Where did our summer go?

In just two weeks, students will be returning to the classroom at Hartselle City and Morgan County schools. If you’re keeping track of it, the first official day of school is Aug. 7.

And we’re just a month removed from the summer solstice.

It seems like the summer school vacation break continues to get shorter every year. And in some ways, it is. Students are going to school more days than they used to. (This past year might be the exception because there were so many cancelled days, early dismissals and delayed school days due to weather-related incidents.)

However, in many ways, it is a good thing for students.

First, students and teachers can finish a semester before the Christmas holidays occur. It is never good that your final exams for a semester have occurred after the Christmas break. So, having an earlier start time helps the semester finish at a normal time so that students and teachers can start fresh when they return in January.

Also, it helps to have the earlier start day so that educators can get breaks during the school year. This includes having a fall break, a full two weeks at Christmas and various holidays and long weekends throughout the school year.

It helps the educational experience when you have holidays throughout the year.

I know everyone would like to have more than the break they do during the summertime, but then again, it’s also good to have the extra holidays throughout the year.

It’s kind of sad to see the summer ending soon, but it’s also fun to see the new school year beginning in the fall (or late summer as it is now).

If you haven’t had a chance to take a vacation this summer, I hope you get the chance over the next two weeks.

Get ready for the new school year because I think it will be very exciting.

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.