As much as everyone wishes summer could last forever, it’s that time of year again. School starts on September 2nd. Montrose offers a big welcome to new students and a welcome back to returning ones. This school year holds as much promise as ever, with new additions to the faculty and our beloved Dr. Bohlin returning from her sabbatical.

The last week of summer is usually a flurry of buying school supplies, making sure textbooks are all in order, and, of course, finishing up the summer work that somehow manages to stick around until the last minute. As Montrosians prepare for the start of school, it’s always good to go in armed with some advice and tips for getting back into the swing of things:

Helpful Tidbits of Back-to-School Wisdom

1. The first couple weeks of school are important for starting good habits: get into a good routine for homework, connect with teachers (whether it’s your first or seventh year knowing them), and get a feel for each of your classes.
2. Stay hydrated. Drink a glass of water in the morning and carry a water bottle with you throughout the day. You’ll feel more alert and energized, especially during first period.
3. Figure out what works best for you organizationally. I’ve found I focus better using a smaller planner than the Montrose-issued one, but it’s different for everyone.
4. When I write down assignments, I write the estimated time the task should take that evening. This keeps my homework momentum going and also gives me a sense of when I should be able to get to bed each night.
5. On that note, do try to get a good 8-9 hours of sleep each night. Yes, that sometimes feels impossible with homework, sports practices, play rehearsals, etc, etc, etc. But SLEEP IS IMPORTANT!! Adequate sleep is crucial to performance during the day. Avoid staring at screens right before bed, as the blue light can make it hard to fall asleep. Try to build in a few minutes of calming, relaxing activity before bed, like reading a real, ink-and-pages book or reflecting on the day.
6. Find out who is in your classes and know who you can rely on for homework help or collecting assignments/taking notes if you miss a day. Do the same for them! We’re all in this together.
7. Set a goal for the year, semester, month, week, or day – big goals, little goals, serious or silly (Of course, you needn’t go crazy with this. No pressure to come up with a million different goals! Everything in moderation). Whether it’s a resolution to get enough sleep during the first two weeks of school (hint hint…) or the decision to go for extra help to improve in a tough subject, goals can help us stay focused, organized, and on top of things. Plus, checking off a list of completed goals feels like the best thing in the world.
8. Branch out! The start of a new school year is a great time to reconnect with old friends, but it’s an equally great time to make new ones, too. Sit with different people at lunch, or in different spots in the classroom. Get to know girls from other grades through clubs or sports. And, of course, write to your Big or Little Sister. Everyone loves to get a note on the message board.
9. Make sure to stop by Fr. Dick’s office for a fist-pow, Skittles, or just to say hi!

And most of all, enjoy the year and make lots of memories! (that’s #10) The school year is what you make of it; balance the hard work with good times. Wishing all Montrosians the very best for the 2015-2016 school year!