R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press At Webster Elementary School, kindergarten teacher Lisa Willis sets up her classroom in anticipation of the arrival of a new group of children who will begin the school year on Aug. 28.

ESCANABA — Schools are preparing to welcome students back to their halls and classrooms, and educators say that parents and students would do well to start getting into habits that will benefit them during the imminent school year.

“Summer means late nights and sleeping in. Beginning to get back into a routine now will help ease the pain of bedtimes and alarms,” said Escanaba Student Success Center Director Laurie Moberg.

Routines, especially in regards to sleep schedules, are widely understood to be key in finding success at all ages. When school schedules arrive and kids learn what time they’ll be eating lunch, mealtimes can begin to be realigned as well so that transitions on the first day of school will be gentler.

“Gradually adjust your sleeping and eating schedules,” Moberg advised. “Have and stick to a curfew to shut off video games/electronics and put phones away. Set an alarm each morning and stick to getting up when it goes off. Get in the habit of eating a solid breakfast each morning, eat three square meals a day, and ditch the energy drinks.”

Pretty soon — in the next few weeks, said Webster Elementary Principal Krista Johnson, part of Escanaba Area Schools — welcome letters will be mailed to homes.

“We urge families to carefully read over the information to learn more about important school calendar dates including open houses, school supply lists, bus transportation, and health and emergency forms,” Johnson said.

Open houses are held prior to the first day of school and are a great opportunity to meet teachers and become familiar with the layout of the halls students will be frequenting. The introduction to the setting can relieve early-year nervousness and build confidence in students. For parents, it’s the ideal time to begin to build relationships with teachers and understand what will be expected throughout the year.

“p4″>”Plan on attending your school’s open house. Walking the halls and finding their classrooms will help put their minds at ease,” said new Principal of Escanaba Junior Senior High School, Andy Doutree, who took over after Darci Stenfors retired at the end of last year. Doutree previously served as the Student Services Director and sixth grade science teacher at Gladstone Junior High School.

Doug Leisenring, superintendent of the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, pointed out that since not all school buildings have air conditioning, finding out what attire is appropriate should also be done before the start of classes.

“We can have some really, really warm Septembers, and sometimes the little guys come to school in long-sleeve shirts and long denim pants, and they sit there and just roast in class all day,” he said.

Doutree had some additional tips for both parents and students that may help contribute to a positive experience and successful year.

“Communicate with your child your expectations and be positive. … Address any anxiety your child may have, especially for big transitions from building to building. Have your child organize their school supplies and encourage their independence. Don’t forget to set goals with them and have a growth mindset,” he said.

Moberg also recommended students keep a positive attitude and set goals for what they want to acheive this year.

“We have resources available; if there is anything you need to help make your school year more successful, don’t hesitate to ask,” Moberg said.

Teachers, custodians, principals, superintendents and counselors have all been busy bustling around the school buildings and pursuing professional development for themselves and are looking forward to welcoming the young faces to their midst.

“All summer long custodial staff have been deep cleaning classrooms, scrubbing carpets, and waxing floors,” said Doutree. “We’ve had a painting crew that has been repainting or touching up each classroom. Our maintenance staff has been hard at work fixing all the normal wear and tear our building and grounds go through during a school year. IT staff are continually updating technology to ensure the best possible experience for our students.”

If children are not yet enrolled, school district websites and sometimes Facebook pages may have information on how to register. It’s not too late to call school offices and get signed up.

For now, said Moberg, “Most importantly, enjoy your last days. Have lots of fun. Summer goes by way too quickly.”