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On The Cover:ABy Kathi Holzschuhernew school year is underway!Brand New School YearAs students return to school, they look forward to meeting new friends and participating in extra-curricular fun. There are clubs and activities of all types; robotics, cheerleading, sports, band, chess, tennis, pickleball-you name it! Schools provide these experiences to reach their students at their primary place of interest. An added benefit is that these programs offer students some much-needed mentalPBy Sally Kalos What Parents Can Do To Be More Involved At SchoolBusses are running, football isstarting, bands are practicing, and students and teachers are getting to know one another.The 2023-2024 school year comes with high hopes for a hassle and drama-free experience. Parents and students should feel excited and hopeful for the new academic year.downtime and, in many cases, social and team-building practice.We wish all teachers, students, and families the best of luck as they move through this school year. Savor the moments. They tick by fast.Photo By Hayward Gaude Photographyarents can make every effort to with superintendents and other personnel want students to take the lead and reach encourage children to make the to advocate for policies and procedures out first, with parents providing support if most of the school experience, for students. Decisions typically are up for need be. Adults can be responsive whenincluding academics and extracurricular activities. Though students’ level of engagement is ultimately up to them, parental involvement at school can be crucial for students’ success.According to the National Education Council, when parents get involved in their children’s education, those children are more likely to do better in school and be more positive about the school experience. They also may be well-behaved. Parents wondering what they can do to assist at the school level can consider these possibilities. Attend school board meetingsMany community school boards are comprised entirely of volunteers who workvote, and parents can run for school board positions or simply attend meetings each month and let their voices be heard about various issues.Attend open houses and conferencesParents can make every effort to get to know teachers and other staff. Putting faces to names can help parents develop a connection to teachers and vice versa. Most schools have back to school nights, meet the coaches opportunities, open houses, and parent-teacher conferences. Parents can take part in these events.Open lines of communicationParents can ask teachers and other staff how they prefer to communicate. Some teachersteachers reach out.Attend school eventsFamilies can make it a point to support students in all endeavors. Whenever the opportunity to visit the school comes up — whether for a concert, sports game, trivia night, or fundraiser — parents can make an effort to attend.VolunteerWhen parents want to be involved even further, they can head committees at school or volunteer with the PTA or PTO. They also can help out in the cafeteria, library or in the main office. Parents who have particular skills may volunteer to provide tutoring or mentoring as needed. Furthermore,parents can volunteer in school-sanctioned extracurriculars, such as Scouts BSA or as sports coaches.Involvement in school is part of being an informed and supportive parent.HBy Sally Kalosigh school sports garner significant attention in communities that want tosupport their student-athletes. But what about students who aren’t inclined to compete on the field or in the gym? There are many more non-athletes than athletes, and the following are some extracurricular activities that might appeal to students who aren’t interested in sports.TheaterSchool theater programs faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic,when indoor gatherings were limited if not outright restricted and students were forced to adapt to remote learning. But since COVID-related restrictions were lifted, many theater programs are back in full swing. In fact, the Educational Theatre AssociationTM notes that its programs were present in roughly 5,000 schools during the 2021-22 school year. Theater programs can expose kids to the performing arts but also teach youngsters who aren’t interested in performing about backstage components, including set design and even script writingExtracurricular Activities For Non-AthletesS.T.A.G.E. PresentsOCTOBER 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29Adults $20 Seniors (62+) & Military $17 Students $ 121300 Bulverde Rd, BulverdeTX 78163CALL (830) 438-2338or reserve online atwww.stagebulverde.orgA romantic comedy about two young people caught between the eccentricities & difference of their families.Written By Moss Hart & George S Kaufman Directed By Julia CammackVolunteeringVolunteering is another potential extracurricular activity high school students might want to consider. Volunteering can expose children to potential career paths and introduce them to people from all walks of life. The vast majority of nonprofit organizations welcome and need volunteers, so students should be able to find an organization with a mission that aligns with their values. Schools also maysponsor volunteer programs, and that can be a great way for students to engage with their school community.ClubsHigh schools are home to clubs that cater to all sorts of interests. Foreign language clubs, gaming clubs, book clubs, and debate clubs are just some of the many non-sports- related clubs students can join to participate6www.bsbhighlights.comSeptember 2023kaTt’naCuoeIYTWithYou