The Three Tier System Is Working

To the Editor:

Now that we have completed over three full months of school, I am finally able to express my opinion of the new school start times and busing schedule. My children and I have no problems whatsoever (nor have we ever). I have an eighth and tenth grader (my two youngest children of four, so we have gone through nearly every possible start and end times in this school system, as well as our previous system). We did not enter the school year with a negative attitude as to getting up earlier. It was simply something that needed to be done and we talked about how our morning routine would need to be accomplished and what they needed to be sure was done the night before a school day.

As we all know, the first few weeks of school is an adjustment for everyone after the lazy days of summer. Even though we may make a concentrated effort to slowly push bedtimes earlier prior to school starting, it still takes time to get used to the very busy schedules of school, homework, religious education classes, sports, lessons, etc. I have found, much to my delight, that my household is much calmer after school. If they have a late afternoon activity, they are able to have some down time upon arriving home from school and then get a jump-start on homework. If the activity is right after school, they are still home early enough for homework to be completed. Then, and this is my big point, they go to bed. As parents, we need to set rules. If that means less TV and computer time, so be it. It may be earlier than they would like, but (guess what?) they actually fall asleep immediately –– contrary to the experts’ studies. My children have told me that there was some adjustment in the classroom in the very beginning of the school year (as to be expected), but very quickly everyone was ready to learn and participate.

I am aware that many elementary parents’ concern is the arrival of their children later in the afternoon. I would bet their mornings are much calmer and have probably even been used constructively for homework completion or even quiet time.

I am aware the School Start Time Committee is studying the Wilton School System. The Bee reported that their earliest pickup time is 6:50 am with a school start time of 45 minutes later than they previously had. I can’t believe that all this studying would be done to save 45 minutes. Newtown is also more than twice the size of Wilton, which clearly requires more time for pickups and drop-offs.

The start times are working and the three-tier bus system is working.

Janis R. Solheim

11 Harvest Common Road, Sandy Hook                 December 3, 2003