Summer is a well-earned season of rest, family time, sunshine, and adventure for students. After a busy school year filled with learning, growth, and accomplishments, children deserve time to recharge. However, summer can also bring a challenge commonly known as the “summer slide” — the learning loss that can occur when students are away from academics for an extended period of time.
At Everest Academy, we believe summer should be both restful and enriching. Preventing summer slide does not mean recreating the classroom at home. Instead, it means intentionally weaving learning, curiosity, faith, and creativity into everyday summer experiences.
One of the best ways to keep young minds active is through reading. At Everest, we encourage students to read daily throughout the summer, even if only for 20–30 minutes. Reading strengthens vocabulary, comprehension, imagination, and critical thinking skills. Whether students are reading classic literature, saint stories, chapter books, or enjoying books aloud as a family, every page matters. Summer is also a wonderful time for parents to model a love of reading themselves.
Learning can also happen naturally through family activities. Cooking teaches math and following directions. Traveling introduces history, geography, and culture. Gardening encourages observation and science skills. Even family game nights help strengthen problem-solving and communication. At Everest Academy, we value educating the whole child, and many of life’s best lessons happen outside the classroom.
Summer is also the perfect opportunity to continue growing in faith and virtue. Attending Mass regularly, praying together as a family, serving others, and spending time reflecting on God’s creation all help children remain spiritually grounded. At Everest, we strive to form students intellectually, spiritually, physically, and morally, and summer provides many opportunities to continue that mission at home.
Maintaining routines can also help students transition smoothly back into the school year. Simple habits like practicing math facts, journaling, writing letters to relatives, or completing a short educational activity a few times each week can make a significant difference by August.
Most importantly, summer learning should be joyful. Children are naturally curious, and when families nurture that curiosity, learning becomes exciting rather than burdensome. At Everest Academy, we believe education is not limited to the walls of a classroom — it is a lifelong pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
As we enter the summer months, we encourage our Everest families to embrace the season fully: rest well, spend time together, explore new experiences, and continue cultivating minds and hearts rooted in faith and learning.