Preparing for a Productive Summer

The 2023-2024 school year has been one for the books. We welcomed a new Head of School and began planning for our 40th year; enjoyed our community at events like the Homecoming Tailgate, All-School Spirit Night, and the Spring Carnival; and celebrated many wins from athletics, the arts, college admissions, and Quiz Bowl. As we bring this year to a close, it’s essential to plan for a productive summer that balances both the importance of maintaining the year’s learning as well as committing to relaxation and restoration.

Student Support Services at The Meadows School is comprised of professionals who support students’ academic skills, social-emotional and behavioral health, and physical well-being. As such, we’ve grouped our recommendations around those areas.

In the realm of academics, an inactive summer can lead to a summer slide, or the loss of nearly two months of reading and three months' worth of math skills. We see this hit particularly hard during the upper elementary years when children are learning a lot of new concepts for the very first time. To combat this, consider the following suggestions:

• Complete The Meadows School ‘Level Up Your Learning’ Packets for those entering grades K through 6. More information is forthcoming.

• Engage in Camp: Camp Mustang and other local opportunities available through Nevada State, CSN, UNLV, libraries, and recreational centers.

• Daily Reading: Just 20 minutes a day, or 6 books total, can keep struggling readers from regressing. Ms. Friedman posts summer reading challenges on the TMS library webpage. The public library offers similar challenges at https://thelibrarydistrict.org/summerchallenge/, and bookstores do, too (i.g. https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our-stores-communities/summer-reading-program/). You might also explore Audiobooks on https://www.gutenberg.org/ or https://thelibrarydistrict.org/resources-types/audiobooks/.

• Engage in brain exercises: try switching writing hands, completing tasks backwards, learning a new language, or trying anything else new.

• Engage in physical exercise: a healthy body increases its ability to focus and engage in school readiness skills.

• Take advantage of teachable moments/life experiences: keep a daily journal, play family crosswords and games, read descriptions of animals at the zoo, try out a new recipe, and convert to a larger portion or switch measuring systems. Learning doesn’t have to be straight from educational books alone.

• Volunteer or gain work experience for ‘soft skills’ all employers are seeking.

Summer break can also impact a student’s mental and physical health. Disruption of routine and reduced access to school faculty or friends can lead to a sense of lethargy or despondence. Additionally, without all that school offers to fill their time, some children may resort to extra screen time and increased inactivity. To mediate these, try:

• Spending more time with your children.

• Encouraging communication.

• Promoting self-care: engage in meditation or mindfulness training and regular exercise.

• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and daily routines.

• Placing restrictions on social media use and thinking about screen time.

• Taking advantage of local mental health resources.

• Developing a daily schedule that includes at least one hour of physical activity; get active together!

• Offering healthy snack choices that have plenty of protein and fiber.

• Discovering local opportunities for both indoor and outdoor recreation.

Lastly, be sure to gather your student’s health records and receive immunizations early. Health Portals will open on July 13th with a deadline for records to be uploaded by August 12th. Some reminders from the School Nurse are below:

• To beat the back-to-school rush, schedule doctor’s appointments early in the summer!

• Beginning School students: Must have a Beginning School Health History Form completed and signed by a healthcare provider prior to the start of the school year.

• Middle and Upper School students: Parents may sign the Medication Self-Administration Authorization Form for any medications that the student is authorized to take on campus or during school-sponsored trips. Please note that the student must bring the medication from home, it cannot be provided by the School Nurse. EXCEPTION: Students may not carry or self-administer medications deemed by the Nevada Board of Pharmacy to be a controlled substance.

• Medication Authorization Form: The School Nurse recommends that parents complete the Medication Authorization Form for any over-the-counter medication their student may require during the school year. Nevada regulations require that all medication given by the school be ordered by a healthcare provider, even over-the-counter and topical medications.

• Field Trips and Student Travel: Please keep in mind that your child may need to take medication during overnight field trips or travel which they normally take outside of school hours. Please ensure applicable medication forms reflect this information. If the student takes a controlled substance, the Medication Authorization Form must be completed and the medication must be administered by a trip chaperone.

• Immunizations:

  • Although there is an age range (4-6 years old), Nevada regulations require that Beginning School students receive their 4-year-old immunizations at the youngest recommended age. They allow a 30-day window after the child’s birthday to receive the immunizations.

  • Students entering 7th grade must receive their Tdap and the 1st dose of their Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine. They can receive these vaccines after their 10th birthday, but prior to the first day of 7th grade.

  • Students entering 12th grade must receive the 2nd dose of their Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine. They can receive these vaccines after their 16th birthday, but prior to the first day of 12th grade.

For more ideas and resources, be sure to talk to any of your Student Support Services representatives for engaging apps, local learning opportunities, and any other resources to help you on this summer learning journey.

Dr. Kristin Withey & Kimberly Winn
Director of Student Support Service & School Nurse