It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the 2024-2025 school year with only a couple of weeks remaining before summer vacation. Our students have been busy with end of year activities such as authors' teas, poetry readings, class trips, concerts and special celebrations of learning. Last month our sixth grade students visited Camp Burgess and participated in a wide range of outdoor learning and team building experiences. In the next few weeks students will be participating in grade level field days and we will be hosting our second annual Unified Champion Schools Game Day with the generous support of the Norfolk SEPAC and PTO. The end of the school year marks an important milestone in children’s lives and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate their achievements with events that honor their hard work and efforts, but also emphasize the importance of community, collaboration and connectedness.
While some students eagerly look forward to summer activities, the transition can be difficult for others. Children can be anxious about losing the predictability of daily school routines and may have worries or fears about what the new school year will bring. It is also normal for children to feel sad or conflicted as they say goodbye to their teachers, classmates and friends.
Teachers have many classroom activities planned to help students reflect on their journey over the past school year and to support them in ending the year successfully. There are also many things parents can do to help their child navigate this transition. If you are looking for some tips, a few things to consider include:
Talk to your child about how they are feeling- help them to look back on how they have grown and changed over the past year. What are they most proud of? What was their favorite memory from this school year? What is one thing that they can do now that they couldn’t do at the start of the year? What will they miss most?
Find a special way to mark the end of the year. Endings are just as important as beginnings for children. It doesn’t have to be a big event- have a family picnic, plan a game night, visit a playground or go for a hike. Acknowledging that something important is ending helps children process their experience and prepare for the start of something new.
Discuss summer plans with your child. How will their schedule change? What will a typical day be like? Routines are helpful for many children and knowing what to expect can help alleviate worries.
Help your child write a letter or make a card for their teacher or teachers. Having a way to express themselves can help children say goodbye to people that have played an important role in their life over the course of the school year.
If your child is worried about missing their friends, it can be helpful to schedule a time for them to get together or to highlight opportunities they will have to see classmates through camps, programs or other events.
As always, our teachers, administrators and school counselors are here to assist you if you have questions or need additional resources. We wish all of our families a wonderful last few weeks of school and the best for a healthy, happy summer vacation!
Sincerely,
Ingrid Allardi
Victoria Saldana
