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Schools

Farmingdale Parents: Back to Backpacks

Prepare for the start of a new school year with this guide.

Hard to believe the kids are coming home from camp and preparing to go back to school, but the time is upon us.

Here’s some check points for your back to school to do list.

School Forms: Submit your school registration and required medical and emergency forms (located in the gallery) before the first day of school. New York Public Health Law requires all students be immunized before entering school. Make the necessary appointments with your doctor, dentist and other specialists.

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Clear out: Children bring home tons of “artwork” throughout the school year. Go through last year's projects, and either toss or recycle them into book covers or wrapping paper. Keep some of their more distinguished creations, and prepare for their upcoming masterpieces.

Inventory: Check what school supplies you already have. Sort through backpacks, lunch bags, clothes, shoes and accessories. Make a list of what you need. Recycle clothes and extra stuff among your friends or donate to charity like the United Jewish Association or Big Brother Big Sister Long Island. 

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Greener Options: Schools specify which supplies to purchase. Still, where possible, reduce your child's carbon footprint and exposure to toxins, with green school supplies including recylcled newspaper, pencils, post-consumer pens, soy crayons, recycled notebooks and folders. The Center For Health and Environmental Justice released a downloadable green school supply guide.    carries the Faber Castle brand, Staples has recycled paper goods or shop online. Look for items "free" of phthalates, BPA, PVA, vinyl and lead. For lunch items, try eco-friendly compostable baggies, reusable lunch bags like Lunshkins, Tupperware and thermoses.

Sales: According to Business Wire, the costs of school supplies are increasing. So during the next few weeks, look for ways to save via , coupons and promotional codes before shopping. Ask your Home School Association or Parent Teacher Association if it has a school supply order option, where you can purchase the items, and it will box supplies for your child.

Playdates: If your child will be attending a new school, arrange a play date with one or two children from the school so he or she will see a familiar face in class and hallways.

Extra Activities: Start signing up for activities that interest your children as spots fill up. Check if your school has after-school programs. Check your child's sneakers and equipment for size.

Volunteer: Preview the volunteer committees and activities for parents within the school district and in your children's school and sign up to  participate such as the HSA, PTA, Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA), AGATE (a non-profit group that promotes the education and welfare of gifted and talented learners in New York State), Parent Council or outreach, enrichment and communication committees.

Schedule: The official Farmingdale school calendar is available. Integrate this with your child's activity and class schedule into your family calendar, noting important dates like back-to-school night, parent conferences, committee meetings, school plays, and concerts. Create a calendar on oak tag or electronically sync up each family member with Google calendar and color code it for each child.

Lunches: Make a separate schedule for your lunch and dinner menus and review the selections with your children. Decide with your children which days they will buy lunch from the school lunch menu and bring in lunch.

Bus: Learn your bus driver route information. Review your school's drop off and pick up places and procedures and arrange a carpool with your friends for after-school activities.

Here's to a great school year!

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