Springfield students return to school, acclimate to new phone ban

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Today was the first day back to school for District 186 students in Springfield. Thousands of students from kindergarten to high school made their way back to the classroom

Returning to school means a lot of new things for students, including bus routes, classrooms, schedules, and teachers. If all the change is making your kid anxious, that's okay. Jefferson Middle School Principal Chelsey Ziebler says it's important to get a routine in place as soon as possible to help your child feel comfortable.

"I would recommend just setting a bedtime every night that's the same," said Ziebler. "Making sure they have everything laid out the night before, making sure the backpacks laid out, organized, outfit organized, making sure the night before you set an alarm, maybe two alarms, to make sure that you're ready to go every morning."

Most schools are spending the first week of classes getting their students acclimated to their new environment and meeting new classmates.

District 186 superintendent Jennifer Gill also says this is the best time to develop healthy habits and expectations about school, especially when it comes to attendance. Making sure your student is on time and at all classes will ensure they get the most out of their school year.

"We want students here on time and focused on their learning," said Gill. "So know what time your bus comes, know what time the bell rings to start school. Make sure you have all your school supplies and everything ready to go each and every day. We also provide Chromebooks for all of our students, so make sure you have those charged up and and ready to go to bring back to school."

One major change is the banning of cell phones in the classrooms. Over the summer, the district's board met to discuss their options. Last week, a policy overview was released breaking down expectations by grade level. Find more information here, or in the flyer below.

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