May 30 is the last day of school for public school students and most private school students in Collier and Lee Counties. Looking for end of school year celebration ideas in Southwest Florida? We’ve rounded up fun and festive ways to help your kids kick off summer. You can find even more ideas on the Neapolitan Family Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/neapolitanfam.
Have a Ball This Summer
Buy a bunch of cheap blow-up beach balls and put each one in a baggie with a tag that says, “Have a ball this summer.” Give each of your child’s classmates one of the bags and then pass out Sharpies for the kids to “autograph” the balls for each other. They’ll have a fun reminder of the year and a great toy for the summer.
Last Day of School Photo
Take a picture of your child holding the photo you took of them on the first day of the school year. Share on social media or with family members.
Memory Lane Photo Booth
Bring props and backdrops to create a photo booth that represents different milestones and memories from the school year. Encourage students to take photos with their friends and teachers as keepsakes.
Decorate the Doorway
Hang crepe paper streamers in your front doorway with a sign saying “Last Day of School.” Let the kids bust through on their way to school on the last morning. Or, you can do the same thing with a “Welcome to Summer” sign at the end of the day. on their way to school on the last morning. It’s one of the simplest yet a fun end of school year celebration ideas SWFL families can try.
Water Gun Blast
Enlist the help of a few other neighborhood parents and arm each with a water gun. “Blast” your kids as they get off the school bus and then give the kids a popsicle to get the summer off to a cool start.
Decorate the Car
Get some car markers from Joann Fabric and Crafts or Hobby Lobby and draw a few summer slogans and simple drawings on the car windows. Or, bring the car markers to carpool line and let the kids come up with their own decorations for the ride home.
Summer Bucket List
Gather summer activities like bubbles, movie theatre tickets, a summer reading book, sidewalk chalk, movie treats, jump ropes, and other fun stuff and put them into a large sand bucket. As the summer goes on, you can add little, inexpensive surprises.
Ice Cream Social
Set up an ice cream station with various flavors, toppings, and cones for the kids to enjoy after their last day of school. You can also include dairy-free options for those with dietary restrictions.
Breakfast Celebration
Instead of celebrating on the last day of school, make the first day of vacation a special day. Parents: If possible, take the morning (or entire day) off of work and take the kids out for a special breakfast. Plan fun activities for the day, such as a matinee, beach outing, or afternoon at Sun-n-Fun Lagoon.