Many families have ticked off the back-to- school supply lists: No. 2 pencils — check; spiral notebooks — check; crayons — check. . .

Meanwhile, school districts have repaired, built and cleaned their rooms in preparation of welcoming growing numbers of students.

Now it is time to adjust our thinking — as drivers — to remember to slow down in school zones and other areas where children frequently walk or board buses. Although yellow school zone signs are erected and yellow lines are painted on streets for crosswalks, it is very easy to become distracted and either speed through the area or fail to stop for children to cross the road. Careful and diligent driving will help ensure that children make it to and from school safely. It is also important to drive carefully around parked cars near schools. Though most children are taught to use crosswalks, they sometimes give in to the temptation to cross the road at other areas. It is especially difficult to see them where cars are grouped together.

If you haven’t already done it, this is the week to register your children for school. The registration schedules are scattered throughout today’s issue. See Page B7 for Safford’s, Pima’s and the Safford Christian Academy’s details on enrollment. Registration information for the Safford Middle School and the Eastern Arizona College is on B6. Thatcher District information can be found on Page A7. Parents of Triumphant Learning Center students should contact the school at 348-8422 or 201 E. Main St. to find out about registering their children.

School starts Aug. 6 for Safford, Pima and Triumphant Learning Center. Fort Thomas and Solomon start Aug. 7. Bonita starts Aug. 11, and Thatcher starts Aug. 13.

Let’s all be safe and prepared for a great new school year.