It’s that time of year: Back-to-school time is upon us, and here are some tips that will come in handy all year long.

Backpack Back Pain

More than 14,000 children are treated annually for backpack-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Backpacks that are worn incorrectly, not fitted properly or are too heavy can cause backaches, shoulder pain, poor posture and neck injuries.  

Officials have urged parents to keep an eye on their child’s backpack by heeding these safety tips:

• A full backpack should never weigh more than 10-15 percent of a child’s body weight. To put this in perspective, if a child weighs 75 lbs., their backpack should weigh no more than 11 lbs.
• Fit the backpack closely to the body, resting it in the middle of the back.
• Don’t let the backpack sag. Avoid it falling more than four inches below the waistline.
• Place heavier items closest to the center of the back.

Officials also caution that although some parents may be tempted to purchase a rolling backpack for their child, users tend to overload these, and if the pack has to be lifted continuously, it can cause wrist and/or shoulder strain.

How To Beat First-Day Traffic

While children may be excited to kick off the new school year, parents might be feeling overwhelmed by the thought of first-day traffic.

District officials urge parents to have patience when dropping off kids for the first several days of school, noting the traffic should ease up after the first week or two.

City of Santa Clarita officials added a list of suggested routes for four school districts in the Santa Clarita Valley to the city’s website.

School Schedules Can Be Hard

Excerpt from: Back To School 2018: Tips For Santa Clarita Students

Some students may have a lot on their minds as they prepare to cope with back-to-school anxieties. And as they stay up and think about returning to school, they end up groggy and half-awake in the morning, making the morning commute even harder.

Santa Clarita Life Coach Alex Urbina has given some suggestions for parents trying to getting their student back in the groove.

“We taught our kids once, twice or even three times they should remember routines,” Urbina said. “Constantly remind ourselves, as conscious parents, our job is to remind our kids to set up some kind of routine as well as helping them set up a new one or creating new ones for each new year.”

These routines can be in the form of set bedtimes, or making sure homework is started by a certain time each night.

The Santa Clarita life coach also gave advice for parents who may need assistance encouraging and supporting their child through the first few weeks of school.

“If (parents) could remember what it was like when they were young and they were afraid, … how would they want their mom or dad to be?” Urbina asked. “It’s an art form for you to try to get your kids to feel safe enough to share with you. The trick is, usually … you figure out how to create that safe space. A lot of times they follow suit and share with you.”

Golden Valley Lane Closures

While construction crews are still hammering out the final touches on the steel truss pedestrian bridge over Sierra Highway north of Golden Valley Road, a fresh wave of traffic is set to merge on the site as students return to school throughout Santa Clarita Valley this week.

Starting Monday, there will be directional night-to-early morning closures along Sierra Highway from Friendly Valley Parkway to Newhall Avenue due to Caltrans construction, according to Carrie Lujan, spokeswoman for the City of Santa Clarita.

Northbound closures are scheduled to take place from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and southbound closures are scheduled to take place from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. 

“Sierra Highway between Friendly Valley Parkway and Golden Valley Road will have one lane open to allow through access, but will be controlled by flaggers on the street,” Lujan said.

In addition, construction for the Sierra Highway Bridge Pedestrian and Street Improvement Project is also underway over Sierra Highway north of Golden Valley Road. The project is expected to be completed by early December.

 Construction hours are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, Lujan stated. She also asked residents to note that this is typically day work, and that temporary lane closures may occur during the construction.

 “For the safety of motorists and pedestrians, a full road closure on Sierra Highway between Golden Valley Road and Rainbow Glen Drive will also be required when the pedestrian bridge is installed at a future date sometime in late October, early November,” Lujan said. “This will most likely take place on a late Friday night until early Saturday morning.”

Motorists have been urged by city officials to pay attention to signs posted near the site and are urged to reduce speeds when moving through the construction zones as a safety precaution for the public and construction workers.

Commuters can expect to see a series of enhancements over the next few months, which is said to include a new bus turnout, a new sidewalk, bus shelter pad, enhanced access ramps and crosswalks, according to city officials. 

This project is part of the City’s Santa Clarita 2020 plan of Building and Creating Community and is expected to be completed by November of this year. The project was drafted to improve infrastructure, including curbs, gutters, sidewalks and public access ramps.  

As a part of this overall city project, the intersections of Sierra Highway and Rainbow Glen Drive, and Sierra Highway and Golden Valley Road, will also receive pavement maintenance, traffic striping, and signal modifications to allow for U-turns.

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