Q&A DEARTEACHERS
BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS
ENDING SCHOOL ON A HIGH NOTE
QUESTION: What should children and families be doing to end the school year on a high note? – Final Tasks
• Talk to your children’s teachers well before the last day of school about any special concerns that need to be addressed during the summer.
ANSWER: Life certainly is easier for your children and
For example, not working on grade level in any
the entire family if everyone takes the time now to tie up
subject requires some type of intervention during the
all the loose ends necessary to ending the school year
summer.
successfully. In this way, the next school year can begin without having to do tasks related to the previous year. Keep the check-off list below as a handy tool to track tasks that need to be completed before the last day of school: • The most important thing children need to do is keep their grades up until the end of the school year. Homework still needs to be done, and tests prepared for. • Encourage your children to clean out their desks and lockers. They should select papers, projects and
• Sign your children up for remedial summer programs, if needed, or enrichment programs, if offered. • Gifted children should definitely be challenged over the summer and enrolled in programs that will fuel their desire to learn. • Plans for special needs students with IEPs for the next school year must be in place. • Make sure young children are enrolled in
personal items they want to keep and bring them
kindergarten and older ones in a new school, if this
home.
applies.
• Have them search everywhere—from under the beds
• Have your children obtain the phone numbers and
to in the car and the lost and found—for items that
email addresses of friends they wish to see during
belong to the school, such as textbooks, library books
the summer if they don’t already have them.
and musical instruments, and return them. • Make sure children at all levels have a list of any assignments they must complete over the summer to be ready for the next grade. • Learn when any sports, band or other activities will
• Make it a point for you and your children to thank teachers who have truly helped them during the school year. A short note will do the job. • Find out the dates of any special programs the school will be offering during the summer. Some
begin if they typically start before the beginning of the
elementary schools have weekly library programs,
school year.
as well as sports programs.
16 may 2022
kcparent.com
