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Back to School Guide for New Braunfels Families
School is almost here, which can be equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking for both parents and kids. As you gear up for the school year, it’s important to know what you need before the year begins, both to prepare your kids mentally and ensure they have the supplies they need. At Mayfair in New Braunfels, we are excited for another year of getting your children the quality education and supportive community they deserve.
New Braunfels School Year Start
New Braunfels has two school districts, but families in Mayfair are enrolled in the Comal Independent School District (ISD), a fast-growing and well-rated district with over 30,300 students. The Comal ISD first day of school is August 25th across all schools, including Canyon Middle School and High School and Mayfair Elementary, which opened in fall 2025.
Before the August 25th first day, some schools have events to help students and parents. This includes:
Canyon Middle School Jag Round-Up
On August 19th, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., is the Jag Round-Up for returning 7th and 8th graders. Get your kids back into the swing of things and start off the year strong.
Mayfair Elementary Meet the Teacher Night
From 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on August 20th is the Meet the Teacher Night at Mayfair Elementary. Parents and kids can get to know the teachers and be more familiar with this newer school and learning environment. Each grade level at the elementary has its own classroom wing in the school, promoting a safe and creative space to learn.
School Supply Checklist
Many schools or teachers offer checklists for what your kids need, which is important to consult if anything unique or specific is requested. Check that list alongside this checklist for basics.
Before heading out for a major shopping trip, take a moment to assess what you already have at home. Determine how many unused journals, unopened pencil packs, or extra sticky note pads are already ready to go for the year. Check over backpacks to be sure they’re still sturdy and the straps aren’t fraying. Although it’s always fun to refresh certain back-to-school essentials, you don’t want to buy way more than you need.
No matter your kids’ grade levels, some basic supplies include:
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Lunch box
- Pencils
- Pencil bags
- Pencil grips
- Notebooks
- Folders
- Ruler
- Pencil sharpeners
- Cap erasers and large erasers
- Colored pencils, crayons, and markers
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Scissors
- Book covers
- Gym clothes bag
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
For school projects, you may benefit from keeping supplies at home including:
- Construction paper
- Poster board
- Glue sticks and liquid glue
- Transparent tape
- Masking tape or painter’s tape
- Old magazines
- Pipe cleaners
- Hot glue gun
Going shopping with your kids for school supplies and letting them find things they love can make for a fun day for them and get them excited for the school year. Letting them choose certain supplies also helps them feel more control over their school experience, which can be a scary start for many kids.
Middle School and High School Supplies
For middle school- or high school-age kids, consider additional supplies like:
- Three-ring binders
- Tab dividers
- Blue or black pens
- A planner
- Index cards
- Clipboard
- Calculator and graphing calculator
- Printer paper, graphing paper, lined paper
- Dry-erase board and markers
- Sheet protectors
- Hole punch
- Paper clips
- Binder clips
- Staples and stapler
- Highlighters
- Sticky notes
- White-out
- Combination lock
- Locker magnets
No matter your kid’s age, it helps to have a dedicated location for school supplies at home or at school, so both they and you know where things are.
Getting Back Into the Routine
It’s not always easy for kids to transition from a relaxing and fun-filled summer to the structure and requirements of school. For at least a week before school, you likely want to start adjusting sleep hours, lunch times, screen time, and other school routines. Adjusting these schedules gradually helps kids adjust, while also minimizing the effect of sudden strict routines and early wake-ups. Consider routines like:
- Sleep. School likely means earlier wake-ups for most kids, and earlier planned bedtimes, too. Create a routine before bed each night and avoid screen time before bed. This helps improve your kid’s sleep, which in turn improves memory, emotional regulation, focus, and immune systems, while minimizing fatigue.
- Screen time. Many schools limit or prohibit phones and other screens in classrooms, hallways, and other areas of the school. It’s important kids know these limits and are adjusted to limited screen time. Less screen time also helps with your children’s emotional health, sleep, and attention spans.
- Study and homework. It helps to have a planned time of day to complete homework or handle studying, such as shortly after your kid gets home from school. At-home workbooks can be a useful way to start this routine before school starts.
Before-school visits that schools plan also help your kids get ready for the year and know what to expect. Giving them the information they need, like a school supply list or their daily schedule, also helps them prepare and adjust to changes in advance.
Your Family Calendar
It can be hard to keep organized as you juggle back-to-school shopping, sports practice and events, open houses, band camp, music lessons, doctor’s appointments, meet-the-teacher events, after-school activities, other school events, on top of your own personal schedule. Creating a family calendar can help you keep track of key events and weekly schedules.
Having a prominent family calendar, like a wall calendar, can also help your kids keep track of major events. It’s still important that teens and pre-teens have their own planners and organizers to manage their own schedules and homework due dates, but a family calendar is a great way to keep the entire family up to date.
Doctor’s Visit
A routine wellness check is important for your kid’s well-being. It helps assess their physical development as they grow and address any concerns. Sports physicals are also important for many kids. In addition to these routine appointments, assess your children’s emergency contacts, the school’s policies for sickness, and up-to-date vaccination needs to keep your kids safe and healthy.
Get Ready for a Good Year
Whether you are new to Mayfair or ready for another year in this new community, we welcome you to get ready for a great school year and help your kids succeed.
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