September has a way of sneaking up on us , one moment it is lemonade and lazy mornings, and the next the back-to-school displays are appearing and the calendar is filling up fast. At CNCS, we love this season of fresh starts, new notebooks and reunions with familiar faces. And while the excitement is real, so is the transition. Here are a few of our favourite ways to help your family move from summer mode back to school mode with ease, intention and maybe even a little joy!

Start with Sleep: If there is one thing we would encourage you to do in these final days of August it is this: start adjusting bedtimes now. Even 15-20 minutes earlier each night in the last two weeks of August can make an enormous difference by the time that first Monday arrives. A well-rested child is a ready child — and a well-rested parent is a patient one!

Talk About the Feelings: Back to school brings a beautiful mix of emotions, excitement, nerves, anticipation and sometimes a few butterflies. All of those feelings are completely normal and worth talking about! Ask your child what they are most looking forward to and what feels a little uncertain. At CNCS, our small class sizes and close-knit community mean that every child is genuinely known and cared for, which makes those first day jitters a little easier to manage. This year is sure to be different and we are excited to share our new classrooms with you all!

Create a Simple Routine Together: Children thrive on predictability. In the last week of August, try practising your morning routine a few times, getting up, getting dressed, having breakfast and heading out the door at school time. It might feel a little silly but arriving at that first day of school already knowing the rhythm makes the whole experience feel so much more manageable for little ones and big ones alike!

Set an Intention for the Year: One of our favourite back-to-school traditions at CNCS is beginning each year with intention. Not goals, intentions. A simple phrase your family comes back to throughout the year. Something like “this year we will look for ways to be kind” or “this year we will ask for help when we need it.” At CNCS, character development and spiritual growth walk hand in hand with academic learning, and planting that seed at home before the year begins is a beautiful way to start September with purpose and heart.

Stock Up — But Keep It Simple: A fresh set of pencils, a new notebook and a clean backpack can do wonders for a child’s excitement about going back! At CNCS, our uniform makes mornings wonderfully simple, navy blue pants or shorts, a white, navy or light blue collared shirt and black indoor shoes. Keep a few sets clean and ready and those first morning rushes will feel so much more manageable.

“Every single moment of a person’s life, both of the understanding and of the will, is a new beginning.” — Emanuel Swedenborg

Here is to a wonderful September — we cannot wait to welcome everyone back!