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On The Cover: Enjoy The Last Splash Of Summer!parks, engaging in outdoor sports, or simply relaxing by a beachside.So, go ahead and plan that end-of- summer escapade to surprise your kids, family, or friends. Whether it’s a day trip to a nearby water park, a weekend camping by a lake, or an afternoon at the beach, these experiences can bring joy and closeness to your loved ones.find other students. Parents and their children can brainstorm how to deal with other students who may have been difficult in the past, while also perusing lists for friendly faces.• Practice conversation skills. Many modern kids have their eyes locked on devices. They may be a little rusty with ice breakers and initiating conversation. Role playing at home can give kids some ideas of how to forge new relationships in the classroom.Fun Things To Do In The Area This Summery Sally KalosBAugust has arrived, signaling the approach of a new school year just around the corner. But there’sno need for stress—there’s still plenty of time to enjoy one last summer hurrah. Right in our own backyard, San Antonio offers a plethora of water-filled adventures from rivers and lakes to resort swimming poolsand even the ocean, all within a short drive! Summer is the perfect season to create lasting memories with family. As you prepare for the back-to-school rush, why not plan a special outing? It’s a wonderful opportunity to create those memorable moments that everyone will look back on fondly. Consider exploring local naturalStill Time To Plan Summer Fun Get AwaysCBy Staffbefore booking a vacation.• Stay at an all-inclusive resort. Whether you stay on domestic soil or travel abroad, an all-inclusive resort is a fine option for families. That’s because once the trip is booked and paid for, all of the food, most of the beverages and many amenities are all handled. That means families can simply check in and start having fun. All-inclusive resorts may feature board games, water sports, movie nights, and even kids-only dance clubs.• Play miniature golf. Miniature golf games and warm summer evenings are a perfect match. Most resort towns have at least one mini golf course to test skills on the small- scale links. During times when the weather may not be ideal, indoor mini golf can be an entertaining diversion.• Set up camp. Campsites and RV parks offer a bevy of activities for active families. Not only is there the excitement of sleeping away from home and next to nature, but certain campsites also serve as small, self- contained resorts with offerings like pools, hot tubs, golf courses, tennis courts, or boating options as part of their featured amenities.• Take a sight-seeing tour. Check the local travel guides to see which type of entertaining or educational tours are available nearby. There are trolley tours,ertain vacations and activities are best geared toward family vacationers. Explore these ideasboat tours, bike tours, and walking tours that present the area sights in an informative light. The benefit of a tour is that all the work is removed and all tourists have to do is show up and enjoy the experience.• Spend a day swimming. Plenty of family vacations revolve around time around the pool or along the coast. Swimming doesn’t require much gear, and as long as the weather is amenable, it’s possible to while away the hours for most of the day. Even after sundown, the beach can be a go-to spot for bonfires, music and fun. Remember to lather on the sunblock so that sunburns do not derail vacation plans.• Explore the thrills and attractions. Plan a family vacation a stone’s throw away from an amusement park so that everyone can get their hearts racing on roller coasters and other fast-paced amusements. Theme parks have various rides that are geared toward different age groups.Make sure to get in that last get away before school starts.• Recognize and take concerns seriously.Parents and other caregivers can be receptive to conversation with children regarding their concerns about starting school. Talking about feelings can help kids tame their nervousness, especially when adults take them seriously.Children may be nervous about starting school. Parents, caregivers and teachers can work together to help students overcome these jitters quickly.Calm First-Day-Of-School JittersSBy Stafftarting school for the first time or simply returning to campus after another summer break can lead to mixedfeelings. Kids may be excited to see their friends every day, but that comes at the price of the end of lazy summer days.The first day of school is on the horizon, and parents may discover their children seem a bit despondent that vacation is coming to a close. Such feelings may stem from more than the end of summer vacation. Some students may be nervous about going to school. New faces, new experiences and new teachers can lead to a little anxiety. Here are some ways to tame the nerves. • Do a trial run. Before school starts, do a test run to the drop-off location, bus stop or pick up whomever will be carpooling together. Getting into that routine can help reduce nervousness.• Participate in meet-and-greets. Some schools offer certain events designed to introduceJoin Winding Branch Ranch For Animal Tours And CelebrationSBy Lou Dugganituated on the west side of Bulverde, Winding BranchRanch exhibits a profound love for animals while going above and beyond to rescue countless furry and feathered friends. Plus, they encourage families to tour the ranch and join in for an enlightening and interactive, educational experience. Families love it! Admission and tours are free, but they do accept donations.“When we initiallybought the ranch, wewanted to just board horses,”says Matt Aversa, executive director and ranch owner. “However, we had never lived in this much space, so we just dove in and started rescuing animals. We first rescued 2 goats and 11 chickens. Then, from goats to pigs, horses to donkeys, chickens to turkeys and EMUs, we became a haven for animals.”“We just celebrated our one-year anniversary in June,” says Aversa. In that one year we have rescued more than 170 animals and found homes for more than 40.”“We have dedicated our efforts to ourstudents even before classes begin. Schools may host ice cream socials or picnic lunches on school grounds, particularly for younger grades. These events give children an opportunity to get to know their classmates before the first schoo bell rings.• Take a school tour. If a student is about to start in a new school or will be attending school for the first time, families will want to see if they can get tours of the school and facilities. Just one glance inside can be enough to familiarize students with the lay of the land, which might make things less scary on the first day.• Check the class list. Some schools do not provide a list of all students in particular classes, but increasingly those that rely on programs like Google Classroom or Canvas may enable students to see who will be in their class. Children also can use social apps like Instagram and Snapchat to locate school-associated groups tocommunity and partners whose support has been crucial in our mission to rescue, revive, and re-home farm animals,” Aversa says. “During our first year more than 30,000 people have come through our gate to see the animals.”Winding Branch Ranch, LLC, is a compassionate 501(c)(3) nonprofit ranch, founded in response to the need for shelters for displaced farm and ranch animals. Location: 30640 Leroy Scheel Rd, Bulverde Contact: matthew@windingbranchranch. org (210) 245-03936www.stoneoakhighlights.comAugust 2024