McHenry schools are opening soon

Preparation includes making sure your car, truck or SUV is safe and ready

Doesn’t it feel as though summer in McHenry has just begun? Hopefully, you’ve made the most of the warm weather and had plenty of enjoyable summer activities to remember. But summer will end and one sign of the beginning of that end is the approach of the coming school year.

For McHenry District 156 high school students, the school year begins Wednesday, August 13. That’s only about a week away!

For McHenry District 15 middle and grade school students, they have another week of summer vacation to enjoy with school starting Wednesday, August 20.

Either way, in a virtual blinking of an eye, we’ll school busses rolling down the streets and children heading back to classes. But, before that starts, there is another annual ritual that needs to take place.

Of course, that refers to the annual flocking to the stores for school supplies. For students participating in sports, band and other extra-curricular activities, many parents will find that they have more trips to make than just to the stores.

Parents of students in sports are likely to find themselves driving to pick up uniforms and other athletic equipment. Those with children beginning in band may need to pick up instruments and/or uniforms, as well.

The net result is that this can be a hectic time of year. While adding school-related trips, you still need to pick up groceries and meet the obligations of other appointments. The last thing you need is to have trouble with the car, truck or SUV.

Avoiding mechanical problems with your vehicle starts with timely maintenance. It’s not like you’re looking for an opportunity to add something else to your schedule. But bringing the car, truck or SUV in for an oil change and to have it checked out mechanically is a great way to avoid unexpected and unplanned interruptions of your schedule.

Worse yet, mechanical problems can create hazardous conditions. Are the brakes operating properly? Is the suspension and steering in good condition?

It’s nice to know the car, truck or SUV will start. It’s more important to know it will stop. And, overall, it’s nice to know you can concentrate on everything else, like preparing your child or children for going back to classes as McHenry schools open for business again.

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