Back-to-school time always brings a mix of excitement and dread — mostly dread if we’re being honest. You’ve got the basics down (early bedtimes, check; labeled backpacks, check). But let’s skip the obvious and dive into some truly useful, even sneaky, hacks to make life smoother in Sonoma County schools.
First off, let’s tackle lunch confusion: Yes, every public school student in California now gets free breakfast and lunch, thanks to the Universal Meals Program. No more panicked sandwich-making at 7:30 a.m.! But here’s the insider hack: you still need to fill out that income survey form at your school, even if you’re not paying for meals. It directly impacts school funding — think of it as helping secure those art classes and field trips your kid loves.
Next, let’s get strategic about paperwork. We all dread the avalanche of school forms. Keep a big envelope right by your front door labeled “School Stuff.” As soon as your kid hands you anything from school, drop it in there immediately. Review it once a week. Done! Never lose a permission slip again…