Dealing with back to school jitters - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

There are few situations more nerve-racking than being a kindergartner trying to play it cool on your first day of school.

Students in Decatur and Rome headed back to class on Wednesday along with Cherokee, Haralson and Paulding counties.

The first day of school can be scary, if you're the new kid on the block. It can also be tough on parents of children with health challenges.

Glennwood Elementary kindergarten teacher Margarita Cruz reassured her students that school would be an adventure, for all of them.

"I'm very excited and a little nervous.  I get nervous every year with a new group of children, it's exciting," said Cruz.

This is Cruz's ninth year teaching kindergarten, so she knows what her kids and parents are feeling right now.

"It's normal to be excited, and anxious and a little afraid.  That they'll be other kids who feel the same way," said Cruz.

Elizabeth Hanna, coordinator of school health for City Schools of Decatur says she knows parents --especially of kids with medical challenges -- are a little on-edge, too.

"We've had a lot of kids come into our system with life-threatening allergies, diabetes, asthma.  And so those parents are understandably nervous about dropping their child off," Hanna.

Hanna says the best thing parents can do is give the school information.

Hanna says parents should team up with the school to create a "care plan" so the nurse, teacher and administrators are all on the same page in taking care of a child when mom or dad's not there.

"It really does allow us to do what's right for their kid, every single day," said Hanna.

As kids get older, City Schools of Decatur involves them more in their own care plan.

"We ask them to commit to certain actions, and certain behaviors, and if they're not, we hold them responsible.  Just like if we aren't, we're held responsible," said Hanna.

Another big back to school issue: vaccinations. Georgia requires all students be fully-immunized, unless they're exempt for religious or medical reasons.If your child is behind on shots, you may have a grace period to catch up, but Hanna says schools are sticklers for a reason.

"We've seen pertussis, which is whooping cough, we've seen it come back.  It was eradicated for years," said Hanna.   "I do think that it helps keep at bay these illnesses that can travel through a school like wildfire, it keeps them at bay."

As her class settled in on the rug, Cruz got busy,

"Some icebreakers, getting to know each other activities, singing some songs," said Cruz. "The first few weeks can be a little difficult for children, but they're resilient and they make their adjustments."

If your kids are headed back to school,  child psychologist Nancy McGarrah says try to start at least a week ahead of time getting them back into "school" mode. Get them used to going to bed earlier, and getting up earlier. Don't wait until the night before.