family focus >> back to school

Starting The School Year

T

Families share their traditions for the first day of classes.

hough it's hard to believe summer
is almost over, both parents and
children are beginning to think of
the coming school year.
Many families find a tradition or ritual
helps make the transition from a leisurely
summer to a school routine easier. Here's
what some of our readers do.

"With the normal worries and anxiet-
ies that come with starting a new school
year, meeting new friends and having a
new teacher, we always read the book The
Invisible String by Patrice Karst to remind
my boys that we are always connected
with an invisible string even when we are
apart. I remind them to 'tug' on that string
all day long at school and I'll tug it right
back:' said Lisa Klein of Bloomfield Hills,
who is married to Jason.
They have two sons, Cameron, 6, enter-
ing first grade at Hillel Day School, and
Brady, 3, at Temple Israel's preschool.

"Our tradition begins a couple nights
before school;' said Amy Kahn Sarris of
Huntington Woods. "Each child gets to
pick a favorite dinner. I will make what-
ever they want. This began three years
ago when we moved and my daughter was
starting third grade in a new school. Now
both kids look forward to yummy dinners
instead of the end of summer!"
Sarris is married to Paul. Their chil-
dren are Baillie, 10, at Berkley Norup
International School, and Liam, 8, at
Berkley Burton Elementary School.

"This goes back to when my brother
Stuart (now 50), sister Val (now 47) and
I (now 45) were in school;' said Karen
Gordon of Farmington Hills. "My mom
would always have fresh, homemade cook-
ies ready for us when we got home from
the first day of school. This was from the
time we were in elementary school all
the way through high school. It is so we
remember starting the new school year as
having a sweet association with learning.
"I have been doing this ever since my
kids started school. Adam, 11, will be in
sixth grade and Sydney, 9, in fifth, both
at Warner Upper Elementary School in
Farmington Hills. There will be fresh
cookies ready on their first day. My hus-
band, Vernon, sometimes makes them."

"Since Brodie has autism, she can't
really tell me what she likes about going
back to school, but I know she loves being
around kids, and what I love most is see-

34

August 18 2011

Liam and Baillie Sarris

Brady and Cameron Klein

ing typical kids warm up to her and accept
her just as she is," said Dani Gillman-
Glickfield of West Bloomfield.
"At the beginning of each school year,
we write a 'book' about Brodie, introduc-
ing her to the kids and parents in the
class. We talk a bit about her likes and dis-
likes, strengths and weaknesses, and make
the point that even though she's a little bit
different, she's just like everyone else."
Brodie is 6 and attends the Jewish
Community Center's Kids All Together
inclusion program.

"As a child, going back to school meant
picking out a new backpack or lunch box:'
said Melissa Litvin of Berkley. "I have car-
ried on this tradition with my children
Spencer, 9, entering fourth grade, and
Carson, 5, entering kindergarten, both at
Berkley Norup International School.
"This year our tradition changed a bit.
Spencer was at camp, so Carson and I
picked out the new lunch bags together.
Carson picked Transformers and chose
Detroit Tigers for Spencer because he is a
huge baseball fan.

"Our first-morning tradition, which
includes my husband, Kenny, is taking a
photo by the tree out front to show off new
purchases and to see how much they have
grown year to year."

"I know both my kids are so excited
to go back to Hiller said Fawn Chayet of
West Bloomfield. "Believe it or not, they
are not only excited to see their friends,
but teachers, too. And Matthew is excited
for Jerusalem Pizza lunches every week!'
Chayet is married to Adam. Their chil-
dren are Abby, entering second grade, and
Matthew, a fifth-grader.

Sloane Goldberg, 8, who attends West
Maple Elementary School in Bloomfield
Hills, says, "I look forward to seeing my
old friends and meeting new friends.
"Our family tradition is backpack shop-
ping and making whole wheat pancakes
with a smiley face on it, using strawberries
for the eyes, blueberries for the nose and
banana for the mouth."
Her mother is Stacy Goldberg of West
Bloomfield. Her brother is Spencer, 5. 11

Young pirate Sloane Goldberg

Spencer and Carson Litvin