Back to School for 2024-2025

It’s almost time to go back to school! To help you prepare for the upcoming year, we’ve compiled some tips to ensure you and your family start the back-to-school season with a positive mindset and perhaps some new goals. So, grab your notebooks and take note of your favorite resources below.

Preparations & Goals For The School Year

Preparations 

• School correspondence: You may have received some communications from your school in person, through the mail, through an app, or by email. Be sure to read everything they send your way because it’ll likely include information on minimum days, school closures, supply lists, special activities, and more. That being said, if your child attends a public school and needs school supplies and you cannot obtain them for financial reasons, notify your teacher before starting school or contact the Marin County Office of Education.
• Attend a Back-to-School Night: Did you know you will receive some of the most important information about your child’s school year, including homework expectations, grading, teacher policies, and how to get help, at Back to School Night? If you can only make one meeting this year, attend Back to School Night!
• The day before the first day of school: Make your lunch the day before instead of waiting for the morning of your first day of school. Pack your backpack in advance and check those lists to ensure you’re not missing anything you need for the first day. Pick out your outfit and remember to bring layers or a light jacket.

Goal Setting

According to the U.S. Department of Education, their blog titled Start Now, to Start the School Year Right, a good tip on goal setting is to “set some clear, achievable goals for the year.” They say that “by setting and meeting academic goals, students do more than improve their performance in school – they also gain confidence, motivation, and pride in their accomplishments.” 

For example, maybe this year you and your child will choose to improve their math skills. Set a timeframe and list ways on how to make that happen. Write down the goal, and check the progress regularly. Fun fact: Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California found that people who wrote down their goals were more successful in achieving their goals than those who did not. Scholastic’s article, 7 Tips to Prepare for the First Days of School, recommends "choosing a “focus word” with your child every month that represents their intention."

A Growth Mindset For The Upcoming Year

This year, try to enter the school year with a growth mindset. According to the Harvard Business Review article titled What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means, “individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset.” For example, if you expect to get higher grades, don’t think it’ll just happen because of a perceived intelligence level. Instead, have the mindset that it’ll happen because you plan to study often, sleep more, and eat well. Focus more on the action of learning and less on the result!

How The Library Can Help During The School Year

• Homework Helpers: Sign up for the Homework Helpers program, which starts in September, and is created and run by high school students and the Marin County Free Library. The program offers free one-on-one Homework Help sessions for students in grades 3 through 10. Homework Helpers not only offer homework help, but their dedicated community of volunteers creates a welcoming safe space for any student who would like to attend. Be on the lookout for a registration form or contact your library to learn more about when the program will start. In the past, we have held the program at the Corte Madera, Fairfax, Civic Center, and Novato libraries.
• The Book Place: Need to purchase a book for school? Visit The Book Place, the official bookstore of the Friends of the Marin County Free Library–they might have what you need. When you shop at The Book Place, all of the profits go to the Marin County Free Library!
• MCFL’s Education Equity Initiatives: At Marin County Free Library, we want every child to reach their full potential. The Library works closely with families, school districts, and community partners to design inclusive, culturally responsive, multilingual programs. Here are some current initiatives available to you: 
  • The Learning Bus mobile preschool and early childhood programs
  • Embedded support for school libraries in the Sausalito-Marin City and Nicasio School Districts
  • Makerspaces in Novato (The Shop) and Marin City (The Lab)
  • Out-of-School Time literacy and education programs
  • Webstars, S.T.E.A.M.-based youth leadership workforce development for teens
• Visit Your Library!: Visit your local library to learn more about how we can help you feel prepared and reach your goals this school year. Our staff can find the right resources for you and your family and may suggest trying out some online resources to help you with research, online learning, and access to online newspapers. 

We wish you the most success this 2024-2025 school year. Happy learning!