It’s natural to feel a rollercoaster of emotions when counting down the days until your first appearance at a new school. From navigating a different social atmosphere to preparing your school essentials, it can get overwhelming staying on top of it all.
It’s not uncommon for things to slip through the cracks when planning for the upcoming school year. To keep yourself in control for this next life chapter, it’s a good idea to have a real-world checklist that can help you feel more prepared and confident on day one.
So without further ado, allow us to walk you through some essential things to know during your first days at a new school. Let’s jump right into it!
Start of School Year Checklist
Here’s what you should prepare for your upcoming school year at a new educational institution.
Before Your First Day
- Settle your tuition and confirm your enrolment
- Confirm your class schedule and room location
- Prepare your school supplies and essentials (we’ll get to that shortly)
- Set up your student email and online portal
- Review the school dress code
- Plan your commute and arrival time
- Organise important documents and IDs
- Charge all necessary devices and pack chargers
- Sleep well the night before
- Set an alarm the night before to conform to your schedule
Taking care of these tasks before your first day can make a big difference in how confident and prepared you feel entering your new school.
When all these things are sorted out, you can stay mentally focused at the present moment—listening to your teachers, making new friends, and so on, without having to worry about things to do in your backlog.
This page from Westpac Bank can also be a helpful resource to ensure that you don’t miss out on any must-do things when putting your child to school or going to school yourself.
School Essentials to Bring
- School ID
- Enrolment documents
- Class schedule
- Notebooks
- Student handbook
- A folder
- Pens
- Pencils
- Highlighter
- Laptop
- Charger
- Power bank
- Backpack
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Water bottle
- Uniform
- Personal care items
Of course, if your school has specific requirements on things you can bring or not bring, then it’s important to follow these rules as well.
Double-check the student handbook to ensure that all your essentials are inside your backpack on your first day of school. This will save you a lot of trouble and make your first day feel much smoother.
Navigating Social Dynamics
A school environment is a place that can influence your upbringing and communication skills. It’s where students can express their thoughts and feelings with peers, other classmates, and teachers—all within a collaborative and educational space.
When a student is brought to a new school environment, everything will feel new. It’s important for the student to be as comfortable as possible and build a support group right away to feel confident in their new environment.
Here are things students should do in the first few days of the school year to build their social network:
- Practice hygiene and make yourself presentable before class
- Introduce yourself to your classmates and teachers
- Attend orientation events in the first week
- Register for clubs, organisations, or sports teams
- Talk with your seatmate and build rapport
- Talk to as many people as possible during lunch or break time
- Look approachable with positive body language
- Ask questions and show interest in others and the lectures
- Connect with your classmates
By doing all of this, you can make a good first impression in your new school, adjust more easily, and gain potentially life-long friendships along the way.
Building Positive Academic Habits
Developing healthy academic habits early sets the tone for your entire school experience.
When you establish structure and consistency from the start of the school year, it becomes easier to stay on top of your academic responsibilities, regardless of your education type.
- Organise deadlines with a planner or through your phone
- Review the last session’s class notes before class time
- Break assignments into manageable tasks
- Don’t procrastinate!
- Ask the teacher questions when you don’t understand something
- Submit your assignments on time
- Stay organised with folders
- Set aside time for studying every day
By practising these habits consistently, you’ll create a steady rhythm that supports both academic performance and personal wellbeing. We hope that this guide will help you or your child ace the next school year. All the best!