THE FIRST WORD
Back to the Backpack
My favorite back-to-school activity growing up was shopping with my
Mom for a new backpack. My go-to favorite brand: Lisa Frank. Paired
with some fresh Birkenstocks, I felt too cool for school.

So Moms, here’s your check list: New backpack? Check. Overfl ow of
shiny school supplies? Check. Instagram-worthy bento box lunches?
Check. Bright-eyed and well-rested child? … semi-check?
While kids might be heading into months of schoolwork, the new
school year brings work for parents, too. Let our September issue be a
study tool to help not only your children, but also yourself.

In this issue, we have our annual Education Guide on pg. 38. You can
fi nd resources for schools, enrichment activities, tutoring centers, fi eld
trip destinations and more!
Are you looking to shake-up your school lunch packing routine, or
want to know how to prevent healthy foods from fi nding their way
back home? Check out the “What’s in Your Lunchbox?” article on pg.

26 to get some healthy lunch planning ideas and tips from local chefs.

Does chronic procrastination describe the state of your teen’s study
habits? If so, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Get some tips from a local
tutor on how to help your teen improve their time-management skills
and tackle schoolwork on pg. 18.

We have a list of newly-released children’s books on pg. 32 to check
out this fall. For parents of children with dyslexia who fear their
child might not ever enjoy the act of reading, see pg. 36. The experts
at Lindamood-Bell can alleviate your concerns as they answer some
frequently asked questions on this topic.

The biggest heroes of every school year are teachers. They’re the
inspiring men and women who help our children learn, dream, create
and grow. After receiving nominations from our readers, we chose six
incredible local teachers to tell their stories. Read about our second
annual Teachers of the Year winners starting on pg. 10. You’ll soon
discover why these dedicated individuals are among the area’s best
educators. Bonus: You’ll also get plenty of invaluable parent-teacher
insight! When the kids are fi nally off to school, happy with their new Eastpak
tropical print backpack, I hope you enjoy a moment of solitude. One that
includes whipping up your own specialized bento-box lunch creation
and “studying” all the education-focused resources in this issue.

Happy new school year!
Britni Petersen
Managing Editor
Washington FAMILY Magazine
bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com washingtonFAMILY.com
September 2018
7