As summer vacation draws to a close La Jolla’s kids, tweens and teenagers are collectively enjoying their last few days of freedom. By next Monday, most parents will be back in the school grind. Students and parents from La Jolla Elementary, Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School all chime in on their favorite summer activities and thoughts on commencing a new school year. For many parents, back-to-school is a time of year when one can almost hear their neighbor silently counting down the minutes until that first school bell rings. “Summer is wonderful but it’s also a push to keep the kids busy… it’s like they become bored after a few hours! I’m ready for them to go back,” mused Tammy Marcus-Cohen. “I love to have the time with the kids, but it also means I’m ‘on’ full-time; and I already have a job.” Marcus-Cohen’s daughter, Isabella, 11, is transitioning into sixth grade at Muirlands Middle School after spending her elementary school years in Birdrock Elementary. She said she’s not happy in the least about summer coming to an end. “There’s too much homework in school. I do look forward to seeing my friends but I don’t like having six different periods of classes. It’s too much. I like having one class and that’s it.” Many students entering middle school have similar feelings about what will be a new system for them of moving from class to class in middle school. It’s not surprising since they’re accustomed to being taught by one teacher while in one class in elementary school. But, for Isabella, there are still a few days left of summer, and her tone became noticeably cheerier when questions of summer-fun came into play. Like many kids, Isabella enjoyed hanging out with her friends at the beach or the pool. However, her favorite activity this summer was her visit to the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort located in Garden Grove. The waterpark is California’s only indoor water park with over 105,000 square feet of slides, rides and pools. “It was cool because it has really cool slides. There’s this one waterslide that you go inside of in this tube and the person touches the lever and then you go down the slide. It goes straight down and then (starts bending around).” Nicolas Carlson, who made sure it was understood that he was seven-and-a-half years old (not just seven) will be starting second grade at La Jolla Elementary School on Monday. When asked if he was excited to start school again his hand moved emphatically back and forth. “I kind of like school and I kind of like summer… it’s hard to tell which one I like more.” His summer included an assortment of activities and a few trips. “I like visiting my grandparents in Palm Springs. I like it there because they have this nice tram where you can go and look at the top of the mountain and see the whole Palm Spring’s village. It feels like you’re looking up from the heavens to me.” The awe-inspiring ride Nicolas mentioned is the idyllic Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which travels over two-and-one-half miles along Chino Canyon to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park at 8516 feet. But Nicolas also had fun while on solid ground. He said he enjoyed playing soccer at the park and engaging in a sword game called “Hunters” and “Dragon Slayers.” These are games that Nicolas and his buddies made up. Only seven-and-a-half and already creating games which could one day become competition to the fantasy footfall craze. He also had fun in his “favorite summer camp,” the Vacation Bible Study (VBS) held at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church. And here is his advice for kids who may be a bit nervous about starting school up again: “You shouldn’t be scared to be back in school because you get to play and learn a lot of stuff you couldn’t learn in camp unless you take a certain class where all you (do is) just learn and learn and learn.” Sound advice. His mother, Karen Carlson, said she feels it’s “bitter sweet” to see school start and summer end. “It is nice to enjoy a more relaxed pace over the summer and get away for a vacation. But, it is also fun for school to start because there are so many nice families at La Jolla Elementary School as well as the teachers and staff. It is a great community of people. It’s always so lovely to see everyone again.” As for La Jolla High School varsity cheerleader team captain, Diana Dominguez, 17, summer found her spending a lot of time practicing with the team. And while the senior captain had a few vacation days visiting family in Guadalajara, Mexico, many of them were cheer-related sprinkled with some bonfires and days at the beach. Diana’s coaches and team members voted for her to be head captain of the team again this year. “It feels good to be leader of the team… I think it shows that your coach recognizes you and sees leadership in you. And it gives you confidence when you’re walking around the halls of school.” Head cheer coach Cindee Russell knows the importance of having a united team that respects what each team member brings to the field. And Russell has put valiant effort into coaching the team again this summer, including joining the team at UCSD’s National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) camp. “I thought the camp was incredibly beneficial for them. It taught the girls a lot, it challenged them and it made them overcome a lot of obstacles they had… they got a lot out of it.” Diana agrees with her coach. “You learn technique, skills and performance abilities in camp. They have actual coaches from the NCA who teach us and have been around for a long time.” All-in-all, Diana confirmed her summer was certainly busy. So, what is she not looking forward to this new school year? “My math class. It isn’t my favorite subject, but I’m looking forward to bonding with my team more and making the best out of it.” Come Monday, Aug. 29, La Jolla will have the familiar view of cars lining the sidewalks as students scurry in and out of school. Traffic will become a challenge and after-school-programs will start. Keep an eye out for students walking and bicycling … remember, it’s not easy starting up school when the weather beckons one to the beach and even the ocean of Wind’Sea can be watched by students in both Muirlands and La Jolla High School.