By La Salle Academy Healthy News reporters | Getting enough sleep is important for students to be successful in school, experts say. La Salle Academy staff members agree, according to recent interviews with Healthy News reporters. 

Mary L. Gavin, a medical doctor for KidsHealth.org, says sleep is more important than we may think. Students participate in a lot of activities during the day, and by the end of the day their bodies need a break. 

Sleep lets the body get the rest it needs for the next day, according to the KidsHealth.org. It says kids ages 5 to 12 need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night—and most don’t get enough. The website also says that a lack of sleep can cause kids to feel grumpy and tired, and find it difficult to stay motived. They can also lack energy and have mood swings, behavior issues, and learning problems. 

The same is true for adults. For instance, Mrs. Mulderig, the sixth-grade teacher, said that when she doesn’t get enough sleep, she tends “to be very cranky.” 

Several La Salle staff members shared their experiences with sleepy students. “When students have their head down and are not paying attention, I know that they probably did not get enough sleep,” said Mrs. Sawaya, school support staff. She said it’s extremely hard to focus and complete work if you’re sleepy. 

Mrs. Fynes, the fifth-grade teacher, said that when she finds students who fall asleep in class regularly, she calls their homes. She also speaks to students and checks to see if they are feeling okay. “When I find students sleeping, they are usually groggy, negative, grouchy, and they do not want to wake up,” she said. 

Several teachers offered tips to avoid feeling sleepy during the school day. Mrs. Sawaya said setting a routine and going to bed early are good habit. 

Using a timer, getting all your homework done, and preparing for the next day is helpful, Mrs. Fynes said. “I set a sleep alert, turn off my television, make sure I’m upstairs, and read before going to bed,” she added.

“The best advice I could give a student is to get ready for bed an hour before bedtime,” Ms. Sawaya said. 

KidsHealth.org offers these sleep tips: 

• Set a regular time to go to bed every night. 
• Put electronic devices away at least one hour before bedtime. 
• Follow a calm routine before going to bed, such as listening to music. 
• Avoid drinks with caffeine like tea, especially late in the day. 
• Avoid watching scary movies before going to bed.

Illustration by Jayli’anne, La Salle Academy.