BES Family Newsletter
November 1, 2026
Helping Your Kids Through the Time Shift
Over the weekend, we have come to the end of daylight saving time (DST), which means clocks “fall back” one hour. As a parent, you may also be thinking about how this change impacts your kids as they adjust to school schedules, weekend activities and most importantly, their sleep and health.
Sleep / wake cycles are regulated by our body clocks (circadian rhythm), our social schedule and the sun. In an ideal world, all three clocks are aligned -we’d wake up and start our days as the sun is rising (not during the dark), and we go to sleep at night after the sun has been down for a little and it’s dark. That alignment is better on standard time, as opposed to daylight saving time, which extends the evening daylight, but keeps mornings dark.
Getting enough sleep is important for physical and mental wellbeing. Sleep lets your mind recharge and process information. It’s the only part of the day that your body gets to rest and repair. Sleep can help you feel better, think more clearly and concentrate better, which is important for learning in school. It gives you energy to complete tasks and can make you more alert. Without enough sleep you may have problems with thinking, concentrating, learning, memory, reaction times, and mood.
Sleep routines are key to managing the change back to standard time. Maintaining a routine bedtime and wake up time, every day of the week. If your child stays up later on weekends, have them go to bed or wake up within 2 hours of their usual weekday schedule. Relaxation techniques like petting a dog or cat, taking deep, slow belly breaths, or imagining positive scenes like being on a beach or hiking in the woods can help your child relax. Avoid high-stimulation activities just before bed, like watching TV, using the internet, playing video games or exercise. Avoid technology during a nighttime awakening as well. It is best not to have video games, TVs, iPads/laptops, or telephones in your child’s bedroom. Electronics that emit blue light (including phones, iPads, TV screens and laptops) can reduce our natural production of melatonin (hormone that makes you sleepy). Blue light before bedtime can also impact our REM sleep – this is the important type that’s good for our brain function!
Fifth grade worked with Ms Shayne, our Farm to School Coordinator to make sauerkraut and pickles! We can’t wait to try them in a few weeks!
Our 5th-grade students are participating in the Vermont Kid Governor Program! This exciting statewide civics program gives students the opportunity to learn about government, leadership, and the importance of being an active citizen. Students learned about the role of the governor, explored issues that mattered to them and their communities, and developed a three-point action plan to make a positive difference. Students who choose to run for Kid Governor created campaign speeches. We had ten students who decided to run. Through this experience, students are learning that even kids can have a voice, take action, and make a difference in their communities. We are excited to see our students practice leadership, responsibility, and good citizenship! We would like to congratulate Ava Chobanian for winning the Bradford Elementary primary election.
