson, Joe Hansen and Vince Aquila.

Assume the best

“The school administrators, teachers, cafeteria wizards, custodians and other staff members are all there to serve the Lord and you,” Watson says. “Many take a substantial cut in pay to accept this ministry. When conflict arises, and it will, assume that you all share a love for your child and for Christ. Teachers, assume the family loves their child, and this is why they want the best for them.”

Be proactive

“Take some time with your child’s teacher to share quality insights on how your child learns,” Aquila says. “This will lay the groundwork for your child to be successful during the school year.”

Find growth in the struggle

“Persevere when a child struggles—and teach your child to ‘lean into struggle.’ When we struggle, we grow,” Hansen says. “Leaning into struggle doesn’t mean overwhelming yourself. It means that you should accept difficult tasks as opportunities to grow and get better.”

Give the respect you would like to have

“Communication, poor or lack of, is often the source of many situations in a school,” Watson notes. “If we all communicate with respect, we will receive respect. E-mail is the worst way to communicate lots of details. Tone is lost over e-mail

and text. Consider a phone call or an in-person meeting.”

Discover joy every day

“St. Pope John Paul II reminded us that, ‘God made us for joy.’ Find a piece of

joy in school each day,” Hansen advises. “Encourage your child to see school through the lens of joy and to be thankful for the opportunity to go to a Catholic school.”

Be open

“If your child comes home with a possible issue, remember to be open to what insights your teacher will share,” Aquila notes. “Open communication between teacher, student and parent can get to the root of the difficulty in the classroom, and positive adjustments can be made.”

Be a good sport

“Athletic events are a prime opportunity for students and parents to give glory to God,” Hansen says. “The Catholic Youth Organization’s Code of Conduct asks everyone in attendance to provide positive support and encouragement for all participants, including the opposing team, coaches and referees. Take seriously the call to model good behavior at all sporting events.” 

Embrace challenges

“Partner with your child’s teacher to support and encourage your child to learn to accept challenges,” Aquila says “The classroom is a laboratory for learning, so encourage your child to face a challenge head-on and not be discouraged by harder tasks.

The process of learning is as important as the content of the learning a student will do.”

Create a true learning environment

“Electronic grade books can be a strength and a weakness. Grades are meant to show knowledge gained. In a true learning environment, that fluctuates,” Watson says. “Living and dying by an electronic gradebook should be done cautiously.

“Teachers, know your children. They may need to use several methods to show mastery. In the end, our goal is to prepare every student academically for the next year. This sometimes takes a whole year. Ultimately, we are also preparing them for heaven, and this takes a lifetime.” †