It’s back-to-school time!

Students in the New Prague Area School District will return to the classroom next week. Eager, energetic young faces will return to the classroom along with rested and reinvigorated teachers and school staff members, all looking forward to a successful year.

There are a number of things that parents can do to help make the coming year a success. Here are several tips to help your children shine in the classroom.

Make sure your kids have plenty of sleep - Ideally, parents should start getting kids ready for a school-time bed routine two weeks before classes start, to give their bodies time to transition to the new schedule. If you haven’t done so, it’s time to start.

Encourage your kids to read at least one book before the school year begins. If they haven’t been reading this summer, it’s time for them to get back into the learning mode.

It’s never too early to start organizing. Reacquaint your kids with the calendar schedule they'll use to manage their activities, let them choose a planner or scheduling tool that they are excited to use, and if you want to go the electronic route, look for an app that will help them get organized.

Get the lists of school supplies, books and technology your kids will need, and before going to the store, inventory last year's school supplies to help save money. Make a plan for organizing those supplies and keep them organized.

Establish a specific space like the family office as the official "homework area.” Remove distractions like TVs and video game consoles from homework areas.

Touch base with teachers early on to troubleshoot any issues your kids may be having.

Inventory your kids' wardrobes and toss/donate things they've outgrown. Create a list and budget for back-to-school shopping, and let your child choose their clothes, shoes and other items they'll need, as long as they’re within that budget. Kids can grow fast - go through their wardrobes every few months to get rid of things that no longer fit.