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OnTheCover: Back To School! y Sally KalosBTbuilding skills.To all the teachers, students, and familiesnavigating through this school year, we extend our best wishes. Enjoy and cherish every moment; they pass quicker than you might think.he 2025-2026 school year has kicked off with bustling activity! Buses are back on schedule,football teams are hitting the fields, bands are tuning up, and both students and teachers are engaging in new introductions.This new academic year sparks great enthusiasm. It’s a time filled with excitement for both parents and students, looking forward to a year of learning andfun. As students dive back into school life, they eagerly anticipate making new friends and immersing themselves in a variety of extracurricular activities. From robotics and cheerleading to sports, band, chess, tennis, and pickleball, schools are bustling with clubs and programs that cater to diverse interests. These activities not only provide a creative and relaxing break from academics but also foster social interactions and team-NBy Staffenjoy going to bed on time, and many can’tNutritious School Lunch Ideas For Kidso two children are the same, but many youngsters share a number of similarities. Few young childrenmore likely to eat a full lunch if they get to put it together themselves. Parents can put all the elements of a tasty sandwich into youngsters’ lunch boxes, but let kids assemble the meal themselves. Sandwiches are not necessarily the healthiest midday meal, but they are much more nutritious when parents pack whole grain bread, tomatoes, lettuce, and low-sodium deli meat in students’ lunch boxes. If a do-it- yourself sandwich is a nonstarter, consider a DIY taco lunch complete with whole grain tortillas.• Burrito bowl: A burrito bowl with kid- friendly yet nutritious ingredients is another great school lunch option. Red beans are a good source of fiber and the Harvard Medical School notes all beans are rich in potassium. Fiber is filling, so a burrito bowl that includes fiber-rich ingredients, including red beans but also quinoa orbrown rice, can help students avoid late- day hunger pangs that can compromise how they feel and perform in the classroom. Burrito bowls are so tasty that kids may not even realize Mom and Dad have snuck some healthy foods like vegetables into their midday meal.• Parfait: Parfait has all the looks of a tasty dessert without the pitfalls of ice cream and other treats. The nutritional value of parfait depends on the ingredients Mom and Dad choose to include. Protein-rich Greek yogurt paired with some fruit and granola makes for a filling and tasty meal that’s also loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. An insulated and airtight lunch box packed with ice packs can ensure the parfait is still cool come lunchtime.• Pasta salad: Kids tend to be especially fond of pasta, and parents can use that affinity to their advantage when planning schoolresist a good trampoline. Kids also have a reputation for being picky eaters, which can be challenging for parents tasked with picking and preparing school lunches.When dining at home, parents know which foods their kids eat and which they push around their plates in the hopes they won’t have to consume them. School lunch is a different scenario altogether, as parents are not around to ensure their youngsters eat a full and nutritious meal. Kids who are picky eaters may not eat any lunch at all. Parents who want to ensure their children get the nutrition they need to do well in school can consider the following school lunch ideas.• Make-your-own sandwich: Kids may belunches. A whole-wheat pasta salad with some cherry tomatoes and diced broccoli makes for a nutrient-rich lunch that kids can enjoy. If broccoli figures to raise youngsters’ ire, consider a nutritious substitute, such as shaved cucumber or zucchini.School lunches can be nutritious and still make kids excited to eat their midday meal away from home.By StaffStrategies For Students Facing Challenging ClassesE very student takes something unique from their high school experience, and many eventually look back fondly on the years spent in the hallowed halls of their alma maters. High school might be the last step before learning a trade career or serve as four years of preparation for college. Either way, it isimportant to get good grades.Continually challenging oneself withcoursework can help students get the most out of their academic careers. General level classes are often taken freshman year and honors classes sophomore year. Students may then decide to enroll in advanced placement or dual enrollment classes as an upperclassman. As students continue to push themselves and classes get harder, they may have to revise their approach in order to excel. These guidelines can help students continue to be successful.• Establish a solid foundation. The first step towards success in any class is gaining a solid understanding of the basics, says Stemly Tutoring. If there are gaps in foundational knowledge, assignments and tests can be particularly difficult as the coursework becomes harder. Routinely reviewing previous material and ensuring that the fundamental concepts are mastered is essential.• Practice active learning. Active learning involves engaging with the material in a way that goes beyond passively reading texts. Ideas include formulating questions, quizzing classmates, explaining the material to others as a teacher would, and writing down key words and topics so they aremore likely to be remembered.• Focus on time management. In high school, five or more classes run concurrently during the year. Assignments may have similar due dates, and tests and quizzes may come more frequently. Students will need to master an organizational system and time management strategy that works for them. Students can utilize a day planner as a useful organizational tool. Breaking down long-term assignments into smaller pieces that are easier to manage also can be useful. Smartphone notifications can alert to due dates.• Seek help when needed. Students shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help from peers, academic coaches, tutors, or their teachers. Study groups or partnerships with classmates also may be fruitful. Students should not wait until they are falling behind to seek help, as that can make it much more challenging to catch up.• Study regularly. Reviewing material frequently and reinforcing knowledge is a smart strategy. Creating visual aids like diagrams or maps can help students understand a subject more fully. Again, this carries back to mastering the fundamentals.Your Pet Deserves The Best• Daycare • Overnight Boarding • Grooming • Cattery • Beach Club • Dock Diving • PetBakery • Award Winning Training k9countryclub.net830-980-8476 31305 Oakview Rd., Bulverde, TX 781636www.stoneoakhighlights.comSeptember 2025Looking back on previous lessons may help students with current ones.• Don’t forget to find balance and prioritize self-care. Academics are important, but so is mastering a balance between schoolwork and other activities. Without balance, a student may experience burnout, stress and additional symptoms that can impede students’ ability to do well in school.High school coursework gets more difficult as the years pass and students challenge themselves. Certain strategies can help students navigate increasingly challenging coursework.