As I write this article, there are 43 days of school remaining for seniors and 50 days left for the rest of us.  Another school year will soon be coming to a close.  Now is the time to really focus in on what’s left to do in your classes.  Summer will be here soon enough (at least on the calendar anyway) and you’ll have time to relax and take a break.  For these remaining weeks it is critical that you stay on top of your grades and finish the year on a strong note.

For seniors, there is quite a bit riding on these remaining.  Credits still need to be earned and every year it comes up that someone is in a bind at the last minute with credits in one or more classes.  Please keep this in mind.  No one will walk at graduation who has not completed all the requirements necessary for graduation—that means all 22 credits need to be completed and you need to be finished with required state tests.  Plan accordingly.  If you think you are in danger of not passing a class, don’t wait until the last week of school to do something about it.  Go see your Counselor, talk to your teachers.  Find out what you need to do to pass your classes.  For those of you passing currently, don’t let up just yet.  It never fails that there are surprises each year—students who think they’ve passed their classes let up and then they find out they failed a class at the very end.  Don’t make this mistake.   Stay focused.

For freshmen, sophomores and juniors, how you finish this year will set the standard for the new school year to come.  Many of the same things I’d say to seniors apply to all of you as well.  Find out how you are doing and if you are failing any classes, talk to you Counselor and teachers to find out what you can do in the remaining days to pass your classes.  Show that you care by taking an active role in what happens to you.

Finally, this message goes out to everyone—be safe.  The spring of each school year is a time of celebration, excitement, and anticipation for graduation and sometimes this celebration can go wrong.  Every year there are really sad and sometimes tragic stories about young adults who made unfortunate choices that caused themselves and others harm.  Unfortunately, things like alcohol and drugs are involved and the outcomes for these kinds of situations are rarely positive.  All it takes is one instant where you do something you shouldn’t and your life or the lives of others are impacted.  Please remember that each of you is important to so many people in your lives.   Make good choices and take care of yourself—for you and for those who care about you.