MAKING THE
MOST OF SUMMER
In our more creative moments,
educators occasionally discuss significant variations in the routine school
calendar. Ideas abound such as year round school, a four-day school week,
or eliminating February or April vacations and have one March vacation. However,
for now, we continue with the traditional two months off which allows for
some wonderful personal and family opportunities. Here are some ideas for
the summer:
1. Get organized. Before the summer starts, make a plan for July and August.
This will make everyone feel more comfortable and will keep the kids on task.
2. Read like the Dickens…actually, you can read Dickens if you'd like. Or,
you can refer to our Hopkinton Schools Summer Reading Fun pamphlet,
which is produced by our Reading Department. Ask for it by calling 746-3473.
3. While you'll want to keep "screen time" to a minimum, make some time
to explore some educational computer software. You may be able to change
your kids' computer habits.
4. The best part of our summer is travel. Consider visiting Washington D.C.
this year. Our nation's capital is very inexpensive, since the Federal buildings
are free. To receive White House tickets , tickets for other venues and other
D.C. trip information, contact Sen. Gregg's office at their web site: http://www.senate.gov/~gregg/sitepages/visitdc.htm.
If you can splurge a bit, visit Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia as well.
5. I lived in St. Louis, Missouri for 12 years and never visited the Arch-the
famous "Gateway to the West". We often take for granted the attractions in
our backyard. Check out nh.com for ideas on those
"day trips".
6. Hiking is one of our favorite family activities. There are so many advantages
to this pastime, including the aerobic activity, the exploration of nature,
and of course, the price! A great resource for New Hampshire hikes is Larry
Pletcher's book Hiking New Hampshire on Falcon Press. Larry includes a map
for each hike, description of major points along the trail, difficulty ratings,
and general hiking information.
7. As you travel, a solid source of information is Mapquest.com. The site supplies Point
A to Point B directions, either in written form or on a printable map. Encourage
the kids to plan some trips ahead of time, using maps as part of the process.
8. One of actor Mickey Rooney's lines in his early movies was "let's do
a play!" In Rooney fashion, why not challenge the kids to create a musical
play to be performed for the extended family sometime in August? Consider
other artful possibilities such as taking a drawing class or learning a musical
instrument,
9. Summer is a great opportunity for parents to share skills with their
kids that they have not had the time to bestow. Examples include cooking,
sewing, or instrument lessons.
10. I wish I had kept track of all of my summer vacations when I was a child.
Encourage your kids to keep a journal of their summer.
-Bill Carozza