Most military-connected students in and around Minot AFB attend public schools. The majority attend the schools in the Minot Public School District, which includes attendance at the three on-base schools: North Plains Elementary School, Dakota Elementary School, and Memorial Middle School, known as “Public Schools on Military Installations” or PSMIs. However, our closest off-base neighbor–-Glenburn Public School—has also seen an uptick in military-connected student attendance. Given this information, and inspired by the turkey that frequents the intersection of US 83 and the US 83 Bypass, I talk turkey or straightforwardly share the best preparation for our public-school families to help their students return to school refreshed and ready! Why? Because no one wants to end summer cold turkey!

It is July 4th, so we have 6.5 weeks until school. Here’s what you can do each week to not be a turkey and instead effortlessly glide into the 2025-2026 School Year:

July 6-12:
Schedule dentist/eyeglass appointments. Try to get these in before the new school year. Also, have your students try on their clothes, jackets, shoes, boots, snow pants, undershirts, dress shirts etc. Donate what they no longer fit into.

July 13-19:
Start purchasing sneakers, clothes, and other back-to-school items you may order online. Depending on where you purchase, buying early ensures you receive all items in time regardless of tariffs or other delays.

July 20-26:
Intentionally plan each space. If you have boys, buy hair-cutting clippers or girl’s bows and hair ties. Organize your routines and establish a place where all these items are kept for routine child maintenance. Do your children complete their homework at your kitchen table? Have a pencil cup with sharpened pencils, paper, glue, markers, crayons, etc. all ready to go and within their reach. Display tutor.com and other free websites that they can access, as needed. Designate a healthy snack cabinet for them stocked with pretzels, popcorn, and/or raisins and designate one refrigerator shelf for healthy snacks they can reach: carrots, cheese sticks, yogurt, etc.

July 27-August 2:
If your student has any required reading to do, do it this week, so you can check it and they can edit it and have it ready to place in their backpack next week.

August 3-9:
Plan to attend my Back-to-School Backpack event held at the Youth Center on Minot AFB on Friday, August 8th from 1100 – 1300! At this event, I partner with Scheels and Operation Homefront to provide 200 free backpacks and school supplies to military-connected students (registration required). In addition, over 30 organizations will be present to give you and your student additional free resources and supplies. During this week, you should also start getting your child’s sleep schedule back on track, because “Remember that while you are [receiving] new clothes, notebooks, and book bags, the most important school supply might just be a good night of sleep” (Kansagra, 2022). At least two weeks before the school year, you should get your child’s sleep schedule back on track. According to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours” (Paruthi, 2016). Adequate sleep is crucial for student success and the two-week timeframe ensures a gradual transition, so you can move bedtime up by 10 to 15 minutes per day until you reach your goal bedtime (Kansagra, 2022). Countless studies exist showing improved focus, retention, and heightened performance of student’s academic development when sleep is prioritized.

August 10-16:
While you continue to work on your student’s sleep schedule, you should spend this week–your last full week of summer if you follow the MPS calendar—winging it! What do you and your family enjoy doing together? Carve out some fun! Every morning come up with a turkey-tastic plan to celebrate your student at the age they are now, because time flies!

August 17-20:
During this week, your student is sleeping well, your family feels connected, you have all your school supplies, and your family spaces are organized and ready for action! Parents/Guardians – Attend, if you haven’t, any school orientations with your child. Write down the MPS special calendar days (early release/administrator training or no school days/breaks) in your agendas. Have a calendar up and at eye level for your children with their important dates, as well. They will ask what day it is and/or how many days until “bring your favorite stuffed animal” or “hat day”/sports practice and now you’ll be ready. If there were any dentist/eyeglass appointments you couldn’t schedule earlier, schedule them now and write them in your calendars. In addition, have your student look over their required summer reading (if applicable), so it is fresh in their mind.
The night before school, stick a note and/or small toy under your student’s pillow and tell them you know they’ll have a great year and that you’re proud of them. Stick a note of “Congratulations on a Great 1st day!” on their snack shelves. Then, plan to spend at least 15 minutes with them, at eye-level (kitchen table/on couch facing them) actively listening right after school. As they share their day or get out homework/get-to-know-you worksheets, ask them intentional questions that stimulate deeper thinking, such as “Why do you think that happened?” or “How did that make you feel?” After 15 minutes of quality student-focused time, you do your thing readying dinner or checking your phone/email and they do their thing with homework or playing. Establishing this daily habit creates a nurturing nest from which they can grow.
Let’s go Warbirds! Let’s go Rough Riders! Through careful navigation of these 6.5 weeks, our students can exemplify both wing’s commitment to excellence and readiness. Now that’s talking turkey!

Kansagra, Sujay MD. “Getting sleep back on track for school.” Department of Pediatrics: Duke University School of Medicine Website, 23 Aug 2022, pediatrics.duke.edu/news/getting-sleep-back-track-school. Accessed 19 Jun 2025.
Paruthi, Shalimi et al. “Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Vol. 12, No. 6, 2016, 785-786, PDF download. Accessed 21 Jun 2025.

The information in this article is provided as a resource and does not constitute endorsement by Minot AFB, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense of the external website, or the information, products, or services contained therein.