I am a big fan of planning ahead, so today is all about thinking through contingencies of what your students might need to have on hand in their rooms this fall, and a clarification for our P’26s and transfer families about Orientation.

First, Orientation. Some of you have asked how to view the two family orientation programs that require an RSVP:

  • We will be recording the Flourish in the Forest program on Wednesday, August 17 as it takes place in Wait Chapel. We will post that recording on https://newstudents.wfu.edu/parents-and-families/ as soon as it has finished processing (which may be a couple of days).
  • For the What to Know Before You Go program on 8/18:
    • If you had RSVPd to view it on campus, we will send you an email on 8/16 with your viewing location and a campus map.
      • Because we have limited spaces in each viewing location, we kindly ask that you view the program at the location to which you were assigned, so that we ensure we have seats available for all guests at each assigned location.
    • If you will not be on campus, did not RSVP to attend, and/or you want to view it from your hotel, the Quad, one of the tents on campus, etc., we will share a link to view it on https://newstudents.wfu.edu/parents-and-families/ by 8/17.

Now to packing and supplies. At some point, your student is likely to get sick while at Wake. Particularly at the start of the year, when students are in close quarters, sharing food or drink with friends, or – how shall I say this? – sharing romantic moments 🙂 Whether they get a cold, discover they have allergies to new flowers and trees that don’t grow in your hometown, or have stomach flu, mono, COVID, etc., it’s best to be prepared with some over-the-counter medicines in their room, so they don’t have to go shopping when they are feeling under the weather.

Consider prepping a first aid kit for your students with anything you feel is necessary. Here are some suggestions, but you might have other things your Deac needs:

Basic first aid supplies

thermometer

Band-Aids

antibiotic ointment

gauze pads

eye drops

Over the counter medicines

pain medicine/fever reducer

benadryl/antihistamines

cold and cough medicine

cough drops

digestive meds (anti diarrheal, heartburn, etc.)

A supply of any prescription medications they take regularly

Birth control/condoms (only you will know what is appropriate for your family’s values)

At-home COVID test(s)

In addition to the meds proper, you might also want to include a supply of replenishing drinks (such as Gatorade) and food they could eat in the room without a lot of preparation (soup, crackers, granola bars, etc.). Those could sit, untouched, in a container in their closet or under the bed so they’d be ready when your Deac needs them (and does not want to have to go to the Pit to get lunch or dinner).

Just some food for thought as you begin to think about packing.

— by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)

August 9, 2022

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