Before you can really go green you need to assess just where you are! Look around your home and determine what you already do – like collect newspapers, cans or bottles. Then map where you can go next.

Be sure to thank your child’s teacher for all they have done to ensure your child learned and progressed this past year. A hand written note by your child, and by you, will go a long way to show appreciation for these hard working men and women.

Communicate with your child what the end of the school year means to you! Make sure they understand what your expectations are of them this summer. So instead of being surprised that they have to mow the lawn weekly, you will have instilled that expectation well before summer.

If your child is graduating, be sure to get organized for the party well in advance and try not to schedule the same day as their best friend! If you are inviting people to the graduation ceremony, as soon as you know the date, send out a ‘save the date’ notice!

After going through your child’s paperwork from school, be sure to go through yours! Toss old schedules, notes, alerts that no longer apply; keep phone numbers and contacts!

Be sure all accounts are settled before the end of the school year! If you owe for sports, trips, supplies, be sure you have an accurate accounting and have paid off before the end of the year.

For important papers that you and your child want to keep each school year, create a scrapbook and include their grade photo, team photos, any certificates or awards of achievement they received. It is simple to do and as you update each year you can fondly look back at how your child has progressed!

If you like to have keepsakes of your child’s school year, get a bin and have your child go through the papers and artwork, ribbons and awards from the year and have them choose what they want to keep. BUT only if it fits in the bin!

Kids bring home all sorts of junk at the end of the school year! Why not have them start now with books they are finished with, uniforms that they are no longer wearing, and any artwork they may have in their lockers!

If you send your kids off to Summer Camp, start now to investigate the one you want to send them to and set it up now!