As the end of August approaches each year, students often experience many varying emotions. While some kids become excited for autumn and the change of pace, others may be sad summer vacation is already over and feel nervous about starting school. At the start of the academic year, teachers and administrators throughout Solanco School District seek to abate the concerns of students and their parents in a few different ways.

Every school in the district provides an opportunity for students to visit their classrooms prior to the first day of school. At the middle school and high school levels, kids are offered a chance to tour the building with their parents to become familiar with the many classrooms and teachers. At the elementary school level, students are able to attend an open house on the Thursday before school starts. During the open house, students and their families get to see where their desks and cubbies will be, meet teachers and make connections with soon-to-be classmates.

Although each elementary school has an open house, the activities vary from school to school. At Quarryville Elementary School, incoming kindergartners are given an opportunity to ride a school bus with their families during the open house, allowing them to become comfortable with the ride before school officially starts. The Quarryville PTO also hosts a family event in the cafeteria to engage with families and serve refreshments. "The most important thing is having the whole school open and available to see," said Rebecca Gajecki, principal of Quarryville Elementary School. "Being able to meet the teacher and see familiar faces is helpful to ease students' minds."

At Providence Elementary School, staff members have spent the summer trying to make the building as welcoming as possible. The front doors of the building have recently been painted to display a message: "We're glad you're here." Zac Bauermaster, principal at Providence Elementary School, said everyone from custodians to teachers has been hard at work to give new students a warm welcome. "It's quite a process. It's neat to see it all come together at the open house," Bauermaster added.

In addition to easing the minds of students and parents, the open house provides several benefits for teachers. Many teachers have already taught siblings of their new students, allowing them to build on an existing connection with the family. Older students will often visit their old classrooms to see their former teachers, which helps to establish a friendly environment for children who are stepping through the door for the first time.

For the first six weeks of school, school staff members' main priority is creating a sense of community and mutual respect throughout the entire building. Providence Elementary School recently started "fist-bump Fridays," where students are encouraged to celebrate the end of the week by giving their classmates a fist-bump during morning announcements. "A lot of our work is establishing that sense of community," Bauermaster said. "It's not just students, teachers or families; it's everyone working together with the child as a focal point."