To every student’s distress and every parent’s excitement, July is well under way which means the summer is about half way over. The first bits of “back to school season” are starting to show themselves, deals on notebooks and pencils covering everything from banners at Walmart to commercials on TV.

Although those who still have to attend classes may not appreciate it now, the ability for our younger generation to receive proper schooling is something that our area very clearly takes pride in.

From LaGrange to LaFayette, companies and organizations are making it easier for kids to take on the school year.

Bringing the Ages Together is holding their annual Free Family Festival, providing families with the medical care and documentation they need to enroll their young ones in daycare, pre-k and kindergarten.

TCC, a Valley retailer of Verizon products, will soon be giving back to the community by passing out free backpacks stuffed with school supplies to the students that need them.

The annual Chambers County Day of Prayer, held near the courthouse in LaFayette, will give as much glory to education as it is to God, allowing kids who come to take similarly stuffed school bags.

It is clear that the movers-and-shakers in the area put a high level of importance on the education of the generations to come after us. The Greater Valley Area is buzzing with excitement to prepare our young learners for another year of math, science, social studies and everything in between.

This should be a lesson to everyone, even those not immediately affected by the school year, that schooling is one of the most important things in life.

Preparing our students for school is preparing them for a life of success. Just like so many people in our community already have, everyone should do what they can to help them along.