The summer before grade 9 and grade 10 is a great time to rest, reset, and get ready for the year ahead. These are foundational years: you’re building the skills, habits, and experiences that will shape the rest of high school. A little summer reflection and planning can help you start strong and feel more in control when September arrives.
Here’s how students entering grades 9 and 10 can make the most of their summer.
Rest, Then Reflect
In BC, we are never short of ways to fill our summer days. From paddle boarding at Sasamat Lake to watching Bard on the Beach’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing, July and August are always a reminder of how lucky we are to live in this province.
Before anything else, take some real time off. School is demanding, so give yourself permission to relax, sleep in, spend time with friends, and enjoy activities that have nothing to do with grades or goals.
But once you’ve had a break, summer can also be a great time to pause and think about what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to do differently next year.
Explore New Interests
With the final week of school here, alongside taking the time to rest and enjoy the outdoors, there are so many ways to explore your interests:
- If you want to enhance your coding or web development skills, look no further than ARTex, a nonprofit organization (run by students) that provides free courses for kids and teens. Classes are hosted year-round at locations throughout the Lower Mainland.
- For those who love literature and want to gain experience in the field, consider joining VPL’s Teens Read It First. Before novels go to the shelves, you can be the first to read, reflect, and write a review!
In the summer before grades 9 and 10, volunteering can provide a great way to gain experience and make a difference in your community.
- Every summer, the City of Vancouver provides leadership certification and volunteer opportunities for students. Each Vancouver community center offers training and encourages students to participate in initiatives such as assisting with summer camps and concessions.
- Another rewarding initiative is through Challenger Baseball. If you enjoy working with kids and want to gain mentorship experience, consider volunteering for this nonprofit organization once a week.
- For students who are passionate about engineering (or want to explore the field), consider volunteering for UBC’s Geering Up as a junior leader assisting with summer STEM camps or Free Geek, a nonprofit organization that aims to provide technology access and education to the community.
Students looking to explore entrepreneurship, branding, and innovation might consider Options Solutions’ Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing Academy, a hands-on summer program designed to inspire creativity and real-world thinking.
Set Some Academic Goals
Alongside pursuing hobbies and investing time in your community, in August, it’s beneficial to begin thinking about the next school year. Whether reviewing your courses for the fall semester or working with a tutor to prepare for upcoming classes, you will start the school year well if you have a plan in place. Heading into a new grade is the perfect time to decide what you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s improving your science mark, speaking up more in class, or finishing assignments earlier.
Choose one or two academic goals for the year ahead, and ask yourself:
- What do I need to do differently to reach this goal?
- What kind of support might I need?
- What habits helped me last year, and what held me back?
Goal setting isn’t about pressure. It’s about being intentional with your time and effort, and entering the school year with a sense of purpose.
Check In on Executive Functioning Skills
Executive functioning skills, like organization, time management, focus, and planning, make a big difference in how well you handle your workload.
Take a few minutes this summer to reflect:
- Do I hand things in on time?
- Can I keep track of homework and due dates?
- Do I leave big assignments to the last minute?
- Do I find it easy to stay focused when I need to?
Now is the time to set academic and personal goals to help you prepare for grades 9 and 10. If you want to work on executive functioning skills or post-secondary planning, our team is here to help. Options Solutions’ Back to School Study Skills workshop helps students in grades 9 and 10 build better systems for school success, from organizing materials and managing time to setting up a healthy school-week routine.
Summer doesn’t have to be filled with big changes or major accomplishments, but small, thoughtful steps can help you enter the school year feeling motivated, prepared, and excited to learn. Rest. Reflect. Reset. Then head into September ready to make the most of grades 9 and 10.
