Island educators and parents know that there are many skills necessary to be successful in school and life. Here is a sample of how schools are partnering with parents outside the classroom to help students learn how to keep healthy, organized and prepared for life ahead.

At Islander Middle School, the annual “Where’s My Stuff” workshop is a boon to parents and kids who need to learn how to manage their time. The interactive workshop, to be held at the school on Oct. 12, is to help establish daily habits that will ensure that the homework, if completed, will actually make it to school and emphasizes preparation and planning ahead.

At Lakeridge Elementary School, a return appearance from UW parenting expert and author Laura Kastner is also designed to help parents guide and teach children valuable habits for time management skills and impulse control. She will also focus on how to improve “brain fitness” through eating right, staying positive and the value of a good night’s sleep. She calls her talk, “Teachable skills for success and life,” or perhaps more aptly, “Executive Advantage.” Her talk is set for Oct. 10.

West Mercer Elementary School parents and educators held a “Walk to School Day” combined with a healthy all-school breakfast, today, Oct. 5. Part of the experience was organizing groups to walk or bike together.

Last month, Island Park Elementary held a set of farmers markets where students sold produce from their own gardens at the school. The students worked together to plan and tend the gardens and worked at the ‘market’ to sell their goods. Pure community building with a return on investment.

Would all of this work without parents and guardians? Probably not well. The PTAs at each school plan, staff and coordinate with teachers. If needed, the MI Schools Foundation pays the bills. These efforts, along with the high test scores and student involvement, are probably yet another reason that dozens of colleges send their marketing reps to Mercer Island High School year after year. They are looking for top students who are smart, but those who can also make it on their own, away from home, at college.