No one is born knowing how to open a combination lock. It's not instinctual to identify ourselves by a number. We don't automatically know the difference between a principal, nurse, counselor and advisor. From responding to the bell, reading a schedule, dressing down for gym class and maneuvering through the lunchroom, students at each level have to learn how to successfully navigate the school system. Alexander Graham Bell said, "Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."
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Elementary School
Take a tour before the school year begins
Learn where your classroom is
Memorize your teacher's name
Meet your principal and have a question ready for them
Be nice to the front office staff—they are the gatekeepers of the school and know how everything works and who everyone is
Make a lunch plan—review school lunch menus and decide which days/weeks will be brown bag and which will be school lunch
Middle School
Master the combination lock
Read a bell schedule
Learn your counselor's name—they are your go-to support for course information and schedule changes
Start thinking about joining clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities—your school's front office will have a list with requirements and fees
Find a school map and mark your classes–visualize moving through the hallways
High School
Master the combination lock (if you're transferring in from a middle school or high school that didn't have them)
Find out if your school has a Career Guide
Ask your counselor if your courses put you on track to graduate and what post-graduate opportunities will be available (college or trade/career)
Ask about scholarship/internship requirements early so you can work toward them
Find out what clubs and groups already exist. If you don't see something that appeals to you, consider forming your own
Helpful links:
ASD lunch menus
ASD bus schedule
Mat-Su lunch menus
Mat-Su bus schedule
This article was originally published in the July 30, 2017, print edition of Back to School. Contact the editor, Jamie Gonzales, with questions or comments: jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com.