No. All right, everybody. We are live here on the W DS U social media pages on Facebook and on youtube talking all things back to school. Hey, everybody. I'm Darryl for this morning anchor for W DS U. Just get off the anchor desk to talk about something that's so important to you all getting ready for back to school, whether it's health wise we'll be expecting and also when it comes to making sure your kids are overall prepared joining us. Now we have two amazing f they're gonna give you everything you need to know to make sure to keep you at ease as you bring your kids to school again or maybe for the very first time joining us. Now is Miss Cheryl Russo. She has over 40 years of experience as an educator and we're also joined by Doctor Courtney Washington. You've seen her *** lot on W DS U giving everything you know about your health. She of course, is *** doctor for Florida Lee Health Care. Thank you all so much for joining us this morning. Really appreciate it. Thank you. Absolutely. So I want to start with you, Miss Cheryl. So you know, *** lot of folks are getting ready to take their kids back to school. Kind of talk about the, the excitement leading up to that very first day. Well, everybody wants to know who their teacher is gonna be on the first day. That's the main thing. But, but there's so many more things to do before then is like the routine. Uh, I know Doctor Washington is probably gonna talk about that but I, I know you posted it on the website. Uh, if you haven't started *** routine already, you need to go ahead and start that school routine by getting them in bed. Um, gosh, I mean, because all of them are staying up to 11 or 12 o'clock right now, the, uh, all the elementary school Children. So, uh, they need to be asleep at least, like I would think by 830 you know, just, uh, sort of morning routine with them also. Uh, make sure you hug them *** lot and, and encourage them. Um, you know, tell them how fun school is gonna be, have everything prepared. Uh, let them go shopping with you and pick out some of their school supplies. So they'll, they'll have ownership over it. You may pick out their, their book sack. I know they can't pick out their uniforms. Probably out, everybody has their own uniforms. But, um, there's *** lot of things that they can do to kind of, uh, minimize that anxiety. Well, I think, you know, schools change for sure because, you know, *** lot of kids have uniforms, you know, when I was in school the day before I would have my whole entire outfit lined up on the bed. Right. I have my shirt here. I have my pants here and I have my shoes there and I lay down. I'm like, man, I'm gonna look so fresh and so clean on the first day of school, right? But you talked about the sleep, right? And some folks they're getting their clothes ready. They can't even think about sleep right now. Doctor Washington. So what's your advice for parents out there? And for kids out there who are have that anxiety leading up to the first day? Understood. So there are *** lot of kids starting school for the first time. There's also kids going from middle school to high school. Oh my gosh. So exciting. So definitely starting that school time routine is so important as Miss Russo stated, because getting their sleep and getting them into *** routine will make it to where they're sleepy at the same time every night. So that they're refreshed in the morning and they're not dragging along to get dressed, to set them up for success. Brain development is so reliant on sleep and nutrition and also the mental part of it also, no kid wants to have the anxiety and then doesn't fall asleep until midnight and then they're tired in the morning and they're, they're also making new friends. So it's so important that sleep factor and just getting ready. And the shopping with your kid is also *** great idea. The first day of school I definitely had everything laid out. Oh, and I love the smell of paper. So, I mean, my, my paper was in my binder. It was, it was, it was *** time. It's so interesting. You say that when we're talking about sleep, uh there was one study me, you talked about this in the past about being careful when it comes to your phone trying to go to sleep because this can actually impact you uh trying to get that sleep. So do you have any advice for parents when it comes to maybe putting the phone away at *** certain time? Maybe 2530 maybe an hour before they go to bed? Absolutely. As *** mother of twins myself, I have definitely caught them sneaking their ipad under the covers when I go to just check on them. So that light from the device, whether it's their ipad or their cell phone does negatively impact their sleep because your brain stimulates the release of melatonin, especially in younger kids when it's completely dark and being exposed to that light, whether it's the TV, or the phone can be very detrimental and actually break their sleep wake cycle. So you want to set them up for success. So about an hour to an hour and *** half before their intended bedtime. Cut off the TV. Let's read some books to get prepared for school so that we can really set *** bedtime and *** routine and have quality deep sleep for our young ones. And you know what I did that myself. I listened to your instructions and I put my phone off to the side about 45 minutes before I went to bed. I instantly went to bed game changer. So thank you for that. Uh And Miss Cheryl, I, I gotta ask you this. So there are *** lot of first time parents for the first time dropping their kids off to school, right? Our great producer, digital producer and manager, uh Erin Lowry is dropping off herself for the first time at pre K coming up this school year. What's your advice to those first time parents dropping off their kids for the first time at school? I did that last year with Randy actually. And um it's kind of *** rush for *** lot of the parents. So I guess my advice would be, I'm so proud of y'all, first of all, for setting your clothes out uh the night before because everybody doesn't do that, but that is really important, not just your clothes, but the children's clothes and um just have it all lined up so that there is no rush in the morning, have the break know in your mind what you're gonna feed them for, for breakfast. And, um, that way when you're going out the door, there isn't *** ration on the first day. It is chaotic. It's sad that it is. But, uh, there's no parking spaces. If you're not, if you're not early getting there, you're not gonna find *** parking space. So then you may be *** little later getting there. Uh, and if you have two Children, you need to set *** time to go even *** little earlier. Um, I would recommend at least an hour depending on the school, of course. And depending on how many Children you have to clock in. But if you want to meet the teacher and you want to find out *** little bit about the classroom and who is, who the child's classmates are, then you wanna go *** little bit earlier than everybody else, you know, and, and it, it just makes the child not feel that anxiety. Um And, you know, just praise them the whole time you're going speak the positivity over your child as you're walking them down the sidewalk and make it fun. Like we're trying to make this fun because school really is fun and the first day should be fun. So, uh, if, if we don't do anything to, um, to mess it up, then, uh, it would be *** good first day. You and miss you II I know, you know, hearing your perspective, you're so experienced, you've dealt with this for for 40 plus years. Um, what, as *** teacher, what's the biggest challenges for you when it comes to that first day? Really? That first week? Well, I'm thinking of elementary, of course. But, um, crying, crying Children, but it's not, it's not, you, you wanna, you wanna calm them down and, um, and if we can get that taken care of before they get to the classroom because we don't want anybody crying, uh, we want them to have fun. So, our biggest challenge, um, I think is to make sure that Children are, are, you know, behaved and, uh, are, are happy and, uh, and that we are having fun because as *** teacher, I like to have fun and I want my Children to have fun. So, um, I think that was my biggest challenge. I think it's just getting them acclimated to the classroom and, um, I don't know how to keep them from crying. But, um, but I think again, if you just speak those positive words and if, if you have it, you have them, uh, prepared the night before and you talk about *** lot. Another thing you could do too is like if this is their first time at *** new school, uh, make sure you do *** tour. Um, so they will feel *** little bit at ease when they go into that school. It might be *** little late for tours right now, but you could still call or go by and see if they'll let you just walk around the school and if they won't let you go in the school, then ride by the school and walk around the perimeter of the school and just kind of like, show them, maybe look at the map online and see exactly where the fourth grade section is or where the first grade section is, you know, just kind of where carpool is or where am I gonna drop you off in the morning and that kind of thing, you know, just kind of eat them. Hate the pressure. Absolutely. And, and doctor Washington, I wanna kinda kind of shift *** little bit over to nutrition. Right. Um, *** lot of parents, uh, on that first day breakfast, you know, breakfast is the most poor meal *** day here all the time. Uh, what's your advice to parents when it comes to, uh, the right meal, right? Foods to give their kids when it comes to, especially that first day of school to get their mind. Right, and ready to go. So, um, it's always recommended to feed your kid *** nutritious breakfast. So, it depends on the, on the anxiety and also it's *** different eating schedule, especially for the younger grades. Their lunchtime. Sometimes it's at 11 or really, really early. So things like oatmeal are, is very, very good. It's *** lot of fiber in there or, um, just your regular standard things that have your balanced amount of protein and nutrients so that they're not super starving, hungry when they get to school. And I know there's *** lot, uh, breakfast at certain schools, but just giving them *** little breakfast just to get them started on their first day will definitely help. Absolutely. And I also want to go ahead and move on and talk *** little bit of Dr Washington about, um, physicals. All right, making sure, you know, it's that time of the year where football season is gonna be in full swing. You got *** lot of other sporting events, you got volleyball, you, you got, you know, band all kind of stuff happening. Um What is your advice to parents out there when it comes to, um, making sure their kids are, are good to go when it comes to their physical. We've seen, you know, unfortunate things in the past when it came to uh, athletes under cardiac arrest. Uh, we've seen that *** couple of years ago with Ronnie James lebron James is, uh, we saw several incidents, uh, with football players, uh passing out of the heat under cardiac arrest as well. Uh What is your advice to parents out there when it comes to knowing their kids health when it comes to those, uh, those physicals before the school year starts? Definitely. That's *** great question, Darryl. So knowing your family history um is gonna be super important. So you let your pediatrician know that even though you're going for *** school physical, it's not for too early to say, hey, I'm gonna put my kids in basketball or softball or something like that. So we can start doing some of that screening um already early, but the family history is going to be very important. Their birth history is gonna be super important. So let your pediatrician know that and if they need to get any other tests like any EKG S or see *** cardiologist because they have *** benign heart murmur or an incidental finding is going to help. So you can actually have those forms. Um You can ask your school if you know what sport your kid is going to be in and they can sometimes do that physical, the sports, physical while you're getting your back to school. Physical all talking about health on that aspect, vaccines got hit on that real fast. Uh What are the critical vaccines that folks need to know about before they head back to school? So it really depends on the age the child and also if they're on schedule with their vaccination schedule with COVID, *** lot of kids were behind and sometimes um there are other health conditions that are pretty important for that. So when it comes to nursery age kids, you're always gonna want to do the pertussis, the measles, mumps, rubella, they get that starting at two years old. So really staying on top of those vaccines will help. Not only your child, but it will help, um, them not to get sick from other Children that are maybe too young to get those vaccines. Absolutely. And you see right there on your screen, uh, some require vaccinations according to Louisiana Department of Health, that's important for *** lot of families to know about when it comes to other kids before they head back to school. I have *** one year old so she's nowhere near, uh, you know, but, you know, when I pick her from daycare, seeing those kids, you know, with the sneezes and the snots and, and the coughing and stuff like that. Those facts. Look, you want to be careful because you never know. Right. Michele because you never know when kids are in class, what kids cough and one kid sneeze and it just passes around the classroom. Right. That's right. It happens all the time. Um, especially with the younger Children. So the vaccines are in part and I, I agree with you on that and just keep trying to keep them healthy that, um, the first few years they, they kind of pick up on everything. You know, it takes *** while for them to build that immune system. I'm thinking right. Doctor Washington, it takes *** couple of years of that, especially if they haven't been in daycare and preschool. Um, but yeah, even the teachers get sick but it's ok. We, we, we get through it somehow. Absolutely. And for our viewers out there just joining us uh right here in W DS U social media outlets on uh on youtube and on Facebook, we're talking all things back to school, getting you ready and your kids ready for, back to school. We're joined, of course by Michelle Russo. She is *** retired teacher, 40 plus years of experience uh as *** teacher in the private and public sector. Also, Doctor Courtney Washington uh with le uh healthcare. Uh joining us right now to talk everything you need to know when it comes to getting ready for classes. And also the health wise, make sure you're getting ready. If you have *** comment, if you have any questions and you want to get involved in the conversation, join us. You can also comment, leave *** comment or *** question on our youtube page and also *** question or *** comment on our Facebook page as well. So we're on Facebook and youtube right now. Get involved in the conversation. Uh MS Cheryl, I want to ask you about study tips. Um You know, *** lot of kids, you know, trying to get back in the swing of things, gotta get ready for tests. Uh Some folks maybe already know how they're gonna study when it comes to get ready for tests. Some people may not have that direction. Me as *** student. I was *** little lost sometimes. Uh What tips do you have for parents and for students when it comes to study and getting ready for those big and all important tests. Hm. Well, you can't start, you can't start the night before and normally, uh, *** child will know Monday when, when their test is gonna be that week. Uh, so, uh, I guess it depends on the age group but as an elementary child I would, I would, you know, do *** little bit every night getting ready for the test. I would prep them as *** parent, I would help them study for the test. Don't let them just try to study by themselves because, um, that's, that's *** little nerve wracking for the Children too, especially if they're elementary. Um, as far as studying normally, uh, it depends on the child but normally when they come home from school you would give them *** little snack or something, um, something to eat and then I would go ahead and begin their homework and they're studying for their test because once they start playing and they're out in the neighborhood having *** great time, it's very hard to reel them back in. So, um, you know, *** quick snack study and then, uh, and then go out to play. Um, I know, II, I help *** lot of Children with, um, tutoring and, um, it's just very hard for them to go to school all day long and then come home and then have to do all this studying. And I, and I'm ***, I know I'm an advocate on not *** lot of homework and every school is different. But if they're going to school, I mean, till 330 every day and then they come home and they, then they have to do homework for two hours. It just seems *** little, uh, it just doesn't seem right. But if every school is different I'm sure they do it for *** certain reason. I know. I know it can be controversial but um I believe in *** 15 minute homework so that I believe in, but I can't change, I can't change the rules. So I like you as *** teacher growing up. Ok. Uh and doctor Washington when it comes to, you know, uh Miss Cheryl giving those study tips, *** lot of, you know, students deal with, you know, anxiety getting ready for these tests. I know I was *** victim of that when I was, uh you know, going to class and going to school, I would study and, and do the best I could. But when that test came out, I had uh my brain just blank. Draw blank. Anxiety is real. Uh What advice do you have for parents to help their kids cope that anxiety leading up to *** test? Well, you're not alone. I definitely had test anxiety all the way up until my, after my first board exam in medical school after experiencing it personally and actually talking with *** lot of students and high school students and even elementary school students, it's getting them into *** routine to where they master the information. So they don't have that test anxiety when they're studying already, try to find out what skills are missing there to build up their confidence. And then actually make it *** little short mini quiz at home when you're doing your homework to where that test anxiety doesn't exist because they're used to doing it if you practice for anything consistently, it doesn't seem so uh out of the norm. So starting those healthy health have its younger ages, even as young as like maybe first or second grade, like, hey, well, let's do *** pop quiz and do five questions. When they get to the actual test, it won't build so much anxiety. It'll just be like another short pop quiz homework section. So that is my best advice for that. And if *** kid is really, really struggling, um also talk to your PD atr about that with the kids, so we can rule out other factors that may be underlined, that may be more medical in nature. I tell you what my best friend when I started kind of trying to figure it out in college was those no cards, no cards became my best friend. You know, having the answer in the back, the question on the front and have *** P *** buddy or my mom would do it, ask me the questions, game changer and make it *** game, make it *** game when it feels like *** game. I even use no cards all the way up until my board exams, y'all, they work. Yes. But your tests on *** whole different level though, those note cards, uh, and, and Miss Cheryl, speaking of note cards, it's part of the school supply list. Right. Um, *** lot of parents are getting ready, um, for, for school supplies. So, in your opinion, what do you believe? Uh, what school supplies do you believe are the most needed? And also which ones really run out faster than others? Ok. It's, we're talking about *** broad age group here. So, um, elementary crayons are gone. Like, I mean, I don't think they eat them but, uh, they are gone probably that first six weeks of school, um, pencils, you know, can't find pencils. Um, so, yes, *** lot of pencils, *** lot of crayons. Um, of course, uh, you have paper and some schools supply paper for the Children, but most of the Children have, uh, enough paper but it's mainly those two things. The der groups. Um, I'm not really sure about them because I haven't really dealt with the junior high and the high school. But I would think, you know, the pencils and the, uh, because they have to bring notebooks, they have to have binders. Uh, but supplies are, are really important, especially on that first day of school, making sure that you have had them all because it helps the child know that they are prepared and of course, helps the teacher know that you are prepared as *** parent. However, if they're asking for *** pink folder and you can't find *** pink folder anywhere. I mean, you know, you do, you do the best that you can. But, uh, those supplies are really important. I want to say something too about, um, about like haircuts. Um, um not just haircuts but anything that will make your child, you want your child to stand out in *** good way. You don't want your child to stand out in any kind of way that's gonna make them *** target of any kind, you know, and so sometimes *** haircut would do that and some schools require certain kinds of haircuts. But uh just, you know, being, I mean, you want your child to be special and be that be that one child that everybody loves. So try not to do anything that's going to embarrass them, you know, especially on that first day of school. And if they love that haircut, that's good. Let them go with it, make sure it's something that they like they like, you know, hey, absolutely. Um Meanwhile, I'm over trying to do *** do the little pigtail for *** one year old. So, hey, whatever y'all gotta do, hey, whatever you gotta do love pigtails. Yes. Uh Just want to say for our viewers again. Uh Thank you so much for joining us here for our back to school special on W DS U social media platforms. I'm Darl for just joined by Miss Cheryl Russo. She has *** lot of experience, 40 plus years of experience as an educator. And doctor Courtney Washington. You've seen pretty much every week on W DS news this morning. Let you know what to prepare for and get ready for, for your kids. First day back to school, get involved in the conversation. Join us, write *** comment or *** question on our Facebook and youtube pages right now. If you have anything, let us know if you don't. It must mean we're answering all your questions and doing *** really good job. We really appreciate it. So, uh, hopefully we continue to get some more questions from you guys. Please don't be afraid if you got them, ask them and no questions. *** dumb question. Trust me because I have *** lot of crazy questions. Ok. Um, so, uh, Miss Cheryl, we talked about the school supplies, right? Um, I have talked to parents, some parents who are concerned about the crayons. You said something funny about, you don't know if they eat them. You don't know what they do. Some parents believe it or not. Actually hoard *** lot of school supplies. Uh, they hoard them, they keep them, they keep like maybe like 15, um, uh, uh, boxes of crayolas or crayons because just in case drop the year. Uh, are you for or against parents who are hoarding these things? Do you think that's smart if they can afford it to just buy in bulk and just, yeah, because when you can get crayons for, like, two for *** dollar instead of later in the year, the 2 $2. Yes, I did that when I had Children, uh, school *** Children. And I still do that with some of my grandchildren. I hoard it's ok while they're cheap. Keep them. Yeah. Keep them in your house because I'll need them and you'll need them also. When you're doing homework with them in the afternoons, you'll be needing some crayons and some pencils and anything you can think of, you know, markers, especially markers are if they're cheap now, but they won't be cheap in *** couple of months. Interesting how the price changes. I've noticed that like for mechanical, mechanical man, I'm like back in my day, but the mechanical pencils, I loved them. Uh, the 0.5 lead. Right. And you would get the, the refills and all. And it was interesting how much, how much more expensive it was during the school throughout the middle school year. So say you need to be hoarding for yourself right now and the wedding. Maybe, maybe I can, I don't know, maybe I can. Uh Doctor Washington, I know earlier, talked *** little bit about um, breakfast, right? Uh, for lunch, obviously for many schools do provide the lunches for kids. But maybe some parents say, you know what I wanna make sure I'm gonna make my kids lunch every single day, uh, for parents out there who are making their kids lunches out there. What advice do you have? What foods do you say? Continue to, to make or make these, or maybe some things they never even thought about, but also the foods they stay away from during the school year. Yeah. So definitely foods that have the good protein. So sandwiches are good and ok, I know *** lot of schools that they limit the peanut butter and jelly due to the peanut allergies and younger kids. So just make sure that it's something that is nutritious and fresh and definitely incorporating those fruits and vegetables. So for my little kids is I always tell them that you know, vegetables make them stronger. So like for example, with broccoli, if I have broccoli, I may let them do some very uh interesting and nutritious type of uh dipping sauce with it. So we'll try like um the vinaigrettes and different things like that. But incorporating those vegetables early sets them up for later on in life when adults. So they don't have these nutritional deficiencies and also some kids, they may not eat the school lunch. So giving them some extra little snacks can also help stay away from the uh overly processed snacks or the very sugary drinks and processed things. Try to do like the all natural juices and different things like that, which will help with their brain development and growth and don't give them any candy. Right. Because you don't want them to get on the sugar high after lunch and, and teachers like Mi Cheryl have to have to deal with that sugar high right now. I would not, I would not do that. Well, it's amazing the parents, they are so creative with school lunches. I mean, and they really do try. I, I've seen some, I mean, they, they cook things ahead of time. They'll bring spaghetti and they'll bring um oh, just meats and all kinds of vegetables like you were talking about. It's just fun to watch. Really. His parents are trying. Yeah, Pinterest is my go to for cute little different meals. I mean, my kids love helping me make them. So that also was another thing that can decrease their anxiety because they can show their friends look at what cool little Star star like shaped sandwich my mom bought. Um and they do look at each others lunches. They do mentioned that Dr Washington. Is there any like sites that you recommend to Pinterest? Is there any other sites for you or Miss Chery that will recommend for parents to look into to maybe find other creative ways to make the kids lunches? Oh, yeah, I love Pinterest. I might drop. So I might drop my blog and then share some of my Pinterest secrets and on youtube, there are so many youtubers that I follow that they do these cute little lunches for their kids. And I'm like, oh, this actually tastes good. So try that. And it's also *** bonding experience with your kids as well. We've been on for 25 minutes, almost 26 minutes and this has been an amazing conversation with, with both of you all. I want to go ahead and wrap it up. But before we do, um, some closing, um, I say closing arguments, we're in *** court case. Uh, but some, the final word from both of you, uh, starting with you, Miss Cheryl. Is there anything out there, uh, that you really want parents to really, really know some of the biggest things before we go, you want parents to know before the start of the school year? If I go, the main thing that we talked about today that's most important is rest. Um, uh, it's, I mean, kids that sleep in class can't learn. Um, and I know that they, they have soccer practice and they have cheer and they have gym and all this. But if they're not in bed on time every night, um, it's just *** detrimental to their brain. Like Doctor Washington was saying that they can't learn, uh, as well, you know, and it's just sad to watch how tired they get throughout the, you know, which ones are sleeping and which ones aren't sleeping and I know it's hard for parents but, um, it needs to be. I know it's *** challenge but, um, it's just so important. Ok, Doctor Washington and they basically cut off social media, the phones, twitch, all that stuff and get ready for bed. Doctor Washington. What about you? So, the biggest, uh, advice that I have for all parents is that, uh, to stimulate that conversation with your kid. Listen to them. I know we've all done school, but it's their first time going through school. So talk to them, build up their confidence on the ride to school instead of music, talk and get excited and have their questions when you pick them up, ask them about their day because they want to share it with you so that you can build that relationship with them. So if they do encounter anything like bullying or something that's different, they have *** trusted resource and they'll look forward to you, picking them up so they can share all these exciting things that they learned. So definitely spend time with them, read them stories, get engaged with doing homework with them so that you grow with them and you can experience that back to school, learning experience with them. Oh, that's right. I, I'm right. Exactly. And before we go also, we got to give us another reminder, maybe some folks forgot when their school year starts. Ok. So go ahead and take *** look right now. Your screen at when and or where *** school will start. August 1st for Bogalusa, August 5th for Terre Parish. August 6th is Saint John parish. August 7th is for Lafoe and Washington parishes, August 8th is for Saint Charles and Saint Bernard parishes. August 9th is *** Tang parish. August 12th is for Saint Tammany parish. And as we continue here, I believe that might have more uh if we continue over uh other schools starting as well. So, uh, you see right there, the start dates right there for schools on your screen, getting ready for, uh, *** very hopefully fun positive and also very busy school year for, for parents out there. Uh If you missed it, what we had today, this QR Code, you see right here on the top left portion of your screen hit that QR Code. You'll be able to watch this again on our social media sites and also on W DS u.com. And it also is gonna sing at W dc.com for everything you need to know, uh, for getting ready for back to school. Doctor Washington, Miss Cheryl. Thank you all so much and I can tell the viewers real quick, Miss Cheryl is our great Randy Russo's mother. So you see why Randy Russo is so smart. She knows everything because of her. I taught her. Thank you all so much. I really appreciate it. Y'all. Have *** great day. Thank you dear. Appreciate it. Nice meeting you doctor Thank you for having me. Nice meeting. You now, have *** great week.