December Family Newsletter: Coming out of winter break on top

December 2018

Coming out of winter break on top

Many students will be heading home soon for a well-deserved winter break. It’s a time to celebrate their accomplishments and to be with family, but as the weather worsens and the festivities end, it can be natural for your student to question whether to return to school, especially if this was their first semester. You can help them by making their break comfortable and encouraging them to seek support.

Expect some changes when your student returns home. Their eating and sleeping habits may have changed, and they’re going to be used to managing their own schedule and making their own decisions. Make sure to set boundaries, and talk about each other’s expectations early on.

Connecting face-to-face is important: Ask about their classes, professors, and friends. This is also a good time to help your student identify or reassess their academic goals. If they’re feeling nervous about returning to school, ask them why that is and help them identify HSU support programs. You play an important role in your student’s college success and their path to a degree.

Visit the “Staying Healthy” Parent & Family Guide for more information.

Ace Finals

As your student prepares for final exams (Monday, Dec. 10-Friday Dec. 14), remind them of the many academic resources available at the Learning Center, including math, science, and general tutoring, a writing studio, and more. All of these services are free for HSU students.

Visit the Learning Center website to learn more.

Record Graduation Rates

HSU’s Class of 2018 broke new records, with graduation rates for first-time and transfer students hitting all-time highs.

Getting Home

If your student is looking for a ride home, or for passengers to share the costs of travel, encourage them to visit Zimride, a ridesharing network that connects HSU students.

And make sure your student checks road conditions at Caltrans before they travel.