Summer break brings big plans and mixed feelings

As another school year comes to a close, students and teachers are more than ready for their long-anticipated summer break.

“I love summer. It’s really fun,” says fourth grader Dylan Rufiar. “I’m really happy to be off school.”

“I’m very excited!” agrees Leah Ashley Amel, a fifth-grade student.

Teachers feel the same. “I love teaching, but I am so ready for the year to be over, and so are the students,” says Paige Smith-Hohan, a seventh-grade social studies teacher. “I’m so excited for summer to start.”

Mirabelle, V, Lauren, and Marilyn, a group of seventh-grade friends, look forward to staying in contact despite the bittersweetness of parting ways.

“I’m really excited about the summer, but I’m a bit sad because this year has been great and I’m going to miss my friends,” remarks Lauren.

With the start of summer comes free time, allowing the students of Sunset Park and the faculty who look after them to do things they don’t normally have time for.

“I’m planning to do a staycation and tour around New York,” says Nilsa Mejia, a fourth-grade teacher. “I also have plans to go to Legoland and visit a water park or two.”

“I go on a week-long trip to Long Beach Island every year. I’m really excited to do that and to spend time with my mom, ’cause she’s a teacher and we both have summers off,” states V.

There are a few common trends as well. Many kids plan to visit the Sunset Park pool, and almost everyone said they enjoyed ice cream during summertime.

Of course, no summer is completely free of stress or worry.

“I’m going to Charles O. Dewey next year,” says Leah. “Graduating kinda sucks ’cause I’ve been at my school since pre-K, and I’m excited but mostly nervous.”

“I can’t get a job yet, but I’ll try to do some babysitting and dog-sitting,” V adds. “And I want to get my art portfolio for high school done. It’d be great not to stress about that.”

Lauren has a similar objective. “My goal is to study over the entirety of my summer, but I am going to a camp for the first month, and hopefully that can be my time to relax.”

Mirabelle also plans to attend camp this summer, despite her apprehension about going to a camp different from the one she’s used to.

“I’m looking forward to going to this new camp, but there’s a lot of mixed feelings,” she says. “It’s really big in my life right now.”

At the end of the day, though, everyone’s looking forward to the break.

“I know fifth grade will be a little more intense than fourth grade, and I just want the kids to be happy and relaxed over the summer,” Nilsa says.

“I’m excited to spend time with my siblings — specifically my sister, ’cause she’s a teacher,” states Marilyn. “I’m really excited for the summer.”