It’s hard to believe, but there are just over six weeks left in the school year. Our Senior students finish the school year even earlier and are already either in exam mode or busy preparing for exams. With the countdown underway, it’s a great opportunity to talk with your child about finishing strong. Here are a few ideas on how to make the most of the last few weeks of 2019.

TAKE TIME TO REFLECT

With three terms completed, the start of Term 4 is an excellent time to reflect on how the school year has been for your child. Have they achieved goals they set for themselves at the start of the year? What have been some of the highlights? What areas still need attention? It’s not too late to make positive changes and finish the year strong. With such a short time frame, encourage your child to put in maximum effort over the next few weeks as they sprint to the finish line. 

MANAGE STRESS IN HEALTHY WAYS

The end of year brings with it a flurry of assignments, exams and the knowledge that next year will bring many changes. All of these elements can create stress in your child. Acknowledging their stress is the first step in helping them find healthy ways to manage. You can help offset stress by providing healthy meals and snacks, encouraging your child to get a decent amount of sleep each night and giving them the opportunity to be physically active. Some students might need to be encouraged to hit the books more seriously this term, while others might need to be encouraged to take a break from study and go and hang out with friends for a few hours. And if they are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things that are going on, spend some time making a list. Just writing things down and being able to check them off, one by one, can be a positive strategy in managing stress.

ENCOURAGE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

There’s an old saying that goes, “If you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” Attitude is so important and is a huge factor not only in achievement but also overall wellbeing. Some kids love school while others find it a challenge. If you are the parent of a child who struggles to find joy in school days, encourage a positive attitude whenever you can. Help them look for the good things about school – even if it’s just recess and lunch at this stage - and model a ‘can-do’ attitude towards challenges. Be empathetic to their lack of excitement, but also remind them there’s only a few short weeks to go. Encourage them to finish strong!

Sources: https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2018/06/04/finish-the-school-year-strong