Get Ready for theFirst Day of School!

Here’s what to do for a great start to the school year: Update your contact information.

Don’t miss important updates from NYC Public
Schools and your child’s school! You canupdate your information online in your NYC
Schools Account (NYCSA), or complete theemergency contact form provided by yourschool. If you do not yet have an NYC Schools
Account, visit schools.nyc.gov/NYCSA to learn
how to sign up.

 Visit a physician for a physical exam.

Is your child starting school or childcare forthe first time? Make sure your child receives
a complete physical exam from a healthcare provider, documented by the Childand Adolescent Health Examination Form
(CH205). This form is available for download atschools.nyc.gov/schoolhealth.

 Make sure your child is up-to-date on
required immunizations.

New York State Public Health Law requires
students to get certain vaccines in order toattend child care or school. You can find more
information about required immunizationsat schools.nyc.gov/immunization. We
also recommend that all New Yorkers stay
up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines. Visit
vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or call 877-829-4692
to find a location near you.

 Review the 2024–25 NYC school calendar.
View important dates and find printable files in
multiple languages for the 2024–25 school year
at schools.nyc.gov/calendar.

 Check your child’s transportation
options and eligibility.

There are several different options that yourchild might use to travel to and from school
each day, depending on their eligibility. If you’re
not sure how your child will be getting to school
this year, visit schools.nyc.gov/transportation
for more information. If your child is assigned
bus service, you can check their route, as wellas pick-up and drop-off times, in your NYC
Schools Account.

 Prepare your child’s school supplies.

Your child’s teacher or school may send you
a recommended list of school supplies, aswell as a schedule for the first few days ofschool. Make sure your child knows what toexpect on their first day, and that they havetheir supplies packed and ready to go. We
also suggest labeling your child’s belongings(i.e. gym clothes, water bottles, pencil cases,etc.) to ensure they can be returned to you if
misplaced!

 Set a standard bedtime and morning
routine before the first day of school.

Ensure a smooth transition to the new school
year by getting your children adjusted to aregular and healthy sleep schedule before
September. Then, a few days before school
starts, practice your family’s expectedmorning routine, including getting ready, eating
breakfast, and traveling to your child’s school.

 Get ready for reading.

One of the best things a child can do to help
prepare themselves for the upcoming school
year is to read a book! Children who read or
are read to at home are better prepared tolearn in the classroom. Explore our learning
resources for families—including printable
flashcards, recommended reading lists, andmore—and learn more about free e-books for
NYC Public Schools students via the Sora app
at schools.nyc.gov/literacyresources.

 Reach out to your school’s parent
coordinator.

Parent coordinators can provide answers
to many of your school-related questions
and concerns. Use the Find a School tool at
schoolsearch.schools.nyc or call your child’s
school to find contact information for yourparent coordinator and other school staff.

 Ask your parent coordinator orprincipal about translation andinterpretation services.

Your school can provide free translation andinterpretation services. Learn more fromyour school’s parent coordinator or principal,
or visit schools.nyc.gov/hello for more
information. For sign language interpretation
services, please contact your school’s parent
coordinator or email OSLIS@schools.nyc.gov.

 Prepare for remote learning in theevent of weather-related or emergency
closures.

If NYC public school buildings must close,
students will participate in remote learning at
home. Be prepared with an internet-enabledelectronic device, school supplies, and adesignated workspace for your child. If yourchild has a DOE Student Account, confirm
that they can log in and access the online
tools they may use for their schoolwork. Visit
schools.nyc.gov/digitallearning for resources
and information to help prepare for remotelearning days.

We can’t wait to see you on the first day of school,
Thursday, September 5!

schools.nyc.gov