GUSTINE – Local schools are in the home stretch of the 2007-08 year, with students counting down to the June 6 day that will send them into long-awaited summer vacation.

For now, though, schools are in the year-end rush of activities that range from field trips to band concerts to awards ceremonies, with plenty of fun mixed into the year-end activities and classroom learning that continues despite spring fever.

Days without special activities are few and far between on school calendars, but administrators say the hectic pace of the closing weeks of the school year are also enjoyable and rewarding for staff and students who have been hard at work since the previous August.

“We are easing into activities this week, and starting next week it is full-blown,” said Gustine High Principal Dennis Shaw. “It is busy, but this is a very good time of the year.”

Gustine High will graduate its class of 2008 Friday evening, June 6.

Packed into those final three weeks will be field trips, the spring sports banquet, senior awards night, baccalaureate, the traditional ASB/Renaissance fun day, the FFA banquet, a spring band concert, senior awards night and a host of other activities.

The academics don’t cease, Shaw noted.

Some students are still rushing to make up needed credits, and final exams await at the end of the school year.

Still, he conceded, the atmosphere changes somewhat after STAR testing is complete.

“That somewhat signifies the end of the year, but the teachers still have standards to cover and grades to be finalized,” Shaw pointed out.

At Gustine Middle School, which will host its graduation ceremony Thursday, June 5, students and staff are savoring the springtime activities as the school year winds to a close.

“There are a lot of things going on. We have a lot of activities for the students. It is the end of the year, and you get to reap the benefits of all the hard work that has taken place during the year,” said Principal Rita Azevedo.

Still, she noted, “we still have three weeks of learning going on. We are all vigilant about making sure that we cover the standards.”

Her school is particularly excited about hosting the graduation on its new campus. In recent years, the middle school commencement has been held in the GHS stadium.

The graduation will be held in the center quad area of the campus. Bleachers are being brought in to accommodate family and friends on hand for the occasion.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Azevedo stated. “We’re excited about starting a new tradition.”

Among the activities at GMS are an open house and science fair on May 28, the districtwide band concert on May 29 and the last-day-of-school fun day that wraps up the year.

Elementary schools are equally busy.

Romero will host its annual Romero Games on May 27. Gustine Elementary and OLM School are among the participants.

The Romero calendar also includes the band concert, a field day and special events such as a lip-sync competition.

“That has become an annual tradition where the kids perform and the teachers....if I can talk them into it,” explained Principal Karen Azevedo.

While much of the emphasis is on year-end fun, she said, the greatest satisfaction comes in measuring the progress of the students after a year of studies.

“This is where you really see the fruits of your labors. Kids are coming in to show me the books that they have read, and they are talking about authors and characters. A lot more kids are falling in love with reading than I have ever seen before,” the Romero principal commented. “We have our special activities, but we also will be using these weeks to go over areas that the students haven’t mastered. Until everybody is at grade level, it isn’t time to put down the pencil.”

At Gustine Elementary, the May 22 Spring Fling open house is among the highlights of the last month of school. A field day and awards ceremony are among the other special events on the schedule.

“We just finished our STAR testing, and now we’re in for the final push to the end of the school year,” reflected Principal Donna Ross. “We want to keep our focus on instructional activities, and around that we schedule in all kinds of other activities.”

Students at Our Lady of Miracles School are also taking part in a number of activities in the next three weeks, said Principal Mary Salvador. Among those are the school’s May 20 open house, science fair and ice cream social.

At the same time, she said, the focus will remain on teaching to the last day.

“It is getting harder and harder (to keep students focused on learning),” Salvador said. “Spring fever has hit.”

The OLM graduation will be May 30, one week ahead of the June 6 last day of school.

The schedule prevents the OLM commencement from conflicting with the high school graduation, Salvador explained.