Dartmouth Public Schools start up on Thursday, September 1. Here are the top 10 tips from school officials for getting your family ready for fall semester.

#1. Attend an open house.

With more than 25 students new to Joseph DeMello Elementary this year, Principal Cathy Maccini is an advocate for open houses. “We’ll give them a tour and show them where their classrooms are,” she said.

Incoming first graders already toured the facility as kindergarteners late in the 2015-2016 school year, but each of Dartmouth’s six public schools will be holding open houses for families within the next few weeks. DeMello’s open house will be on September 15 at 6:30 p.m., along with Potter Elementary (kindergarten, :15 p.m.; grades 1 and 2, 6:15 p.m.; grades 3-5, 7:15 p.m.) and Quinn Elementary (kindergarten, 6 p.m.; grades 1 and 4, 6:30 p.m.; grades 2 and 3, 7 p.m.; grade 5, 7:30 p.m.) Cushman School will welcome families on August 30 at 6:30 p.m.; Dartmouth Middle, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. Parent orientation for fifth graders is on August 25 at 9 a.m. Dartmouth High will hold a freshmen orientation on August 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

#2. Take the bus.

“We encourage kids to take the bus” beginning with the first day of school, said Maccini. It helps parents establish pickup/drop-off points, and gives bus drivers a chance to learn students’ names and welcome them, she said.

#3. Prioritize.

Dartmouth High Principal John Gould drew on his daily interactions with students as well as his experience as a dad. “I suggest that students focus on creating a list of priorities every day that is balanced between academics, friends, and family,” he said via email. A balance helps keep students healthy. “Dartmouth High School belongs to the students, and we want them to enjoy their experience,” said Gould.

#4. Start a routine.

Don’t wait until the night before school starts to transition children to a new schedule, suggested DeMello Assistant Principal Catherine Pavao. Start adjusting bedtime and morning alarms a week before school starts, she said.

#5. Ask questions.

Ask your kids how their day went, said Cushman School Principal Melissa McHenry. Even if they’re stubborn about divulging, “keep probing for those answers,” she suggested.

Try asking “what did you do at school,” “what went well,” and “what was challenging” to get the dialogue going. It’s a good way to build communication skills, even at the preschool and kindergarten levels, said McHenry.

#6. “Read! Read! Read!”

Reading is so important at every level, said McHenry. Encourage students to read, or get involved by reading with your child, she said. Engage in conversation about the text to promote comprehension, critical thinking, and family time.

#7. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Teaching is a collaboration between home and school, said Maccini. Parents should feel comfortable addressing concerns, obstacles, and goals with teachers via calls, email, or notes. “A strong home-school connection ensures student success,” she said.

#8. Arrange playdates.

Encourage learning and socialization by letting kids play, said McHenry. Playdates and nature walks are a great way to get started, she said.

#9. Support your schools.

Stop and Shop’s A+ School Rewards programs helps fund scholarships, teacher luncheons, and mini-grants for programming, said Gould. How does it work? Log on to stopandshop.com on September 12 to register, and each dollar you spend translates to points for your school. At the end of each month, schools earns a percentage of the money raised through the program, depending on its percentage of points compared to other participating schools. Checks are mailed to school principals by July 1.

#10. Don’t forget the hashtag.

Though Gould may receive some help with his social media skills, his Twitter account makes it that much easier to keep up with school news, he said. Follow Gould and Dartmouth Public Schools Superintendent Bonny Gifford on Twitter, and look for other opportunities to connect to your community digitally.