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Oh no, it's that time again: teachers shout for glee, parents cringe with a moan. How will you survive the end of the school year and prepare for that much anticipated summer break?

Here are ten survival tips:

1. Sit down with your child (more than one? - take them one at a time), and open up that backpack. Look for year-end notes from the school or teachers. Look for end of the year assignments. If your child keeps a school agenda/planner, flip through the last few weeks for any events he may have recorded.

2. Call the school, visit their website, stop by the front office. Try one or all of the above. Hopefully, you've been in contact with the school throughout the year. If not, don't worry. It's never too late to step in the door. In any case, you'll want first hand knowledge of any year-end news: textbook due dates, finals schedules, modified day schedules, awards assemblies, class picnics, teacher appreciation lunches, etc. (Even if you completed step one, don't skip this step.)

3. Call or email your child's teacher (middle school or high school parents should call their child's Language Arts teacher). Thank them for a great year, ask if there is anything you should know these last few weeks. Again, find out textbook due dates, finals schedules, projects, permission slips, assemblies, picnics. Score points by offering help cleaning the room after school, bringing in a movie for the last days, etc.

4. Get a schedule for when school starts next year.

5. Meet the next grade level teachers. Bring your kid by, too.

6. Bring the school office staff a treat: gallon of coffee from the local java stop, a box of freshly baked goods from you or a bakery, fresh flowers, or just a card of thanks.

7. Bring the teacher, principal, custodian and school secretary a special gift: gift card of $5 or $10 to a local coffee spot, bookstore, or specialty shop. Be sure to include a card signed by you and your child.

8. Ask the librarian for a list of summer reading sorted by age or grade level.

9. Have your child collect unused or unwanted pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, novels, etc. Put them in a bag or box and drop them at a shelter or ask the school office staff if they collect necessities for kids for next year.

10. Lastly, be sure your child has names and phone numbers of a few special classmates whom they'd like to get together with during the summer.

Of course, there's always something else. But, in the meantime, these ten tips are a great place to start to take the stress out of ending the year, and put the joy into starting a carefree summer break!

Learn more about this author, Ellen Mulholland.
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