🏫 Front Office Ready

• Make sure the front entrance and office look welcoming
• Update welcome signs, office hours, and school information
• Check that staff directories and extension lists are current
• Make sure visitor sign-in procedures and badges are ready
• Stock the front counter with pens, forms, tissues, and other essentials
• Check that phones, intercoms, radios, and office equipment are working
• Have a few printed school maps handy for new families
• Make sure frequently requested forms are easy to grab

👩‍🎓 Student Information

• Review new student enrollments
• Check for missing registration documents
• Confirm student demographic and emergency contact information
• Review custody alerts and other important student information
• Make sure medical alerts are available to the appropriate staff
• Check that homeroom, teacher, and grade assignments are correct
• Prepare information for students who enroll at the last minute
• Know the procedure for students who show up but aren’t on a roster

📋 Attendance

• Confirm teachers know how and when to submit attendance
• Review first-day attendance procedures
• Know how your school will handle students marked absent who are actually in the building
• Prepare for students arriving late
• Review early dismissal procedures
• Make sure absence notes and attendance documentation have a home
• Know who will be following up on first-day no-shows

🚌 Transportation

• Have bus routes and schedules available
• Know where bus numbers and transportation assignments can be found
• Review parent drop-off and student pick-up procedures
• Confirm dismissal locations
• Have transportation contact information handy
• Prepare for last-minute transportation questions and changes
• Know the procedure when a student doesn’t know how they’re getting home

Mrs. Office Lady Tip: Never underestimate the number of children who will know their teacher’s name, their dog’s birthday, and exactly what they had for breakfast—but not their bus number.

🍎 Meals & Student Essentials

• Review breakfast and lunch procedures
• Know how families add money to student meal accounts
• Have meal assistance information available
• Check procedures for forgotten lunches
• Know where students can get temporary supplies if needed
• Have information available for families asking about school supplies

📞 Parent Communication

• Update frequently called phone numbers
• Make sure the school website has current back-to-school information
• Check automated calling, texting, and email systems
• Prepare answers to the questions you know are coming
• Know where to direct questions about transportation, food service, athletics, after-school programs, and technology
• Have the school calendar readily available

💻 Technology & Student Access

• Confirm student accounts have been created
• Check that new students are properly entered in necessary systems
• Review Chromebook/device distribution procedures
• Know who handles password resets
• Make sure teachers know where to report technology problems
• Check that parent portal information is ready to distribute
• Identify students or families still needing portal access

🩹 Health & Safety

• Coordinate with the school nurse on important student alerts
• Review emergency procedures
• Make sure emergency contact information is accessible
• Know the procedure for student injuries and illness
• Review student sign-out procedures
• Make sure emergency cards/forms have been returned—or know who still owes you one
• Confirm radios and emergency communication systems are working

🎒 Dismissal

• Review dismissal procedures with office staff
• Know where bus, walker, car rider, and after-school lists are kept
• Establish a procedure for dismissal changes
• Make sure staff know who can authorize a dismissal change
• Prepare for parent calls about missed buses
• Know the procedure for a student who is not picked up
• Keep transportation and emergency numbers close

❤️ The Little Things

• Have tissues ready for nervous students—and nervous parents
• Keep a few pencils and basic school supplies at the desk
• Know where lost-and-found items will go
• Have a plan for forgotten backpacks, lunches, instruments, and homework
• Learn the names of your new students whenever you can
• Take one last walk through the office from a parent’s point of view
• Put on your comfortable shoes