What to Prep Before You Go: A Counselor’s Guide to Supporting Students Over the Summer

Wrapping Up the Year With Intention

You’re almost there. Whether you’re crawling, cartwheeling, or coffee-chugging your way to the final bell, let’s pause for a collective high five. 🙌 You’ve shown up, held space, taught skills, and supported students through an entire school year—and that’s something to celebrate.

But as the countdown to summer begins, there’s one more important task to cross off your list: making sure students and families feel supported, even after your office lights go off.

While summer can be a season of rest and play, it can also mean long stretches without structure, routines, or consistent emotional support. And for some students, that unstructured time can feel a little overwhelming. As school counselors, we have the opportunity to provide peace of mind and continued connection before the school doors close.

Here’s your quick, practical guide to preparing summer support for students and families—without adding stress to your final week.

1. Create a “Summer Support” Flyer

The most helpful tool you can send home? A simple, fridge-worthy flyer that families can turn to when they need help. Keep it visual and clutter-free—this isn’t the place for a long list of paragraphs. Instead, highlight key local and national resources in easy-to-read sections.

Include:

• Mental health hotlines (ex: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, local crisis centers)

• Local counseling services (free or sliding scale if possible)

• Food access locations (free summer meal programs, food pantries)

• Community recreation programs (YMCA, library programs, Parks & Rec)

• Parent/caregiver support resources (such as local family centers or parenting hotlines)

You can even add your school logo or a friendly message from you at the top. Consider sending a printed version home and posting it on your school’s website.

Pro Tip: Use bright colors, simple icons, and large text to make it easy to read and save.

2. Build a Digital Resource Hub With a QR Code

For families who prefer online access, create a digital hub that gathers your top summer resources in one place. This could be as simple as a shared Google Doc, a Padlet board, or a section of your school’s counseling webpage.

What to include:

• Links to community events or summer reading programs

• Tips for supporting kids’ emotional well-being at home

• Printable summer SEL activities

• Emergency and non-emergency mental health resources

• A few fun “boredom busters” or activity calendars

Once your hub is ready, generate a QR code (you can use a free site like qr-code-generator.com) and place it on newsletters, flyers, and your school’s social media. One quick scan = instant support.

3. Offer Optional End-of-Year Check-Ins

Depending on your school and role, you may be able to offer optional check-in times before summer break. This might look like:

• A few 15-minute appointment slots for students who’ve been receiving ongoing support

• A “drop-in” lunch bunch the last week of school

• Office hours for caregivers who want tips on managing transitions or routines

Even if just a handful of families take you up on it, that small offer of availability can make a lasting impact. It sends the message: “I see you. I care. And I want to make sure you feel supported—even when I’m not here.”

If offering live check-ins isn’t possible, consider sending a short email to families of higher-need students with personalized notes and next-step options for continued care.

4. Partner With Community Organizations Before School Ends

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to give families quality support—you just need to know who’s already doing the work in your community. Now is the time to reach out to local organizations and gather summer-specific resources.

Ask for:

• Printed brochures or flyers

• Referral forms

• Free or discounted program info

• Contact details for intake or registration

Then, bundle these materials into a “Summer Success Packet” for students to take home. Include it with your Summer Support Flyer or pass it out to students who’ve received counseling services during the year.

If your district allows, consider highlighting 1–2 community resources on your school’s social media or newsletter before the final day. Families may not know what’s available unless we tell them.

5. Set Your Out-of-Office With Intention

You deserve a break—and you should take it fully. But your out-of-office reply can do more than just let people know you’re gone. It can provide clear next steps for anyone seeking help during your time off.

Here’s an example you can customize:

Subject: Thank you for reaching out—here’s how to find support

Hello! I’m currently out of the office for summer break and will return on [insert date]. If you or your child need support in the meantime, please see the resources below:

• Mental Health Emergency: Call 988 or visit your nearest emergency center

• Local Counseling Services: [Insert Name + Phone Number]

• Food or Housing Support: [Insert Program Info]

Wishing you a safe, restful, and connected summer.

Warmly,
[Your Name], School Counselor

Resource Spotlight: Free Summer Support Template

To make your planning even easier, I’ve created a FREE Summer Support Template that’s ready to edit. Just open the Canva link, add you school logo and information, input a QR code or direct phone numbers, print and share!

This is a quick, counselor-approved way to wrap up your year with care and confidence.

Final Thoughts: You’re Done (Almost)

Supporting your students doesn’t end the moment you lock your office door—it continues in the little things you leave behind: a flyer on the fridge, a link saved to a parent’s phone, or an affirmation written in a child’s journal.

With just a few thoughtful touches, you can close out the year knowing you’ve given students and families the tools to navigate summer with a little more confidence—and a lot more connection.

Now take that final sip of coffee, cross this post off your to-do list, and head into your break knowing you’ve finished strong. 💛

Keep Reading from Simply Imperfect Counselor

• How to Manage Your Time as a School Counselor

• Strategies that Support Self-Care for School Counselors

• Counselor-Approved Books to Recommend for Summer Reading