Chapter 7 - Prepare for the Opening andf Closing of School by William Allan Kritsonis, PhD
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Chapter 7 – William Allan Kritsonis, PhD
Prepare for the Opening and Closing of School
As surely as night follows day, the opening of a school year will be followed by its
closing. Because the opening and closing affect parents and children directly, they must
be planned carefully. It is the teacher’s responsibility to be well prepared for any
unexpected situation that might present itself.
The beginning of a school year is the perfect time to check that teaching
certificates are properly registered with the school system and state department of
education and that health records are still valid from the previous school year. Become
familiar with insurance policy and health requirements and update medical data at this
time. First year teachers, remember that it is good to have health exams submitted to
district offices before or during the first week of school.
During each school year, teachers face unexpected illnesses that necessitate
their being absent. Know the proper procedures for reporting such absences so the
school system can provide a substitute. Prepare detailed lesson plans for the substitute.
Personal leave should also be addressed at the beginning of the school year. Be
familiar with the proper steps for requesting personal leave in the event it is required.
Spend a few minutes at the beginning of the school year to mark calendars for
holidays, report card days, conferences, paycheck issuance, and other special events
scheduled during the year. Find out how often fire drills are to occur and know exactly
where children are to be directed.
Opening day will usher in a host of energetic children eagerly anticipating new
experiences. Getting there early will allow time to get settled in and prepared for the
activities that are about to take place. Having the school plant free of potential hazard is
absolutely imperative. The playground areas and all playground equipment must be
thoroughly inspected and be safe for children.
The classroom also must be readied for the first day of school to ensure
productivity. Classrooms must be attractive for young children. The inventory list of
instructional materials must be checked. Are books and other reading material in the
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classroom? Are supplies of crayons, pencils, scissors, paper, and other items ample for
the size of the class? Are computers, tape recorders, and screens for showing films and
other equipment in proper working order? The environment must be warm and
accepting.
Posting the names of children assigned to a particular classroom on the door
reduces opening-day confusion. Prepare the class roll and accumulative student
records and have them on hand. Overcrowding in the classroom must be dealt with
immediately. Inform the principal so necessary administrative steps can be taken to
alleviate the problem. At the end of the first day, give the secretary or principal the exact
enrollment count so they ensure that all children are with their assigned teacher.
Exceptionally well-organized teachers send greeting cards home to parents with
short, handwritten message stating what a pleasure it is to have their child as a student.
After school has begun, an announcement can be sent home informing parents of
school times, lunch prices, and information such as office hours in the event they would
like to schedule a conference. Giving office hours promotes positive public relations
between parents and teachers while preserving professional organization at school.
Elementary teachers must be thoroughly familiar with special activities in the
school. Know the scheduled times for library and educational specialist visits, physical
education, and instrumental music lessons. Assembly programs, club meetings, and
other special classes such as art, speech, computer lab, and creative dramatics are all
an important part of the functioning elementary school.
Being on good terms with the school custodian helps the classroom operate
smoothly. Teachers can make the custodian’s job easier by having the class straighten
their desks, put up their chairs, remove trash from the floor, and empty trash cans
during the latter part of the school day. Taking time to interact with the custodian each
day by inquiring about the activities he enjoys or asking about his family will strengthen
the relationship between the teacher and custodian.
As the school year draws to a close, evaluate the year’s total educational
program. If changes in scheduling and curriculum must be made, discuss them with the
principal. Explain any immediate concerns for the following year, remembering to keep
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the main focus on the needs, interest, abilities, and desires of the children and how
these changes affect their lives.
On the last day of school, adhere to scheduled activities. Have the children work
on worthwhile learning adventures. Allow for flexibility, but function in an orderly fashion.
If not properly organized, the day could get out of hand.
Read all closing school bulletins completely and thoroughly. Be certain that all
student accumulative records, attendance records, promotion and retention lists, and
financial lists are completed and submit them to the school office before leaving for the
summer.
If at all possible, secure the names of next year’s students, as well as the
addresses of the current students. This makes it easy to contact new students and to
remain in touch with former students during the summer vacation. Sometimes, sending
a card or letter to new students will reduce first- day- of- school – jitters. Also, some
teachers occasionally send review work to former students to refresh their memories
during the summer vacation. Parents appreciate this gesture.
As the school year closes, strip the classroom of all items and leave it neat and
orderly. Prepare for the principal a list of needed repairs on visual aid equipment such
as computers, copying machines, or overhead projectors. Remember that certain items
must be checked into the office before signing out for the summer. This list includes the
following:
1. Teacher manuals, handbooks, and policies,
2. A list of those children retained for the next year,
3. A list of those children promoted to the next grade,
4. Keys and Locks. (Remember to label properly.),
5. Room inventory data,
6. Class roll books, receipt books, and teacher planning books,
7. List of the various repairs in the classroom and elsewhere that must be
attended to before next school year begins,
8. Accumulative records,
9. Any other special reports, and
