We are all getting ready for the opening of school-it is the time of year at this newspaper when we usually hear from the PR people in school districts, anxiously lining up their press releases-and it makes for a stir of excitement!

Good luck to all on this new school year-parents, students, administrators, and school staff-may we all have a productive year!

We rcently came across some tips for maintaining success throughout the year:

It's easy to get excited when back-to-school time rolls around, but how do children and their parents keep that energy going all year long?

"Many of us get all revved up at the start of the school year, but often times it can be challenging for parents and students to keep that enthusiasm and momentum going all year long," said Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association (NEA). "When the butterflies from the first day of school settle and the shiny new school supplies have lost their luster, parents need to come up with creative, yet practical, ways to keep their children engaged."

NEA, offers five easy ways parents can help their children succeed at school year-round:

• Don't give up the daily routine. Children need structure and consistency, so be sure to keep your daily schedule throughout the year. Just make sure you take a break during vacations and school holidays.

• Meet the teachers. If parents can't visit the school to introduce themselves, they can write a note, send an e-mail or place a call to their child's teacher. Parents can tell teachers about their child's interests and hobbies to establish a personal connection and build a strong relationship throughout the year.

• Keep fun books on the menu. Research shows reading helps ensure long-term academic success. So, in addition to assigned reading, encourage children to continue leisure reading because a good reader is someone who reads early and often.

• Join the PTA or other school community groups. There's nothing like the whole community working together to ensure great public schools for every child. Encourage the group to participate in school events.

• Mark your calendars. Make a note of important dates such as back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences.