For Schools
Back to school.
Back to support.
The start of a new school year brings new routines, new classrooms, and for many students, new challenges.
Anxiety, school avoidance, social stress, and emotional struggles often surface in the first few weeks—when students are most visible and most reachable.
Cartwheel is here to help your district connect students and families to care.
A Practical Guide for School Teams
Supporting Students Through Back to School
The beginning of the school year brings excitement, opportunity, and change. This guide is designed to help you notice early signs, start conversations with students and families, and connect the right students to support at the right time.
A few examples of students who may benefit from a check-in this fall:
- Students showing signs of anxiety or school avoidance—frequent nurse visits, reluctance to attend, difficulty separating from caregivers
- Students whose mood, behavior, or engagement has shifted—withdrawal, irritability, emotional outbursts, or something that feels "off"
- Students navigating a significant transition—new school, new grade, recent family changes, or returning after an absence
- Students whose families have shared concerns over the summer
- Students who seem "not quite themselves"—even when you can't yet name a specific concern
Additional Back to School Resources
Guide
Resetting Screen Habits for the School Year
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Guide
Easing the Back-to-School Transition
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Guide
Big Feelings, Big Reactions
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Guide
When Anxiety Gets in the Way of Going to School
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A Practical Guide for School Teams
Cartwheel Care Programs
Specialized support for school avoidance, screens and social media, and big behaviors and big feelings—available for every student in your district.
Parent Resource
When Back to School Feels Hard
A practical resource for parents navigating a child who is really struggling with the return to school.
Upcoming Webinar
When School Feels Hard: Understanding Anxiety & Avoidance in Kids
August 19, 2026 at 7:00pm ET
The start of a new school year brings excitement for some kids and teens and dread for others. In this webinar, we’ll explore what’s driving school anxiety and avoidance in kids, when it may signal a need for additional support, and practical strategies to help children feel more confident, connected, and ready to learn.
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Connect Students to Care Early
The first few weeks are when students struggling with the transition are most visible—and easiest to reach. Acting early means more students get connected to the care they need before things escalate.
If you’re noticing a student who could benefit, now is the right time to refer them:
Refer a Student
Refer a student directly here—or reach out to a student support staff member to make the referral.
Share the Family Interest Form
Families can reach out directly for support here—every submission is reviewed and approved before anyone is connected to care.
