“All children start their school careers with sparkling imaginations, fertile minds, and a willingness to take risks with what they think.” — Ken Robinson
The ‘S’ word has been finding its way into conversations increasingly of late. First there was the discussion with our daughter regarding the near-future plans she and her family have in place. Listing those leisure activities, brought the realization of how soon back-to-school time was going to be here. An educator in a Junior Kindergarten classroom, she declared, with no little amount of shock, that in just a few weeks she would be “back to reality”.
Our son, who is currently vacationing at our summer spot, remarked this past weekend that he might not stay in this place of respite for the whole week. A teacher, he noted that it’s just about time to start planning for the upcoming term, then commented that his brain might not give him the calm he needs to enjoy too much of a sojourn at this point in the summer. He knows his obsessive qualities would preclude any ability to relax so assumed he’d probably cut the idyll short in favour of beginning the work he knows is ahead of him.
Social conversations are also moving in the direction of back to school. At parties and picnics, friends with kids in university and college are talking about tuition and lodging; others with post-secondary students in their family are pondering course selections that will enhance future goals and dreams.
At Vital Imagery Ltd. we are hearing often from teachers like my son, who are already in work mode and looking for the right resources for their lesson plans and assignments. The needs vary, but the message remains unchanged. It’s time to get back in the education game, to ease summer out of play and get down to business.
Obviously, there’s still plenty of time left to relax before the real work begins. There are weeks left in which families can sneak away on vacations and focus on nothing more than sand, surf and campfires. There are oodles of long, lazy days ahead to be whiled away at the beach; evenings still offer sufficient balminess to inspire outdoor games into the late hours.
However, the signs that youngsters will soon be heading back to academia are there if we care to notice. Baseball diamonds have quieted with most little league teams all played out. Soccer fields are silent with tournaments over and the season’s winners decided. Even the excited hoots and hollers from energetic youngsters in the swim at area pools have diminished as the heat of summer fades.
Soon, the same boisterous, high-spirited sounds will be coming from school playgrounds during recess and lunch breaks. Hallways will welcome back the sounds of exuberant youngsters returning from their extended layoff. Classrooms will again be enlivened by the energy of youths at work and in discussion. Gymnasiums will fill with shouts and laughter. And teachers and administrators will again be challenged with the responsibility of nurturing supple young minds.
University and college campuses will come to life, too, as adults, young and old, return for that final lap in their academic ride.
So as we think about saying goodbye to our ‘unofficial’ summer, and hello to back to school, this collection of pictures from iPHOTOS.com shows eager students of all ages.
