Get Ready To Go Back To School

Public schools throughout the United States will soon reopen their doors. That means kids will be getting up off their couches while their parents happy dance.

But children in military families might actually face more first days at school, than their civilian counterparts, because their parents have to move because of new orders. Not every military parent can lessen their child’s burden by waiting to move during the summer.

If your child is someone who is facing extra stress because of a new school and new classmates because of your PCS move, check out these organizations and the support they provide:

1. Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) -- http://www.militarychild.org -- MCEC has resources from “The Call for the Arts” and “Tell Me A Story.” Parent to Parent, in your local communities, and Student to Student are two peer-based programs that are outstanding. If you have an education challenge, MCEC will be there to direct you to the resources you need to solve or cope with the issue at hand.
2. Blue Star Families, Books on Bases -- http://www.bluestarfam.org/Programs/Books_on_Bases -- Books on Bases is a program created by Blue Star Families in conjunction with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), to positively impact the lives of military children through the power of reading. Each year, books are donated to military children, base libraries, Department of Defense schools, and military-impacted public schools.
3. Operation Homefront Back-to-School Brigade -- http://www.operationhomefront.net -- This is an amazing program to help military families in need. Our military families can receive, or donate, backpacks, notebooks, notebook paper, pens, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, calculators, glue, rulers, and other school supplies from their local chapters. Look for dates of this yearly event by searching for your local chapter online or on Facebook.
4. Our Military Kids -- http://www.ourmilitarykids.org/ -- Our Military Kids provides grants to military member’s children for participation in sports, fine arts, camps, and tutoring programs that nurture and sustain children, while a parent is away in service to our country or recovering from injury.
5. Tutor.com -- http://www.tutor.com/military -- Funded by the Department of Defense MWR Library Program, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program and Navy General Library Program, Tutor.com offers free tutoring for military families. Get homework and studying help from a professional tutor anytime you need it, 24/17 on as many as 16 different subject matters. And they even have an app!

But no matter where your child is starting school at this year, they’ll need supplies and probably some new clothes too. Many stores are expected to have back-to-school sales to help parents pick up all those needed items. Check out the links below to check out back to school sales.

• AAFES Exchange Store
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Best Buy
• Coast Guard Exchange
• Converse
• Commissaries
• Crocs
• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Dollar Tree
• Kmart
• Kohl’s
• MCX
• Navy Exchange
• Office Depot/Office Max
• Old Navy
• Rite Aid
• Staples
• Target
• Walgreens
• Wal-Mart

We hope our teachers, parents and especially all our students have an awesome 2017/2018 school year!

What is your best back to school tip, for either kids or parents? Share with us in the comments! Thinking about buying your new home this summer? Start your search with us!