We start the day by going out to breakfast. At breakfast everyone gets a copy of their schedule and plans for the year. We discuss what is expected of them and look over the schedule.
When we come home we have gifts for them: special pens and pencils, new backpack, pads, calendar - all school related fun cute stuff. I'll have a sign that says WELCOME TO (whateve grade they are in). I will have a letter written for each of them talking about the last school year, the summer and what I wish/think/want for their future (mushy stuff).
Then we look through all our books (it is hard to keep them out before hand).
Then we make up our binders and get everything all organized.
We have lunch - sometimes packed into lunch boxes (they request this).
After lunch we go through each subject lightly.
We typically start one week after public school starts. Where we used to live our co op would always have a back to school picnic on the day the public schools started. We would picnic, some would bring things to sell (toys and curr.). Then we would play kickball. We would leave the park when the kids got out of school.
So far all of this has made for good memories.
Deb in NJ