Dear Parents:

So here it is upon us. Another glorious and hope-filled school year has dawned amidst the rain and unwanted threat of Hurricane Ike. Yet, the wonderful rain and new scholastic year are both inherently paralleled with the hope of new beginnings that will end up with successful outcomes. Summer is finally over and life is slowly getting back into the swing of things.

For many, the beginning of school was a special occurrence as a great deal of children had their first day of school ever. Parents were taking photos of their little ones all dressed up in their school uniforms with some smiling and others shell shocked in fear of the unexpected. It is a big relief when children finally start school, yet there are many new surprising challenges to overcome as well. The school system will now share the responsibility for protecting, teaching, caring, and raising your child. “In loco parentis,” a foreign term which now has a place in your vocabulary, meaning; in place of the parent. Because of this, it is essential that you the parent establish and sustain a working and constant relationship with the teachers and administration of the school which your child attends.

The school itself, its curriculum, teachers and fellow students will have an influence over your child that is very strong. Good and attentive parents should know how to channel those influences into something positive and learn how to turn negative experiences into life-long lessons. Good parents also ask questions about their child’s day at school because they know that children sometimes keep things inside, especially negative experiences. Good parents will make time at home as structured as the school day is, by planning time for homework and leisure and at the same time providing rewards for good and diligent behaviour. Moreover, good parents, who have no idea of how to implement the aforementioned aspects into their lives will seek help in learning how to better themselves. Being a parent is a daunting, scary and confusing job, but the rewards drastically outweigh any negative issues. Children bring so much joy to parents, and the love we have for them is the perfect model of how we should love our spouses or significant others: unconditionally.

If parents want to challenge their children even more, enroll them in one of the many after school programmes that are springing up around the island. Programmes such as Tae Kwon Do, The Anguilla Youth Sailing Club, Football, Cricket, Athletics, Table Tennis, Tennis and many others, are great for making your child more well-rounded. If sports are not something they are interested in, get them involved with the Morlen’s Music Studio, or singing or one of the many dance teams. There are also many youth organizations in the churches and other clubs that can be found through the Department of Youth and Culture and the National Youth Council. Indeed, there are many wonderful things in which your children can get involved that will ensure they grow up well rounded, intelligent, intellectual and when they get older, they will be able to look back on their childhood and say that they not only enjoyed it, but they will thank you, the parent, for giving them so much. With what you give, they will grow up with the tools necessary to fight in this tough world and continue the cycle of positive reinforcement because the way you raise your child will be the way they raise their own.

Have a wonderful 2008-2009 school year!!!!!

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