Finishing the school year with intention and purpose

There can be a lot of stress, activity and emotions connected to wrapping up a school year, and not just for students.

As spring progresses, educators, mentors, student success coaches, youth development professionals, and others who work closely with children and youth can struggle with how to say goodbye, reflect on the year’s ups and downs, and prepare for the transition to summer.

How do we all want the end of this experience to feel—for ourselves and for the students we serve? What do we hope students remember about the year spent together? How can we celebrate the growth and development that has happened for both youth and adults?

The ideas below are from City Year Dean Charlie Rose and Associate Dean Chad Richardson, City Year Baton Rouge ’10, and have been lightly edited for this blog.

How do you want to wrap up your school year?

There’s a saying: It’s not how you start, but how you finish. At City Year, we believe in the importance of finishing the year with intention and purpose.

This season is one of hope and possibility. As the days grow longer and warmer, there’s a sense of anticipation in the air — a perfect time for all of us to reflect on how we want to conclude this chapter of our City Year journey.

Those of us on staff want to support our AmeriCorps members, as many of whom are coming to the end of their chapter, and help them prepare the students they have served for 10 months for goodbyes and the transition to summer.

A time for appreciation, celebration, and thoughtful closure.

Here are a few questions to guide reflections with our teams and service members:

• How do you want to close out with your students and partner staff at your school?
• How are you approaching closure with your team, the staff who have supported them, and the students, partner teachers and school communities City Year served this year?
• What legacy does your team want to leave behind?
• Are there other community members you’d like to thank or celebrate?
• Who do you want to stay connected with moving forward?

Relationships are at the center of this work

At the heart of everything City Year does are the positive relationships we work to build—with each other, our partner school communities, and most of all, the students we serve.

As we begin to wrap up with the City Year Class of 2026, take time to finish strong, honoring all the growth, impact and relationships that have shaped this service year.

Learn more about serving with City Year.