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^{Still smiling after the first week of school!}

Dear Cardinal Families,

We had an amazing first week of school, and our students transitioned successfully and happily! While this is wonderful to see, it can be easy to assume that the rest of the year will be smooth sailing. Sometimes, once the initial excitement wears off, students may experience a range of emotions, including reluctance or refusal to come to school.

When those post-first-week jitters pop up, a few key strategies can help keep your child on track:

• Maintain predictable routines: Keep bedtimes, wake-up schedules, and morning habits consistent so your child knows what to expect.

• Validate, then encourage: Acknowledge their feelings (e.g., "I know school can feel hard sometimes"), but stay confident in their ability to manage the day. A quick, positive goodbye goes a long way.

• Hold steady expectations: Avoid resorting to bargains or bribery. Calmly reinforce that coming to school every day is an important responsibility where they belong and grow, just like work is for adults.

Most importantly, remain calm and consistent. With your partnership and support, these temporary feelings usually pass quickly.

If concerns persist or become more intense, please reach out to our school counselor, Lisa Lujan, at lklujan@fcps.edu so we can work together to support your child. 

Warmly,

Allison Hoak, Principal

Jon Kemmerer, Assistant Principal