Open School: Students and Parents Learn Together

First graders in many localities have officially returned to school, starting the new school year since last week. To avoid confusion for both students and parents, many schools have organized different, open forms of returning to school.

Pay more attention to the feelings of students and parents

On the morning of August 20, Thuan Kieu Primary School, Dong Hung Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, welcomed first graders back to school. Notably, the school allowed parents to accompany their children throughout the ceremony, helping parents feel more secure when sending their children to a new school. This is the difference between the school opening ceremony in the past and now.

Parents and first graders in Ho Chi Minh City enthusiastically participate in activities on the first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

On the first day of taking her grandchild to primary school, Ms. Huynh Thi Truong, the grandmother of a first-grader at Thuan Kieu Primary School, expressed surprise at being able to attend the school opening ceremony with her grandchild. "I was very surprised, going to school today is much more fun than in the past. The school pays more attention to the feelings of the children as well as the parents. I remember when I went to school in the past, when the school opening ceremony was held, first-grader parents were not allowed to go to school with their children, this sometimes made parents and grandparents nervous, and the children were also worried," Ms. Truong shared.

Sharing the same feeling, the grandmother of Phuc Thinh, class 1/5 at Thuan Kieu Primary School, shared that the first day of school in the past and now are very different. In her mind, the first day of school for first graders in the past was very simple, students came to school, listened to speeches in the ceremony, then went back to class to listen to the teachers' instructions. Nowadays, first graders and their parents are welcomed at the school gate. The children are organized many educational activities on the first day of school, helping to reduce confusion on the first day of school.

In the 2025-2026 school year, Le Dinh Chinh Primary School, Minh Phung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, has many innovations in organizing the school opening ceremony. In the morning, from 7:30 a.m., parents bring their children to participate in activities to familiarize themselves with the learning environment. From 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., the school allows parents to observe students, watch their children study, get to know their friends... Parents and grandparents can meet the nanny and homeroom teacher to discuss further to prepare their children well for first grade. This activity takes place throughout the first 3 days of first graders going to school and is widely supported by parents.

Mr. Van Nhat Phuong, Principal of Le Dinh Chinh Primary School, Minh Phung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City (white shirt) talks with parents of first grade students. During the first days of school, first grade parents have 60 minutes to enter the school to watch their children study and participate in activities.

PHOTO: PHUONG HA

INVITE PSYCHOLOGISTS TO TALK WITH PARENTS

On the day of welcoming first graders back to school, Tran Hung Dao Primary School, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, organized a seminar on "Grade 1 - The big journey begins with small arms" for parents. Principal Le Thanh Huong sent a thank you letter to all the grandparents and parents of first graders present, sending a message hoping that parents would accompany her in caring for and educating their children. Afterwards, Dr. To Nhi A, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, had a talk with the parents.

Dr. To Nhi A presented the psychological characteristics of students at this stage, common habits of children of the Alpha generation (born in the period 2010 - 2024) in studying. At the same time, she sent young parents the best ways to be friends and companions with their children during the learning process at home as well as help their children go to school in a happy and joyful mood.

The female doctor emphasized that supporting children to go to school is not only about academic achievement but also about helping children feel safe, connected with teachers and friends, and finding joy and happiness in learning. Parents need to care for and encourage their children with simple skills, while respecting their need to express themselves so that they can confidently assert themselves...

OPEN SCHOOLS, HAPPIER CHILDREN

Ms. Pham Thanh Hien, Vice Principal of Thuan Kieu Primary School, said that with many innovations in education and better material conditions than before, the school has favorable conditions to implement and organize many open activities, attract students, and welcome parents and students right from the first day of school. This is also one of the ways to help first graders feel more confident and happy when entering a new environment.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao, head of the first grade team, Thuan Kieu Primary School, said that the first day of school for first graders will leave unforgettable memories and emotions for both the students and their parents. No matter how many years later, the students and their parents will still remember it. Therefore, welcoming activities for students need to be done carefully and attractively. From there, students will happily go to school with the most comfortable mindset and have a happy school year.

Psychologist Dr. To Nhi A talks with parents of first grade students at Tran Hung Dao Primary School, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, on the first day of school.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Mr. Van Nhat Phuong, Principal of Le Dinh Chinh Primary School, said that allowing parents to enter the school on the first days of school brings many benefits, such as helping children get used to the new environment, creating peace of mind for parents and enhancing coordination between family and school. When parents are around, children will feel safer and more confident when entering the classroom, getting to know friends and teachers. Parents can directly observe the learning environment, how teachers care for and interact with children, thereby feeling more secure when sending their children. Allowing parents to enter the school also helps to increase communication and information exchange between family and school, creating harmony in caring for and educating children. In particular, this action makes the educational environment for children public and transparent, so that the school becomes a truly happy school for every child.

Psychologist To Nhi A emphasized the principle that school education cannot be separated from family education. Only when both school and family cooperate as partners can they bring the best educational results to children. Schools teach children knowledge and guide them; families give them space to reinforce that.

Entrance to first grade - a journey of love and hope

Looking at the first graders in Ho Chi Minh City excitedly returning to school, I felt an indescribable emotion. Sixty years have passed since the day I first stepped into the first grade door, and that memory is still intact in my mind. Back then, the school was "so high" to me, the teachers were strict but warm, and my friends were like fresh buds under the morning sun on the first day of school.

The principal and teachers of Dang Tran Con Primary School, Vinh Hoi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City welcome first graders on their first day of school.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

Today, watching my grandchildren start first grade, I was filled with emotion, joy, worry, and hope. The children were running around the schoolyard, their smiles were innocent and pure, their sparkling eyes seemed to contain the whole new sky ahead. The children were able to participate in rich experiential activities, and were welcomed by teachers with warm hearts and careful preparation. I silently thanked the team of teachers who had worked hard to create the script, creating such a warm and bustling atmosphere on the first day of school.

Teaching is already a difficult profession. Teaching primary school is more difficult, and teaching first grade is perhaps the most difficult. Because first graders are like blank, pristine, sparkling sheets of paper. On them, teachers not only write letters and calculations, but more importantly, engrave love, sow seeds of character, and cultivate faith in people and life. Today's school is not only a place to learn letters and math, but also a second home, where children feel friendship, teacher-student relationships, and the protection of the community.

I hope that the school principals will transform the exciting atmosphere of the first day of school into a source of positive energy, so that every day first graders come to class excitedly and expectantly. The joy of school comes not only from knowledge, but also from love, from sharing and empathy, from the patient companionship of teachers and parents.

For teachers of grade 1, never forget that the progress of students, slow or fast, depends largely on each child's temperament. Please do not compare one child with another, do not turn achievements into a burden on the child's shoulders. Observe with your heart, evaluate with sympathetic eyes, teach with an open heart. More than other classes, grade 1 children need to be listened to, need to be encouraged, need to feel appreciated.

Parents should accompany their children regularly during the first grade. Don’t worry too much about beautiful handwriting, clean notebooks, or fast calculations. Knowledge is a long journey of accumulation, but personality is formed right in these childhood years.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Chuong

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuu-truong-mo-hoc-sinh-va-phu-huynh-cung-hoc-185250824205754303.htm