Back to School in Ramona
Local families share tips for a smooth start to the new school year.
With summer winding down and the first day of school just around the corner, families throughout Ramona are beginning the annual transition from late summer mornings and relaxed schedules to backpacks, homework, sports, activities and early alarms.
Ramona Unified School District students will return to classrooms on Monday, August 24, giving families just a little more time to prepare for the new school year.
For many parents, back-to-school preparation means more than shopping for new clothes and school supplies. It can mean adjusting sleep schedules, arranging childcare, planning breakfasts and helping children mentally prepare for a new year.
Two San Diego Country Estates families, the Rodriguez and Martinez families, are already getting ready.
Ashley Rodriguez and her family have lived in Ramona since 2016 and moved to San Diego Country Estates in May 2025. As a mom of four, Rodriguez is preparing for a school year that will look very different for each of her children.
Her oldest, Austin, 19, is entering his second year at Palomar College. Addeylnn “Addee,” 17, is a senior at Ramona High School, while Jillianna “Jillee,” 14, is beginning her freshman year at RHS. Mason, 12, is entering seventh grade at Olive Pierce Middle School.
Each child has something different to look forward to. Austin is excited about school but admits balancing college and work will be a challenge. For Addee, the highlight will be reconnecting with friends and looking ahead to graduation. Jillee is ready to begin high school. Mason is
Katie Martinez has lived in San Diego Country Estates since 2007 and is preparing for another big transition in her household. Her son, Xander, 10, is entering fifth grade, while her 4-year-old daughter, Rosalie, is beginning transitional kindergarten. For Rosalie, the new school year represents an especially exciting milestone.
“She is excited to go to a big school and not preschool and to make new friends,” Martinez said.
Martinez said one of the biggest back-to-school concerns for her and many working parents, isn't school supplies, it’s childcare.
“I think the most important thing to prep is childcare,” she said. “With the school hours being 7:40 am-1:50 pm, it’s very difficult for working parents to find childcare.”
For families with children who get out of school in the early afternoon, arranging after-school care can be an important part of back-to-school planning. Martinez recommends getting those arrangements figured out before school begins.
Rodriguez said one of the most important preparations happens at home. About two weeks before school starts, she begins getting everyone back into a regular routine, including earlier bedtimes and consistent wake-up times. That gradual transition is a strategy shared by Rodriguez, who also begins adjusting her family's schedule about two weeks before school starts. Starting the adjustment early can make the first week of school less of a shock for children and parents.
Sleep is one of the easiest things to overlook during the busy back-to-school season, but it can have a major impact on a child's ability to focus, learn and manage the school day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 6 to 12 should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep per 24 hours, while teenagers ages 13 to 18 should get 8 to 10 hours.
For younger children, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 10 to 13 hours for preschoolers ages 3 to 5, including naps, and 9 to 12 hours for school-age children ages 6 to 12.
Parents can make the transition easier by gradually moving bedtime earlier rather than waiting until the night before school. Other helpful habits include keeping wake-up and bedtime schedules consistent, limiting electronics before bed, preparing backpacks and clothing the night before, and allowing enough time in the morning so children don't start their day feeling rushed.
Another important part of starting the school day is making sure children have something nutritious to eat.
Breakfast doesn't have to be elaborate. For busy mornings, parents can prepare simple options such as:
- Eggs and whole-grain toast
- Oatmeal topped with fruit
- Greek yogurt with berries and granola
- A banana with peanut or nut butter
- Whole-grain cereal with milk and fruit
- A smoothie made with fruit, yogurt or milk
- A breakfast burrito prepared ahead of time
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends making nutritious meals, hydration, physical activity and adequate sleep part of a healthy school-year routine. Keeping easy grab-and-go choices available can help families whose mornings are especially busy. And don't forget the water bottle. Staying hydrated throughout the school day is another simple habit parents can establish before the first bell rings.
Back-to-school preparation isn't only about school supplies. Parents can help children feel more prepared by talking about what the new school year will look like, especially if they are starting a new school, entering middle school or beginning high school.
For younger students, that might mean practicing the morning routine or talking about teachers and classrooms. For older students, it could mean discussing schedules, extracurricular activities, transportation, homework expectations or balancing school with jobs and other responsibilities.
For families like the Martinez household, preparation also means making sure childcare is arranged. For the Rodriguez family, it means helping four children in very different stages of life prepare for their individual challenges.
While children may be counting down the days until they see their friends again, parents are preparing for a return to routines that keep the household moving. For Rodriguez, however, there is one part of the school routine she is particularly excited about.
“I’m so looking forward to morning drop off and then I’ll head straight to a nature walk alone with our dogs,” she said.
With Ramona Unified students returning August 24, there is still time for local families to shop for supplies, adjust sleep schedules, arrange childcare, plan easy breakfasts and enjoy the final days of summer.
The goal isn't to have everything perfect on the first day. It is simply to help students—and their parents—start the new school year feeling rested, prepared and ready for what's ahead.
