Follow your child's social media pages. "Friend" them on Facebook, follow their Instagram and Twitter. Make it clear to your child that you are watching their interactions and looking to protect them. Make sure that your child has their account settings set so that their personal information is private and not viewable by the public. Tell your child that they are not allow to friend or follow people who they do not know in person (check their friends and followers to make sure this is the case). Do not allow your child to have unlimited access to their phone or computer - consider plugging all phones/devices in at night in a central location in the home so that your child is not up late at night online. Remind your child that every thing they say and every picture they upload will be out there forever. In just a few short years they will be applying for colleges and looking for jobs - they do not want every misstep of adolescence to follow them throughout life. A good rule of thumb is "Would I want grandma/grandpa to see this?" - if the answer is no, they shouldn't post it. If there is a social media concern that you believe to be causing a disruption during school, please take screen shots and share them with your child's counselor or administrator. More great information can be found at www.commonsensemedia.org.

If your child is struggling, they need to talk with someone they trust. If they are not able to talk with you or another trusted adult, they will seek information from their peers and/or the internet. It is much better for them to have you or a trusted adult share good information with them. If you don't know anything about the topic, go online together and search for quality resources, then read and talk through them together. Buy or borrow library books to read and discuss together. You don't need to sit down and have "the talk" with your child - instead take the opportunity to chat about topics that come up while watching TV, in the car, or doing an activity together.

Davis Middle School teachers host a tutoring program every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school. This is an excellent opportunity for students to get one-on-one help from certified teachers. They can do homework on their own or ask teachers for help. Students must sign up for tutoring on the day they play to stay. The signup sheet is on the clipboard in the cafeteria. If students typically ride a school bus, they can also sign up for the late bus.

All Davis students were issued an Agenda at the beginning of the year, and all teachers prompt the students to write their assignments in the Agenda during class. You should be able to check your child's agenda each day and find out what they should be working on.

If your child already receives transportation from Omaha Public Schools, they are eligible to ride the late bus, which will leave Davis at 5:00 p.m. and will drop students off at the elementary school closest to home. They must sign up for the late bus every day they plan to take it. The signup sheet is on the clipboard in the cafeteria.

Middle school is a tough time for students. They are not "grown up" but are no longer small children. They are figuring out who they are and determining where they fit in. Students who participate in school activities will find their "place" more quickly and easily, and will develop friendships that can last years. We encourage students to participate in sports and activities as frequently as possible. Another benefit of participation in school activities is developing a positive relationship with teachers and staff. If you are aware of an incidence of bullying, please report it to your child's counselor or administrator immediately. Omaha Public Schools' bullying procedure is put into place for all bullying incidents.

(We worked with our school nurse and PE Department to put together this answer.) The key to health for your middle school student is moderation and physical activity. As children get older they are more responsible for making healthy choices. Help your child to know and understand which foods are healthy and how to select them, whether at home, at a restaurant, or at school. Help them to understand proper portion size. Keep healthy snacks and meal choices at home. However, it's important to allow for a little indulgence from time to time -- if food is too controlled, your child might rebel and overindulge while they are away from you. Participate in fun activities as a family rather than forced exercise. For example, instead of telling your child they need to work out, take a family trip to the zoo and get some exercise while walking around. These are just general suggestions -- for medical advice or if you have a major concern, please make an appointment with your child's pediatrician.