Back-to-school season is hitting me a little differently this year. Both of my kids, ages 18 and 20, are about to move into college dorms for the first time. I got misty-eyed the other day when I saw my Florida cousins post first-day-of-school pictures on social media, remembering when my kids were that age.
Still, fall always makes me feel hopeful. For students, it’s a time to meet new teachers, start new classes and make new goals for the academic year ahead. Parents are also along for the ride. No matter how old your kids are, you still want to know what classes they’re taking, the clubs and sports they’re participating in, and who their friends are.
This year you might also want to ask about your school district’s policy on the use of artificial intelligence. Don’t be shocked if there isn’t one: The state doesn’t require it, though the Agency of Education has given extensive guidance to help educators and administrators think through the many opportunities and challenges AI creates. Read about how some schools are approaching the rapidly changing technology.
The author of the piece, Karmen F. Wilbur, graduated in the spring from Champlain Valley Union High School, where she cofounded the school’s print newspaper, the Hawk’s Nest. She starts at the University of Vermont this fall. Karmen is one of several student contributors to this issue. This is the second year that high school and college student-journalists have contributed to Kids VT’s Back to School Issue.
South Burlington High School senior Jasper McGibney returns to our pages with a story about the Civics Bee — a competition that tests middle schoolers’ creativity and knowledge of American government. Chittenden resident Sterling Rich, 12, won Vermont’s Civics Bee in June and is headed to the national competition in October. Applications for next year’s Civics Bee open on Labor Day, September 7.
That’s the same day Kids VT’s summer Good Citizen Challenge comes to a close. Nearly 200 students have submitted entries so far. We’ve collected some of them here, with help from Olivia Fleming and Norah Khan, our two Middlebury College summer interns. They’ve processed roughly 1,400 activity submissions since the Challenge launched in May. The Good Citizen kids will give you hope for this country as we head into a contentious election season. You can find all the activities and submit work at goodcitizenvt.com.
Good luck to those of you sending kiddos back to school — I hope they’re as excited as the passengers in cartoonist James Kochalka’s colorful school bus illustration on the cover. We’ll return with a new issue in November!
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This article appears in Kids VT Back to School • 2026.
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