Thu Sep 12 00:37:00 UTC 2024: ## North Carolina Principal Offers Tips for Parents to Help Kids Succeed in School

**GREENSBORO, NC** – With the rise of smartphones and social media, many students struggle to stay focused in class due to overtiredness. Greensboro Charter Academy Principal Tracey Duhaime, a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School honoree, is offering a solution: parent partnerships.

Duhaime is hosting a workshop for parents of K-2 students to tackle common challenges such as excessive screen time, sleep deprivation, and tardiness. She emphasizes that establishing positive habits early in a child’s educational journey is crucial for their success.

“I definitely think it has an impact, not only on their learning, but on their relationships with their peers too,” Duhaime said about excessive device use. “If they’re coming to school tired, they’re more likely to be cranky. They’re often not eating properly, not sleeping properly, and there’s no bedtime routine.”

The workshop will address issues like struggling with schoolwork, tardiness, behavior problems, and falling asleep in class. Duhaime acknowledges the challenges parents face, emphasizing that “some of them are in a position where they’re doing the best they can.”

She offers three key suggestions for parents:

* **Establish a consistent bedtime routine:** Structure around bedtime and electronics can make a significant difference.
* **Limit screen time:** Technology overuse can be detrimental to both students and parents.
* **Prioritize healthy meals and sleep:** A good night’s rest and quality meals set students up for success.

Duhaime stresses the importance of family time and emphasizes that many families are already getting it right. “The bedtime routine, limited screen time, quality meals and interactions, they all add up to a student who is ready and eager to learn when they arrive at school,” she says.

Greensboro Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states.

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