Wrapping Up the School Year: Progress Meetings and Summer Planning Made Easy
- David Skelton
- May 2
- 5 min read
The final bell of the school year is just around the corner — and what a journey it’s been! As a parent, you’ve been balancing so much: school projects, therapies, meetings, and endless encouragement. Now, with summer on the horizon, it’s time to celebrate everything your child has accomplished and set the stage for even greater growth ahead.
One important step before the school year ends? Your child’s end-of-year meeting. It can feel like a lot, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to reflect, advocate, and plan for success. With a little preparation (and some personalized support from Arloa), you can walk into that meeting feeling calm, confident, and ready.
Here’s how to make the most of this moment — and how to keep the momentum going all summer long.
Prepping for Your End-of-Year Progress Meeting
Progress meetings aren’t just paperwork and progress reports — they’re about honoring your child’s hard work and ensuring their next chapter is even brighter.
Here’s how to prepare:
1. Gather Your Wins
Before your meeting, take some time to review your child’s goals from this year. What progress have you seen? Gather examples:
Teacher notes or report cards
Work samples from projects, writing assignments, or classwork
Personal observations — even small victories you noticed at home
Celebrating these wins helps remind the whole team of the amazing growth your child has made.
2. Clarify Your Questions
As you review, jot down any questions or concerns you have:
Are there goals that didn’t quite hit the mark?
Does your child need additional services or accommodations?
Are there new areas (like social skills, executive functioning, or transitions) you want to address next year?
Coming to the table with specific questions empowers you to have a real conversation with your team — not just check boxes.
3. Build Your Meeting Game Plan with the Arloa Assistant
Feeling unsure about what to ask during your next school meeting? Arloa’s Assistant makes it simple to create an outline to bring with you to your meeting.
Here’s how to use the Assistant:
✔️ Request a Personalized Question List: Tell the Arloa Assistant what’s on your mind — like summer services, extended school year (ESY), or preparing for a smooth start next fall. In just a few clicks, you’ll get a tailored list of questions to ask your team.
✔️ Add Your Own Notes: As you think about your child’s growth and goals, jot down any additional thoughts or concerns. Maybe it’s social skills, extra academic support, or transition planning — whatever matters to you most.
✔️ Print and Bring Your List: Bring your custom questions and notes to the meeting! Having everything printed out helps you stay organized, keep the conversation on track, and make sure you leave with the answers you need.
Pro Tip: Start about two weeks ahead to give yourself time to review, add questions, and breathe — so you can walk in feeling prepared, calm, and ready to advocate for your child’s next big steps.
Example Question: I’d like help creating a meeting outline with personalized questions for my child’s teacher. I want to focus on my child’s progress this year, what we should work on over the summer, how to maintain momentum during break, what changes to expect for next year’s schedule and transportation, and how to plan ahead for the next IEP meeting. Can you organize it in a way that’s easy for me to print and bring with me?
Arloa Response:
Supporting Summer Progress: Keep the Growth Going
When the school doors close, learning doesn’t have to stop. Summer can be a beautiful, low-pressure time to continue developing your child’s skills — in ways that feel joyful and natural.
Here’s how to keep progress moving:
1. Build Goals into Daily Routines
You don’t need fancy programs or extra hours of tutoring. Small, intentional activities at home can make a big difference:
Practicing speech therapy skills during story time or meals
Strengthening fine motor skills through crafts and gardening
Building social skills with family game nights or playdates
2. Equip Summer Caregivers
If your child will be with a babysitter, grandparent, or camp counselor, you can support them too:
Share a simple One Pager of your child’s strengths and needs.
Suggest easy activities that align with IEP goals (Arloa can help you create this!)
3. Travel Made Simple for Exceptional Families — With Arloa by Your Side
Summer adventures should be exciting — not overwhelming. That’s why Arloa offers personalized, stress-free travel planning designed specifically for families like yours.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or the vacation of your dreams, we tailor every detail to your child’s unique needs — making unforgettable memories easy and accessible.
With Arloa Travel, you’ll get:
Expert Travel Agents: Work one-on-one with certified autism travel professionals who truly understand sensory processing, accessibility, and anxiety management needs.
Comprehensive Needs Assessment: We take the time to get to know your child — their strengths, sensitivities, and passions — to design a trip that fits them perfectly.
Personalized Communication: You’ll receive custom travel tips, destination recommendations, and resources, all tailored to your family — never one-size-fits-all.
All at No Additional Cost: Arloa Travel is included with your membership — no hidden fees, no upcharges. You get our white-glove service for the same price you’d pay booking directly.
Because you deserve a vacation that feels just right — where every moment is built for connection, comfort, and joy.
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✨ Arloa Travel: Where Memories Are Made, Stress-Free
• Certified Autism Travel Professionals at your service
• Custom visual schedules and sensory guides
• Emergency support available 24/7
• Transparent pricing — no surprises
Start planning your trip today
Log in today to connect with an Arloa travel specialist who will work with you to create your personalized family adventure.
Closing Thoughts: You’ve Got This
This time of year is about more than just wrapping up — it’s about celebrating resilience, honoring your child’s growth, and setting the stage for even bigger milestones ahead. With a little planning, the right support, and lots of heart, you can turn this season into a powerful springboard for success — both at home and when the new school year begins.
Whether you’re prepping for your child’s end-of-year progress meeting, planning summer activities that keep goals growing, or dreaming about a stress-free family vacation, Arloa is here to help.
From personalized IEP support to expert travel planning, we’ll make sure you have the tools, the clarity, and the confidence to keep moving forward — one meaningful step at a time.
