Showing posts with label last day of school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label last day of school. Show all posts

Last Day of School 2023... it's all about the traditions

I'm a big believer in traditions. The things we do over and over again really are the cornerstones of our memories. So, in our house, we always celebrate the last day of school the same way.



I always make finish lines for my boys to run through on the last day. 






We also get ice cream.




Check out our last day of school ice cream pictures through the years...




Cute, right?!?!

And... we had lots to celebrate this year.

My youngest graduated from junior high school. I can't believe he's headed to high school in September!




And my oldest graduated from high school. I can't figure out where the time went!



PS - My oldest son had a very special end to his year. Check it out below...




Time to celebrate summer!


Gina
 (aka East Coast Mommy)

Fantastic Ways to Celebrate the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL... class treats, teacher gift idea, and my favourite traditions

The last day of school is an important milestone, and it's definitely something to be celebrated. Today, I have some fantastic ways to mark the occassion. I have ideas for inexpensive treats kids can share with their classmates, a unique (and useful) teacher gift idea, and two of my favourite last day of school traditions.




Class Treats - Kids spend a lot of time with their classmates, so it's nice to bring them treats on the last day.

How cute are these stainless steel sraws with the cute tags I designed? You can also use the "silly straws" you can get at the dollar store.




To download the tags I designed: click on one of the pictures below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a 4x6 photo.

Then, use an x-acto knife to cut slits, and insert the straw.






Another fun option is to package up ice cream cones with "splash balls". It's adorable, right? You can pair it with a "I had a BALL having you in my class" tag or a "Have a SWEET summer" tag.




To download the tags I designed: click on one of the photos below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.




These tags are also cute paired with individually packaged homemade cookies.




Freezies are also perfect for summer, and they are adorable when you add the cute tag I designed.




To download the tag I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.



Teacher Gift - Kids love to bring their teachers something they made on the last day of school, and this is a great idea. Use the recipe here to fill a jar with cookie mix. Then, add the tag I designed. Cute, right?



To download the tags I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



Traditions - I've never really given my kids "grading gifts". Instead, when they were little, they got books to read over the summer. Then, when they got older, we started doing gift cards. We always have a "gift card day" during the summer where we drive around town redeeming gift cards, and it's a lot of fun.

We also have a tradition of going for ice cream on the last day of school. Check out the fun photos (below) of my boys over the years.





AND my absolute FAVORITE tradition is making "finish lines" for my boys to run through every year. I just use a roll of paper and some sharpies.

Here's our FIRST one... when my oldest was in grade primary. This year, he graduations high school. I have no idea where the time goes!




Here's the one I made for my boys last year. I love a tradition, don't you?




Check out the video I made (below) for more details and a closer look at all these ideas.


How do you celebrate the last day of school? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Traditions... 2022 and still going strong

My boys are getting older, but they are still humouring me by letting me continue our last day of school traditions. I think it's the promise of ice cream that gets them every time. 😁 Here's a peek at how we celebrated today... on the last day of school.



1) First, we always get ice cream on the last day of school. I don't have a picture for 2019, but here's a look at our ice cream trips from 2011 to 2022. Pretty cute, right? It's amazing how much my boys have grown up.




2) The boys always get a little gift. In the past it has been a book, but this year I thought I'd change it up a little. We always have a "gift card" day as part of our summer checklist (where we gather up all our gift cards, and venture out to spend them... all in one day). So this year, I purchased a few gift cards for my boys to take with them on our "gift card adventure" day. I think it's an inexpensive, practical and fun grading gift idea.


3) And, of course, my boys always run through a "finish line" on the last day of school. We started this tradition in 2012, and we've done it every year since. Here's a peak at our first year... 



And here's how it looked this year...






How are you celebrating the end of the school year? Congrats to all the kids that have finished school... and happy summer!!!


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Our Family's LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Traditions... 2021 and still going strong

This school year has been a bit different because of Covid, but our last day of school traditions are still going strong. The pandemic has definitely taught us to be adaptable and resilient. Here's a peak at our THREE favourite last day of school traditions... 2021 edition.



1) First, we always get ice cream on the last day of school. I don't have a picture for 2019, but here's a look at our ice cream trips from 2014 to 2021. Pretty cute, right? It's amazing how much my boys have grown up.


2020

2021

2) The boys always get a little gift. In the past it has been a book, but this year I thought I'd change it up a little. We always have a "gift card" day as part of our summer checklist (where we gather up all our gift cards, and venture out to spend them... all in one day). So this year, I purchased a few gift cards for my boys to take with them on our "gift card adventure" day. I think it's an inexpensive, practical and fun grading gift idea.


3) And, of course, my boys always run through a "finish line" on the last day of school. We started this tradition in 2012, and we've done it every year since. He's a peak at our first year... 


And here's how it looked this year...




I think I'm going to need a bigger doorway soon! lol

How are you celebrating the end of the school year? Happy summer!!!


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Last Day of School 2020... COVID 19 Edition

Today my boys celebrated their last day of school. It was a bit different this year (because of Covid 19 and the fact that my boys have been studying at home since March), but we still had a bit of a celebration.



As always, my boys had an end of year "finish line". The difference this year, was that instead of running into the house, they ran out of the house.




We also gave some treats out to our neighbours.



The boys also got their "last day of school" ice cream. Through the years, we have eaten in, but this year, we enjoyed it in our car.



It was a different school year for us, and the summer will look different too... but we are looking forward to an easier schedule and lots of fun.

Happy last day of school everyone!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Last Day of School Treats... COVID edition

Over the years, my boys have shared many cute last day of school treats with their classmates, teachers, and friends. This year, there will be no "in school" celebration, but I still wanted to find a way to keep this tradition alive. So, I decided to put together some treats for my boys to deliver to the neighbours on our last day.


Our plan is for the boys to deliver these tasty treats to our neighours on the last day of school. How cute are these Freezies with little "Isn't it COOL that school is over?" notes attached?



To download the FREE printable tags I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.



We have a big batch ready to deliver. Aren't they cute?



I love this simple way to spread kindness in our neighbourhood... and I love that we are still able to celebrate the last day of school by sharing a sweet treat. Happy last day of school!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)



PS (You can find MORE last day of school treat ideas here.)

Cookie Jar Teacher Gifts... with free printable gift tags

I love the idea of kids making gifts for their teachers, don't you? What is better than a handmade gift and card from a child? This is a tasty alternative to candles and mugs! Keep reading because today I am sharing the recipe and instructions for making this adorable cookie mix in a jar.


1) You'll need to start with a clean 1L mason jars.

2) Then, you'll need to layer the ingredients below (patting down each layer before adding the next one):

First layer: 1 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 tsp baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt
Second layer: 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
Third layer: 1/2 white sugar
Fourth layer: 1 1/2 cups quality, semi-sweet chocolate chips

To make the process easy: use a wide-mouthed funnel to fill the jars, and make a tool to press down the layers. I attached a round piece of cardboard to the end of skewer and covered it all with tin foil.


3) Then, print off the cookie tag below, cut it to look like a tag, and attach it to the cookie jar with twine. 


To download the tag: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print.



Here is one that my son made. Isn't it cute?


And to make the gift a little extra special for your favourite teacher, you can attach a "A SWEET treat for a SWEET teacher!" tag.

To download the tag I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.


What teacher wouldn't love this adorable personalized treat?


This would be a fantastic teacher gift for the first day of school, last day of school or Christmas. Kids will love making it, and teachers will love receiving it! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't miss any of the fun....