As the school year winds down, families across Harmony Public Schools are looking forward to a well-deserved summer break. While summer is a time for rest, exploration and family fun, it’s also an ideal opportunity to prepare for a strong start to the next academic year.

Here are a few ways Harmony families can stay on track and return to school confident and ready for success.

1. Stick to a Consistent Routine

2. Keep Young Minds Active With STEM Exploration

3. Add STEM Fun to Your Summer Calendar

4. Practice Reading and Math Daily

5. Reflect and Set New Goals

6. Update Supplies and Technology Early

7. Stay Connected With Harmony

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1. Stick to a Consistent Routine

While it’s tempting to let schedules go completely, keeping a daily routine—especially for sleep—can help students transition back to the school year more smoothly. Aim for consistent wake-up and bedtimes, and build in time each day for reading or quiet learning activities.

2. Keep Young Minds Active With STEM Exploration

Harmony’s college- and career-focused STEM curriculum thrives on creativity and critical thinking. Parents can foster these skills at home with hands-on activities like building simple machines, creating a family budget, growing a small garden or exploring free coding apps. Museums, science centers and local libraries also often offer summer workshops and camps.

3. Add STEM Fun to Your Summer Calendar

Learning and fun go hand in hand—especially with STEM. Try these exciting activities to make the most of summer while encouraging curiosity and problem-solving:

• Kitchen Science: Make slime, test chemical reactions with baking soda and vinegar, or create rock candy to explore chemistry basics at home.
   
• Backyard Engineering: Build a DIY water rocket, birdhouse or marble run using recycled materials and simple tools.
   
• Stargazing Nights: Use a free stargazing app to learn constellations or track meteor showers. Keep a star journal and research celestial events.
   
• Tech Time: Try free coding platforms like Scratch or Tynker, or dive into simple robotics kits available online or at local retailers.
   
• Math in Motion: Plan a road trip and have your student calculate mileage, gas costs or travel time to practice real-world math skills.
   

These hands-on experiences help reinforce key STEM concepts and show students how science, technology, engineering and math apply in everyday life.

4. Practice Reading and Math Daily

Just 20 minutes of reading a day helps students maintain literacy levels over the summer. Visit your local library to participate in reading challenges or select books aligned with your child’s interests. Apps and games that reinforce math facts and problem-solving can keep numeracy sharp during the break.

5. Reflect and Set New Goals

Summer is the perfect time for students to reflect on the past school year. What subjects did they enjoy most? What goals do they want to set for the year ahead? Encourage students to write or draw their answers to help them feel motivated and take ownership of their education journey.

6. Update Supplies and Technology Early

Avoid the last-minute rush by reviewing your student’s supply list early and replacing or updating any essential tech tools, like headphones, chargers or software. Check Harmony’s Online Store for campus-specific details as the new year approaches.

7. Stay Connected With Harmony

Watch for newsletters and updates from your child’s campus over the summer. Follow Harmony Public Schools on social media for helpful reminders, STEM activities and back-to-school updates. Staying connected ensures you don’t miss key dates like orientation, registration or meet-the-teacher events.

Harmony Public Schools' Social Media pages:

 

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Preparing for the Future, Together

At Harmony, we believe learning doesn’t stop when the final bell rings. With a little planning and encouragement, summer can be a season of both fun and growth. By keeping students engaged and curious, families can help make the transition to the next school year smoother and more successful.

Let’s work together to launch another year of achievement, exploration and STEM excellence!