Back-to-School Tips for Teens

Starting school again after the December holidays means new work, new classes and hopefully making some new friends.

Whether it’s your last year or you’ve just started high school, having your day run smoothly could mean the difference between a horrible first start to the year and a great one!

Get plenty of sleep. Students who sleep less than 8 hours may not be awake properly during the day, which could lead to sleeping in class! Plus afterschool sports and activities may not go so well if you haven’t had enough rest.

Always eat breakfast and lunch. The best way to get through the day is to eat a healthy breakfast! If you’re not a big fan of breakfast foods, try something different like a frozen fruit smoothie or a homemade granola bar. Try to avoid the school tuck-shop as they mostly sell unhealthy foods that will only make you tired. Pack your own lunch filled with fruit and veggies and you’ll be energized the whole day!

Organize your school bag. Try to use colour-coded binders for each class so when you’re looking in your bag you can find your books easily. You can also store your specific notes for each class in the binders, with class calendars in front.

Talk to others. Whether you are new to the school or not, don’t be scared to talk to people around you. Look who sits next to you in class and get to know them – they’re probably going to be sitting next to you all year!

Get involved. Try out a few afterschool sports or activities that you are interested in. This looks good when you apply for college and it is a great way to make new friends.

Be prepared. There’s nothing worse than rushing and being late on the first day at school. Plan out your clothes and have them ready for the morning, as well as all your school books, stationary, etc.

Before the first day. Before heading out the first day of school, take a moment to breathe. Your high school years will fly past and soon you will be heading off to college. Take time to meet new people, participate in after school activities and study hard. Good luck!

The Assisted Learning Centre is a college in Fish Hoek that encourages students to take responsibility for their own studies, as well as providing them with the most qualified teachers and the best learning resources.