• Keep your child's cell phone in your bedroom at night

According to Psychologist Suzanne Phillips, in an article posted on PBS, 4 out of 5 teens sleep with their phone on or near their bed. Some use it as their alarm clock, but studies show most teens leave their phone on all night to stay connected to their peers. According to Phillips, "teens in focus groups report they sleep with a phone under the pillow in case someone contacts them. Many teens report stories of friends getting unsulted, angry or upset if a text message or phone call is not responded to immediately." One of the major problems with this, according to Phillips, is when a teen's natural sleep pattern is disturbed; the loss fo REM or intense sleep can result in increased irritability, anxiety and depression, as well as reduced concentration or creativity. So to promote positive mental and physical health, we recommend that parents buy inexpensive, "old school" alarm clocks for their kids, and store all the household cell phones in their bedroom at night.

• Helping Your Child Get Organized

With more teachers, more classes, more homework and more activities, middle school students need to be organized in order to keep up with everything. This is an area in which parents can really make a difference!

Use of a Daily Planner- Encourage your child to take his/her planner to every class to record assignments, upcoming tests/quizzes and anything else he/she needs to remember. 

Three-Ring Binder and Folders- Using a 3-ring binger with a different colored folder for each class is a great way to keep notes, homework and returned assignments/tests organized. 

Create a Home File- Have a place at home to store anything your child wants to keep or may need for later. Graded assignments/tests/quizzes/reports, etc. may help with preparation for future tests.

Collect Phone Numbers- Make sure your child has a phone number for at least one other student in class. That way, if your child is absent or has a question, he/she will have someone to call.

Backpack/Locker- Encourage our child to clean out his/her backpack and locker regularly. Remind him/her that all papers should be put in a notebook or folder- never stuck loose in a book, locker or backpack.

Check Infinite Campus- Get into the habit of reviewing your child's grades, missing assignments and attendance together at least once per week.

• Stress Management Tips for the Holidays

This time of year can be filled with many exciting events, gatherings and of course a long break from school. Since it is a busy time, it can also be stressful and it's important to practice good self-care. The following ten tips may help you manage your stress during this busy season:

1. Try and get some sort of exercise each day

2. Get enough sleep each night

3. Eat healthy foods, including breakfast

4. Talk about your problems with others

5. Keep a journal to vent about situations and feelings

6. Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps

7. Practice taking slow, deep breaths from your stomach

8. Avoid negativity as much as possible

9. Don't commit to more things than you can handle

10. Think positive thoughts

• Instagram: What Parents Need to Know!

Social Media usage is exploding among the middle school population, and the trends change so quickly that it's often difficult for parents to keep up. When it first started in 2010, Instagram was simply a photo-sharing program. Since Facebook took over Instagram in 2012, it's popularity has continued to grow among our youth.

Most students know what Instagram is and use it on their devices to share photos with friends. It is available for anyone 13 years and up, and kids don't need to secure parent permission to create an account. Like anything else, Instagram has a dark side, of which too many parents are unaware.

We HIGHLY encourage ALL parents to review the material on this website