School days are quickly approaching and area schools will be holding registration and orientation days next week.

Principals are encouraging parents and children to attend the sessions.

At Spanish Fort Elementary, sixth grade registration will be held July 31 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Rockwell Elementary will hold its “Meet the Teacher Day” Aug. 7 and remaining students at SFE will have registration on Aug. 7.

SFE Principal Rebecca Comer strongly encourages all parents and children to attend the sessions.

“There will be registration forms to fill out and bring back to school. They will get information about T-shirts and agendas and what they need to buy,” Comer said.

Parents who have pre-ordered supply packs will be allowed to pick them up in the classrooms, Comer said.

Starting school for the first time or entering a new grade can be stressful for children and parents. Orientation is a means of easing the transition and allows parents and children to learn what to expect for the school year.

Rockwell Elementary Principal Robert Owen said “Meet the Teacher Day” is a great way to alleviate any stress or worries children and parents may have.

“It’s important,obviously, because parents will have the opportunity to see who their children will be with throughout the year,” he said. ‘We’ll get the child oriented to the facility itself.”

Registration was held in April for incoming kindergartners at Rockwell Elementary. Owen said for kindergartners “Meet the Teacher Day” will be a second chance for parents to walk through the halls and get them acquainted with the facilities.

For parents still uneasy about letting their child go, experts suggest several more ways to ease into the transition.

• Get back into the routine. Re-establish bedtime and make sure uniforms, books and supplies are organized.

• Familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Walk the grounds of the school and enter classrooms to get a better feel for your every day environment.

• Stay on schedule.

• Establish a homework routine and place and emphasize organization.

Comer agrees that kindergarten registration is a great way to allow parents and students feel comfortable.

She said at kindergarten registration, parents will learn what to expect from their kindergarten experience.

“They will find out about the schedule, and what the children will be learning,” she said. “We urge everybody if they are in town to attend.”

Spanish Fort High School will be holding freshmen orientation on Monday Aug. 6. Orientation is also welcome for students entering grades 10-12 who are new to the high school.

Seventh grade orientation will be held Tuesday Aug. 7 and any eighth graders new to the high school are welcome.

“Hopefully the parents will come [to “Meet the Teacher Day”] because we like to meet them too,” Owen said.