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Countdown to school start picks up speed

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School starts two weeks from today, and the final countdown for the new school year is well underway with registration for the majority of new pupils entering Nancy Smith Elementary School conducted yesterday and new student registration at the secondary campus to take place next week, both campuses fully staffed, and facility maintenance projects nearing completion.

Registration

Parents of elementary or secondary students new to the district, as well as those who still need to be enrolled in either pre-kindergarten or Head Start, should make sure to bring the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and Social Security card, as well a parent’s drivers license and proof of residence (like a utility bill showing the parent or guardian’s name and address,) with them to registration.

NSES held new student registration yesterday, and parents of any new elementary students who did not register on Wednesday, Aug. 1, need to contact the school at 325-762-3384. 

“All those new to the district will need to register at the elementary office,” said NSES principal Jonathan Scott. “This would include anyone requesting enrollment in Pre-K, Head Start, and kindergarten through sixth grade.”

The registration system for returning students at NSES is available online at reg.albanyisd.net and parents who have not already completed the online forms need to do so ASAP.

New student registration at Albany Junior/Senior High School is set for Thursday, Aug. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Most returning students at AJ/SH have already registered for their fall classes, according to secondary principal Edward Morales.

“Class scheduling should be completed within the next couple of days,” Morales said earlier this week. “Students can start picking up their schedules on Monday, Aug. 6.”

The secondary office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., but the office will be closed on the morning of Monday, Aug. 13, because of staff meetings. 

For more information call the high school office at 325-762-3974.

Pre-K/Head Start  

There are still openings in the Head Start and pre-kindergarten classes, according to Scott. 

Parents of children who did not qualify for Head Start can come in to see if the child might qualify for pre-kindergarten.

Parents enrolling students in either pre-K or Head Start need to provide proof of income in addition to the registration documents listed previously in this article, and the child needs to qualify. 

Criteria for the programs include any one or more of the following: eligible for free or reduced lunch program, having a parent that is on active duty in the military or who was injured or killed during military service, homeless children, students unable to speak and comprehend English, children in Child Protective Services, or having a parent who has been selected for the Star of Texas award.

Meet the Teacher

A “Meet the Teacher” event is planned for Tuesday, Aug. 14, and is designed primarily for parents to meet their child’s teacher. Pre-K through second grade teachers will be on hand for Meet the Teacher from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m., while third through sixth grade instructors will meet with parents from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

A list of student classroom assignments at NSES will be posted at the event, although most teachers will have notified the parents before that night.

“All students and their parents are welcome to attend Meet the Teacher,” said Scott. 

The purpose of this event is to simply provide an opportunity for the parents and students to be introduced to their new teacher and learn a few important details about the first day of school, according to Scott.

“There may be a few forms to fill out, but we only have 30 minutes,” Scott said, “Most forms will be sent home with the child on the first day of school.”

The information is especially important for parents of younger children, and is geared toward making the first day of school run smoothly, according to Scott.

“We encourage specific detailed conversations between the parent and teacher to be scheduled with the teacher at a different time,” the principal said. “This allows everyone the opportunity to have enough time to make their introductions.” 

If a teacher conference needs to take place before the start of school, the parents should schedule one by contacting the school office, added Scott.

“Orientation for new Albany Junior/Senior High School students and parents (including incoming seventh graders) will begin that same day at 6:00 p.m. in the snack bar,” said interim superintendent Doyleen Terrell.

Computers  

The school district provides MacBook laptops to all students in grades 10 to 12, and Chromebooks to those in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, according to Morales.

Any new students and parents will have to review the policies involving the responsibilities for the use of the computers and sign the appropriate forms. There is a student use fee required from each student.

Fifth and sixth graders at NSES will be issued Chrome books, and their parents are required to sign an acceptable user agreement. The elementary students are not charged a fee, since they are not allowed to take the tablets home but they are held accountable for any damages, according to Scott.

“We introduced 1-to-1 Chromebook technology to our sixth grade students in an effort to bridge the transition between the elementary and secondary campuses,” said Scott. “We think it has been very effective.”

Last year the fifth graders started using Chromebooks in the middle of the year.

“We wanted a plan that put the technology in their hands, but under close supervision that allowed us the opportunity to teach proper use and care,” the elementary principal said. “We are hoping that as sixth graders this year, they will be able to just jump in and use the tablets, since they started with them last year. The Chromebooks allow different ways for students to turn in their work, and the ability for us to use some online textbooks.”

Classroom instruction and assignments are tailored around the use of the technology when appropriate, according to Scott. 

Facilities  

Summer maintenance projects and repairs are scheduled to be completed before school starts on Thursday, Aug. 16.

“We are still working on the floors at the elementary school, but we are hoping to be done by the end of this week,” Scott said. 

The secondary campus is almost ready for the new year as well.

“We are just trying to wrap up the projects,” said Morales. “We are moving furniture back into the rooms. Waxing of the floors was finished last week.”

Staff Preparation  

Teachers will officially start their school year with comp days on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 9-10, a staff breakfast and staff development day on Monday, Aug. 13, and teacher workdays on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 14-15.

Teachers will have a total of seven comp days this school year. They may have earned time off for as many as five of those comp days by attending professional development events over the summer break and turning in the required certificates.

The annual Back-to-School Breakfast for the AISD teachers, staff, and school board is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 13, at 8:30 a.m. at The Feed Store, and will be followed by the district meeting at 9:00 a.m. 

Campus meetings at each of the two campuses will take place after the district meeting on Aug. 13.

All faculty and staff members should attend the breakfast and the district meeting, according to Terrell.

Orientation for new teachers is Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 9:00 a.m.

Five new teachers have joined AISD this year, including junior high science instructor and high school cheer sponsor Lindsey Vaughn, sixth grade teacher Sarah Moore, fifth grade instructor Teri Antilley, first grade teacher Savannah Maberry, and Pre-K instructor Logan Kinder.

Doyleen Terrell has returned from retirement to work part-time as the interim AISD superintendent.

A few staff changes also took place. Jennifer Bowman changed campuses to become a paraprofessional at AJ/SH, while Rebecca Presley and Shayna Duke will both join the staff at NSES as teacher aides. 

Morgan Whitley is the new secretary to the superintendent. Kenzie Fair-child will add sponsoring the junior high cheerleaders to her list of duties. 

Substitute teachers are invited to sign up at the superintendent’s office. 

Extracurricular  

Many extracurricular activities for secondary students begin before the start of the school year.

“Volleyball two-a-days started on Aug. 1, and football will start the following Monday, Aug. 6,” said Morales. 

The cross country team members began their season on Aug. 1, the high school band starts practice in the band hall at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 6, and the Athletic Booster Club sponsored Ice Cream Supper is set for Monday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bank Park.

Morales also mentioned that the FCA Big Country East Kick Off Rally will be held at AISD’s Robert Nail Memorial Stadium at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2.

School Begins

School starts Thursday, Aug. 16.

The first bell will ring at 7:50 a.m., and classes start at 7:55 on both campuses again this year.

Students in Head Start and pre-kindergarten will attend school for only a half day (7:55 a.m. through 12:00 noon) from Aug. 16 through Friday, Aug. 24.

Student holidays will take place on Sept. 3 (Labor Day), Oct. 8 (Columbus Day), Nov. 21-23 (Thanksgiving), Dec. 24 to Jan. 7 (Christmas), Jan. 25, Feb. 18 (Presidents Day), March 11-15 (spring break), April 19 (Good Friday), and May 10.

Graduation is set for May 24.

School supplies

School supply lists for elementary students are available and are posted online at the NSES website. They are also at The Albany News, and posted in various stores in town.