Summer in the Springs

“Are you ready for summer?” That’s the question every adult will ask every kid (and teacher) over the next few weeks. Summer in the Ozarks is a sacred time spent swimming, hanging out, and possibly doing some manual labor. The water park will be packed, Booster Field will be busy, and on July 4th Willow will host one of the best small town parades in the area. School will reconvene in August, but until then, let there be summer!

 

While summer is fun, Willow Springs R-IV is still open during the summer offering enrichment opportunities for Kindergarten through 8th grade students in the Willow Springs school district. It’s an opportunity to guard against the summer slide that can happen between May and August. It can also help your child feel more comfortable going into their next grade level. Summer school for our elementary and middle school kids is a little more laid back. Our staff is still committed to making learning fun over the summer with trips to the city water park, field trips, and lots of activities throughout the day. We also have credit recovery for high school students. Not as much fun, but can be very beneficial in keeping kids on track for graduation. Summer school starts on Monday, May 19. Please contact the office, if you have questions or would like to enroll your child. 

 

During the summer months, it’s important to stay engaged with your student. Hopefully, you’re able to go on some family trips and new experiences. Use this time for what we refer to as experiential learning. It’s learning by doing. Academic rigor is great and we want to make sure our kids learn how to read, write, and solve equations. However, there is so much learning that happens right in your home and in our community. Have your child help you research and plan a weekend trip. Let them manage a yard sale. Get creative! Use the summer to let your son or daughter flex their maturity and growth over the past year. 

 

As your child gets older and more involved in sports and extracurriculars, it’s also important to put some boundaries on the summer. You’ll quickly see that there are a lot of opportunities to fill up your student’s time and the family calendar. Chances are they’re really great opportunities. As a district, we love for your kids to be involved in everything. But we also know that family time is priceless! I'm the proud girl dad of three (one former and two current) Willow Bears. I know how hard the juggling act can become for  a family. There's definitely a balance to be found and as a district, we want to supply you with all the opportunities, but also help protect your family time!

 

Enjoy the summer, Bear Nation! Be aware of the line of littles in their swimsuits and sunscreen walking from the school to the city park. Say hi to your new seasonal workers at your favorite Willow businesses. August and the inevitable question of, “Are you ready to go back to school?” will be here in a blink, but for now, let’s celebrate summer!