It hardly seems possible, but the time for children to return to classrooms is just around the corner, with teachers heading back next week and their K-12 students just seven short days later, on Aug. 27.

Harrells Christian Academy students begin their school year tomorrow.

And open houses in Clinton City and Sampson County Schools are being held next Thursday, the whistle that lets everyone know that summer is coming to a close and fall is just around the corner.

The return to school is the reminder that things are about to change once again. It’s also the call for more caution — be mindful of stopped buses picking up or letting off youngsters.

And it’s the reminder that with another school year fast approaching, it’s time to turn our attention toward our students and the school personnel charged with ensuring their academic success.

For parents that means getting involved — from the start — and supporting both their children and teachers who assume responsibility for them five days a week for nearly eight hours a day.

Not everyone likes being an active part of school life, but it’s important to the success of a child to have parents who are interested in what they are doing and, just as importantly, will ensure that homework is done, books are read and grades are kept up.

Being active participants also means interacting with teachers , going to PTA meetings and attending those open houses next week.

All those things allow parents the opportunity to provide hands-on support to their children and, at the same time, let teachers know they are going to be the guiding force at home for all the lessons they will be trying to teach at school.

It’s that partnership between parents and teachers that provides our young people with the leg up they need to achieve success.

But that kind of participation doesn’t stop with parents merely supporting their children. Schools, and thus the educators and support staff within their walls, need parental support, too. They need us to back them up when discipline is needed and a firmer hand is required in order for K-12 students to meet their potential.

And they need community and civic support, too. Whether it’s fundraisers or volunteers, schools have always relied upon the help of others to bring the school full circle, a partnership between the youngsters, their teachers, their parents and the community in which they are all a part.

As thoughts turn to the opening of school over the next few days, it is our hope that consideration will be given to the support that will be needed to make our public and private schools — and the children they are charged with serving — the very best they can be.

What helps our schools will eventually be returned to us two-fold