Smart Start: National Heritage Academies Shares Top Tips for a Successful Back-to-School Season

Open conversations and open houses go a long way in easing the shift from summer to school.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The summer is winding down, and families across the country are preparing their students for the classroom. National Heritage Academies^® (NHA) partners with parents to provide scholars the support they need throughout the year, and that work never stops. Director of School Quality Doug Hower shared tips for parents to get their students ready for a new year.

Create A Structure

The first way parents can help set their children up for success is to create a structured morning routine. This process serves as a launchpad for the day, and Hower said it is important to create consistency.

"Students respond best when they have structure, routine, and consistency," Hower said. "Parents play a critical part to establishing a morning routine that will set everyone, including themselves, up for a smooth start."

Creating time windows for activities in the morning is a great way to establish consistency. Giving each task a time frame creates the structure students need.

Hower also recommended doing your routine in reverse before the school year. This exercise lets students live the routine in a low stakes situation and allows them to buy in to the process.

Prepare for Each Day the Night Before

Hower said the night before a school day is almost as important as the morning routine.

Setting aside 10-15 minutes each night to prepare for the mornings is an easy way to eliminate some of the stress that could impact the start of the day. Putting school supplies and devices in their place at night can go a long way, Hower said.

"Taking the time to gather all school materials and place in a backpack the evening before helps to assure that a frantic morning scramble for all the school materials does not short circuit the morning," Hower said.

Another way families can prepare for a school day the night before is to prepare lunch and have it ready to grab and go in the refrigerator. The less there is to think about each morning, the smoother it will go.

Have Open Conversations

While some students are excited to head back to their classroom, others might be feeling anxiety. Hower said parents should talk to their children about how they feel before the year begins.

"It is also critically important for parents to talk to their children about the upcoming school year," Hower said. "This allows parents to address concerns that their child might have prior to the beginning of the year."

Keeping this open dialogue throughout the year is another way parents can help students feel confident. Hower said that even a few words of encouragement before the day starts can go a long way.

"Using the last moments in the car prior to students exiting their vehicle for school can help start the day on a positive tone," Hower said. "Words of encouragement, praise, or a simple 'Have a great day' can get the day off to a strong start."

Attend Your School's Open House

Participating in back-to-school events, such as an Open House or Meet the Teacher night, with the whole family helps everyone stay engaged and can ease students into the school year.

These events often have resources, such as backpacks and school supplies, that families can take advantage of and might offer connection points to the community. Meeting your child's teacher helps establish a positive partnership before day one.

"It is also helpful to attend school open house events prior to the beginning of the year," Hower said. "This allows each student to see the classroom, meet their teacher, and begin to understand the routines of the day."

Practice Practice Practice

In the final weeks of summer, putting some of your family's school processes in place helps smooth the transition back to school.

Hower recommended families go to bed and wake up at the same times they will during the school year. Getting a good night's rest is key to success, Hower says instituting these "bedtimes" and "wake up times" helps create consistency.

With these tips, families will be equipped to take on the new year with confidence.

About National Heritage Academies:
National Heritage Academies^® (NHA) is a network of 103 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12^th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.

SOURCE National Heritage Academies