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Schools

How To Ready High School Students For School, Success

Renton School District Starts Next Week: Here's How To Prep For The Big Day

It’s the back-to-school time of year already. And, with the short summer we have had in Renton, it makes it even that much harder.

Area teachers offer some suggestions for easing your kids back into school — and Marketing teacher/DECA advisor  Gene Kolczynski offers his advice on how to ease your high-school-aged kid back into the groove and successfully through the academic year.

When Schools Start:

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The  has two dates for starting time.

  • High School, Grade 9 starts on August 31, while Grades 10, 11, and 12 start on September 1.
  • If you have a Renton address your kids might go to either the Kent or the Issaquah School District. Issaquah starts on August 30, while the Kent School District starts on September 1.

 

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High School parents and students need help, too:

Marketing teacher/DECA advisor at , Gene Kolczynski, admits that it is sometimes difficult to separate the parenting advice from the teacher advice, but has several suggestions for parental involvement with high school kids.

"Start talking now with your kid about being involved in some school activity," Kolczynski said. That might be a sport, club, or a class. "Students that are involved are much more likely to be successful."

Although some parents are shy about engaging teachers, Kolczynski advises the opposite. "Make contact with the teachers early," he said. "Just a quick email to let us know you’ll be active in finding ways for the student to be successful. With 110-150 students to keep track of, it’s good to get on our radar."

For high school parents, engagement can be key to student success. "Check student grades often," Kolczynski said, and be aware of missing assignments or poor attendance, which can be a signal of other issues.

"Poor attendance is one of the key indicators for success or failure.  Don’t let school be an option," he said. He also stresses that to let a lack of funds stop a child from participating in activities. "Nearly all programs will find a way to let your child participate."

Kolczynski summed it up for all the teachers by saying, "Teachers enter this profession because we love kids. We find great joy in sharing in their success."

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