THE LAST WORD:Enjoy the end of summer

Hey kids, you’ve only got a couple of more days of summer to enjoy before you head back to school. We’re betting most of you are at the beach this Labor Day weekend. We hope so. Put down those video games and make the best of those dwindling sunny afternoons.

Yeah, homework’s a bummer, but look on the bright side, at least the weather’s good.

The end of summer vacation is even better news for parents who look forward to a bit more solitude without the little ones running wild in the house.

Fortunately for everyone in the community, classes start as Newport-Mesa schools received great grades from the state and most are meeting the federal benchmarks outlined in No Child Left Behind. Pomona and Wilson Elementary schools made up enough ground in standardized tests that they won’t face increased federal sanctions. And TeWinkle Elementary, which fell just short of holding off a boost in federal sanctions, has a new principal and hopes to make the benchmarks by next year.

Welcome back, students. We wish you and your teachers the best of luck.