Back to school thoughts
from a director/mom
Brenda Jensen, Director, Trinity Nursery School

 (Voice of director)  (Voice of Mom)

     I can’t believe summer is already half over.  I can’t believe summer is already half over.  The letters have been sent to families inviting them to Parent Orientation in August.  I should have saved the paper and the stamp and not sent one to my house.  Sheldon is very excited to receive mail from his school.  Don’t forget it’s his first time.  Supplies to order, forms to update and calendars to plan.  All staff are returning.  This is a GREAT thing, but how do I add interest to the mandatory staff orientation meeting.  Made arrangements with another Mom so I only have to drive the carpool once a day.  Time to write the August director newsletter and set up for Parent Orientation.  Will the new ideas for sharing information and getting volunteers work?  Be both Mom and director of program during Parent Orientation, don’t forget to schedule home visit, pay tuition and scheduled dad to drive for a field trip.  Set up files for this year’s students, begin checking in forms.  Find Sheldon’s health form.  I know I had the doctor fill it out.  Help staff set up classrooms for the school year and get ready for the open house.  Enjoy Sheldon’s home visit with his teacher as his mom, not the teacher’s supervisor.  Remember to arrange babysitter for brothers, so dad and Sheldon can go to the school open house.  Make necessary follow-ups with parents, board members, church staff and nursery school staff as the first day of school approaches.  Have dad drive Sheldon to school on his first day, so he can get the undivided attention he deserves.  Remember to send camera with Dad.  Relax, smile and enjoy the first day of the new school year.  Relax, smile (hold back the tears or not) and enjoy Sheldon’s first day of school.

     Back to school can mean many things to different people.  As program directors we are continually faced with questions of time constraints, budget problems, parent issues and staff relationships.  Don’t be afraid to try new things.  (Have you given the ELEA video library a try?)  No matter how many times we feel we have done the same things during the month of August, we have to remember that for at least half of the children and many of the parents it is their first time.  A big moment in life.

     I have a sticker on my computer monitor from a long ago church staff meeting that reads “Choose Joy”.  As the summer quickly turns into the hectic days before school begins, remember to stop - take a quiet moment with God and choose to put joy in your day.

Brenda Jensen is the Director of Trinity Nursery School in Owatonna, MN (beginning it’s 38th year on September 4, 2003), mother of 3 boys (Cameron—6, Sheldon—3, and Ashton—3 months) and a member of the ELEA National Board of Directors.  You can reach Brenda at brendaj@tlcowatonna.org

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