Parents and guardians of students attending Hays Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) will be celebrating on August 15 when school starts. No doubt, they will be a few sleepy kids dragging after changing their sleeping schedule for the summer.
Whether or not your family is excited about school, it’s always hard to change your routine and leave the dog days of summer behind. You can ease the transition and avoid scrambling at the last minute with these six tips.
- Check registration and related paperwork
You may already have already completed the required school district paperwork. The due dates vary based on district and schools. Ensure you register your child or contact the school.
Visit Hays CISD’s registration page for information about registration for new and returning students. Like most schools, HCISD requires proof of address, immunization records, and other documents.
If your student has medical needs, then contact the school nurse to ask about the process to make sure the child can receive treatment or medicine at school.
- Access online accounts
HCISD requires parents and guardians to register for the school year online as covered in No. 1. The district has a parent self-serve portal (PSS) for checking the student’s academics, contact information, attendance, and transportation information.
You can also sign up to receive notifications about missing assignments or absences and alerts from the principal, school, and district. Verify you can access your account and that all the information is current.
- Update your calendar
Review the Hays CISD calendar, so you can enter all the important dates into yours. If you haven’t already, you might create a family calendar that everyone can see every day. Better yet, set up a private online calendar that everyone in the family can access on their devices and computers.
- Pick up school supplies
If you haven’t shopped for supplies yet, you’re in luck! Texas Tax-Free Weekend is August 9 – 11. And many retailers hold sales on clothes and school supplies before, during, and after tax-free weekend. You might find more savings opportunities online at RetailMeNot, Rakuten (formerly Ebates), and Honey.
Some schools and PTAs sell school supplies where you just pay one fee for the entire packet. This can be cheaper than shopping because they get bulk discounts. Treat your kids to one cool or colorful school item of their choice to get them excited about school.
- Kick-start bedtime routines
The fact is that kids’ sleeping schedules fall off track in the summer. It takes three weeks to create a new habit. The first day of school will go better if students start their school bedtime routine at least a week before school starts.
Start small. Put them to bed 15 minutes earlier for a few days. Then move it back another 15 minutes until they return to their school bedtime. Do the same with wake-up time. Wake them 15 minutes earlier for a few days and so on.
- Designate a study space
Creating a study area to help the kids make it a habit to study in that area without any distractions. Stock the space with pens, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, and other supplies. This prevents “I don’t have what I need” syndrome.
About Hays CISD for Kyle, Texas Residents
Students living in the Crosswinds community attend the following Hays CISD exemplary schools:
- Pfluger Elementary (grades K-5)
- Chapa Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Lehman High School (grades 9-12)
The district serves 18,000 students on 22 campuses. Residents have excellent post-secondary options in Austin Community College and its nearby ACC Hays Campus, Texas State University, University of Texas at Austin, St. Edwards University, Hutson-Tillotson University, San Antonio College, Trinity University, and University of Texas at San Antonio.
Be sure to take pictures on the first day of school. It’s amazing how much kids grow in a school year when you compare the first day and last day pictures. If you follow these tips, you’ll have a great first day of school in the growing Hays ISD in Kyle!