Laurier dean shares back to school tips

As students prepare to start or return to school, a local educator is sharing advice on how to prepare children for the upcoming year.

Maria Cantalini-Williams, dean for the faculty of education with Wilfrid Laurier University, explained that, whether it’s the child or the parent, staying informed is one of the best ways to curb anxiety.

“Whether it be looking at the school physically outside, or looking at the website,” Cantalini-Williams remarked. “Even a walk around the neighbourhood, a walk around the school property would give much comfort to a child.”

Cantalini-Williams highlighted that a key factor to student success is having supportive family members, having positive conversations about what to expect, and getting into a stable routine.

The 2023-2024 school year will be the first in awhile where students will not be starting off the year with a requirement to wear face masks.

As families recover from a chaotic few school years during the pandemic, Cantalini-Williams explained that starting a new school year in a post pandemic environment has offered a slue of opportunities.

She stated that she thinks about the pandemic in a positive way.

“Parents can be really involved in their parents education, as they needed to be, during the pandemic,” Cantalini-Williams explained. “Now I think there’s greater collaboration with parents.”

Other positive outcomes from the pandemic, according to Cantalini-Williams, include educators learning the importance of having better sanitation and air quality, that technology can enable virtual learning, and the significance of nature after having so many classes outdoors.