MARIETTA - With just days until the new school year gets under way, Cobb County School District transportation leaders have restored 3,040 bus stops after parent protests that a plan to drastically reduce the number of stops would endanger students.

Last year, the district had 50,000 bus stops. This year, there will be about 42,000 - a reduction of about 16 percent.

Parents can find their bus stop information at the district's Web site, www.cobbk12.org. More than 100,000 public school students in the Cobb County and Marietta City districts will return to classes Monday morning.

Experienced school counselors offered a few words of advice for students moving to new levels of school.

Nicole Pfleger, school counselor at Nickajack Elementary in Smyrna, said teachers and staff are prepared for tears from both kindergarteners and their parents.

"Teachers are very used to (young children) being upset the first day ... but please say goodbye and leave them," Pfleger said. "It makes it harder for the child the longer you linger. Trust us. We promise that we will look after them, and if they're not fine after a little while, we will call you. It's sometimes more upsetting for parents than for kids. I've sent parents out the door with tissues."

Parents can help ensure a smooth school year by setting the tone that education is essential, she said.

"Talk about how important it is," she said. "Even kindergarteners have some homework. When they are doing theirs, do some work you have. Model that it's a responsibility we all have."

Also, send healthy snacks, rather than junk food.

"We teach children about healthy eating, but if parents send Cheetos or something like that, it detracts from our lessons," Pfleger said.

The school day for elementary schools in Cobb vary slightly, with start times between 7:45 and 7:55 a.m., and last bells from 2:15 to 2:25 p.m.

Marietta City elementaries start at 8:15 a.m. and let out at 3:15 p.m. The Marietta Center for Advanced Academics runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kim Gray, the sixth-grade counselor at Floyd Middle School, in Mableton, said adjusting to having six teachers rather than one takes some time. But the biggest lesson of middle school may be organization, she said.

"Organizational skills will benefit you all through your life," Gray said. Students will get a free agenda book, and "it is the most essential tool you can have in middle school. Students can keep track of assignments for every class every day. Parents can help by looking at it every day and making sure they're writing in it."

Students also benefit by leaving the music players, Nintendo DS and other electronics at home.

"We don't want to see them, we don't want to hear them," Gray said.

Cobb middle school classes begin at 9:15 a.m. and let out at 4:15 p.m.

Marietta's Sixth Grade Academy runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Marietta Middle School bells are at 7:20 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

High school is a new ballgame for incoming freshmen, said Stephanie Watts, chair of the counseling department at North Cobb High School. North Cobb will have about 2,600 students this year, making it one of the largest high schools in the county.

What does she see in freshmen on the first day? "Fear," she said with a laugh.

"But I tell them not to worry. There are a lot of people here at the school to support them," she said.

After a few weeks, grades often indicate which students aren't transitioning well and may benefit from extra help, she said.

One great way to ease the move into high school is by getting involved in activities.

"That helps them build relationships with faculty, as well as new friendships," Watts said. Independence is also in order, she said.

"If a student wants a schedule change, they should ask for it," she said. "We want parents to be involved, but we also want the student to claim ownership and communicate with us."

Teens can bring cell phones to school, although she lamented that texting in class "is a big problem."

Still, "high schoolers are fun," Watts said. "They learn so much when they're here. They grow up so much."

Cobb high schools start at 8:25 a.m. and finish at 3:25 p.m. Marietta High School classes start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.