Hi Carlos,

We hope you had an enjoyable summer. Labor Day is coming, we all know what that means – Back to School!

In September 1882 Central Labor Union held its first Labor Day celebration in New York City, in honor of the entire workforce.

In 1884 the first Monday of September officially became Labor Day and over the years it has been celebrated with parades, fireworks and festivals; slowly losing its political connotations and becoming an unofficial end of summer holiday.

Labor Day is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race or nation.??–Samual Gompers, founder and president of the American Federation of Labor

Remind your child that she is not the only student who is uneasy about the first day of school.

Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.

If you feel it is appropriate, drive or walk your child to school and pick her up on the first day.

Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Pack heavier item closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student’s body weight.

Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb and do not move around on the bus.

If walking to school, bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers.

Teach your child when and how to ask for help.

And most importantly, encourage your child to make friends with other children.