CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
The lazy days of summer are coming to an end and it’s time to get ready for school. In the old days it was all about getting your Pee Chee folders and Trappers. Now, it’s all about the backpack.
It’s also time to start lining up digital tools you can use to manage time, projects, money and prayer habits for the year ahead. Here are some of my favorite ones and some tips for using them.
Google Calendar
“The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
Add all the important dates for the school year in your Google Calendar before school starts.
Teach your children to add things to the calendar so that they learn how to manage time.
If you are not familiar with Google Calendar, just head over to YouTube to watch a video on how to set one up, or visit blog.google for all kinds of tips. This is a great tool for helping you plan, but don’t forget to add designated times during the day for prayer, individually or as a family.
Asana
“The LORD was with him, and he succeeded in all he set out to do” (2 Kings 18:7)
Asana is a work management platform designed to help you organize, track, and manage your projects.
Load your sports schedules, syllabuses and projects.
Work with your children to learn the elements of completing projects on time.
If you are not familiar with Asana, visit their website, Asana.com, or watch a YouTube.com/asana. Planning things really does help you be successful.
Greenlight
“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Greenlight helps parents teach money management and the power of saving.
Set-up a list for chores and a fee schedule.
Attach higher fees for chores that need to be done that you don’t always have time to do, like dusting.
If you are not familiar with how to navigate Greenlight, visit their website greenlight.com/blog or watch YouTube.com/greenlightcard. One of the best lessons we can teach our children is how to manage money and learn the value of working for it.
Hallow
“Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Hallow is a Catholic app for folding prayer and meditation into your daily routine.
This prayer app helps parents, kids and the whole family pray individually and together. There have been many articles lately that boast of the benefits of meditation for children during their school day. In fact, some teachers have added it to their curriculum. The practice helps with focus, feelings and stress.
If you are not familiar with Hallow, go to Hallow.com and sign-up at hallow.com/try-hallow/ for the free trial. Or go to YouTube.com/HallowApp to review what they offer. Providing a tool with many ways to pray is a great way to help children explore the different ways to pray.
Here’s a prayer to share with a teacher:
“Heavenly Father, I ask for your peace as my students and I embark on this journey. Today, as we take the first small step on the road of the new academic year, remind us of Jesus’s call for us to wash each other’s feet. As we grow together on this path, may we cast aside our pride and open our hearts and minds to you. May we seek ways to lift each other up. May we build your kingdom together. Amen.” (Hallow)
And last, ask for the intercession of the saint that is the name sake for the school or one of the patrons of education like St. John Bosco, St. Dominic Savio, St. Katharine Drexler, St. Elizabeth Seton or St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Have a blessed school year 2023-2024!
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media consultant based in Southern California.
