Make the most of remaining summer

We are now less than one month away from the beginning of a new school year.

If you’re like us, that little realization probably shocks you. It seems only yesterday that final bell rang signaling the end of the 2016-2017 school year and local students happily closed the book on structured learning for a few months of fun in the sun.

But as we near the July midpoint, August is looming large on the horizon, and it won’t be long until the time comes to dust off the backpacks, line up that first-day-of-school outfit and ready those brains for another year of education.

It’s a little thing, but we’d like to take this space this week to encourage families to make the most of the summertime that remains.

You know that thing you’ve been meaning to do? Like go out for ice cream, spend a Saturday at the pool or have a family picnic at a local park? Now’s the time. Before parents and students alike have to buckle down and think about homework, exams, projects and extracurriculars, let’s all savor the last few weeks for spontaneous midmorning popsicle breaks, afternoon water gun battles and evenings capturing lightning bugs in the backyard.

Of course, as you prepare for the transition into a new school year, there’s one other thing you should add to your calendar: the 2017 “Back-to-School” Sales Tax Holiday. Don’t forget to take advantage of this three-day opportunity to purchase needed school supplies tax-free, July 21-23. For more information on that, you can visit http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.

They say all good things must come to an end, and we know this platitude is true for summer break, as well. But there are still a few weeks remaining to create those summer memories that will sustain until next summer comes around. Don’t miss the opportunity.