Thank you to Christie Clinic for sponsoring our 2019 Champaign-Urbana Area Back to School series.
Part 1: Champaign-Urbana Area School Registration Information
Part 2: Champaign-Urbana Metro Area First Day of School Dates
Part 3: Back to School: Vision, Dental, Physical Exams Required for Illinois Schoolchildren
Part 4: Back to School: Immunizations Required for Illinois Schoolchildren
Part 5: Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
Part 6: Back to School Shopping on a Budget
Part 7: Preparing Your Child for a New School
Ready. Set. Go!
Schedule a school or sports physical by calling your provider. Or, if you are an existing Christie Clinic patient, you may schedule online using your MyCare patient portal account.
A listing of special school and sports physical clinic dates and times are available at www.christieclinic.com. These will require registration and the child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If possible, please any pre-completed, required forms and immunization records.
Preparing your child for entrance into a new school, and particularly a new school in a new community, can appear to be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be.
Lisa Mosley, a social worker at Westview Elementary in Unit 4, said parents have opportunities to ease the transition for their child.
“I just met a family this summer who moved (here) and mom was trying to get acclimated into the schools with her two children,” Mosley said. “One of the things I told her was, ‘Once you know which school you’re at, just go there. Go and play with your child on the playground. Talk to them, tell them this is your new school, get them comfortable that they belong.'”
Beyond those informal opportunities, some schools sponsor chances to gather in the summer through playdates.
“Families can meet other families and get to know some kids in the classroom,” Mosley said. “I work at Westview and our secretaries connect with our PTA and they send out to the staff and parents (info about) different opportunities. We’re very close to Clark Park so that was a very nice meeting location. We have several other things that parents can (be involved in), and I would suggest getting info from the secretaries at your school and find out who those PTA people are. We do a fundraiser to kick off the year, we have a back-to-school night, to get into school and meet other parents.”
Other paths to acclimation: Volunteering in your school’s PTA or classroom to get to know parents and kids, giving you insight into the people your child is discussing when they get home each day; seeking resources from the school’s social worker regarding needs such as food, school supplies or after-school care or activities.