New student registration set July 31
By Nolan Davis
As the school year rapidly approaches, parents need to make sure that their children are registered and equipped for the coming school year, while school staff members must ensure that the school is ready for all the new students.
Classes at the Albany Independent School District will start this year on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Teachers begin their school year on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and the annual staff breakfast will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
New NSES Students
A new student registration event will be held at Nancy Smith Elementary School on Wednesday, July 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and all parents of new students should make sure to attend the event.
Parents of new enrollees should bring the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and social security card, as well a parent’s drivers license and proof of res-idence with them to the office when they register.
Parents of returning students should have already registered their children online, but if they have not, they can do so by visiting reg.albanyisd.net.
“Most parents already registered their children for the coming school year at the end of the last school year,” said NSES principal John Gallagher. “If they haven’t, they can easily do it online.”
This will be Gallagher’s first year as principal at Nancy Smith Elementary School.
The new principal expects NSES enrollment numbers to be similar to prior school years.
“From what I can tell, it looks like we should have pretty standard numbers,” said Gallagher.
Head Start Openings
While a Head Start registration event was already held on June 27, there is still a chance for parents to enroll their children if they were not able to attend the event.
Parents of children who do not qualify for Head Start should check with the NSES office to see if their child qualifies for pre-kindergarten.
“There are forms located in the office which parents can fill out to see if they qualify for Head Start or Pre-K,” said Gallagher. “Parents are encouraged to come get them and fill them out.”
Those enrolling children in either pre-K or Head Start need to provide proof of income.
Criteria for the programs include any one or more of the following qualifiers: 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 who are unable to speak and comprehend English, children in CPS, and children of a Star of Texas award winner.
The Star of Texas award is given to peace officers, firefighters, and emergency first responders who are killed or have suffered serious injury in the line of duty, and to citizens who were seriously injured or killed while assisting Texas first responders.
Meet the Teacher
A “Meet the Teacher” event is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13.
“We will be announcing more information about our Meet the Teacher event soon,” said Gallagher.
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.
Secondary Plans
A similar event will be taking place at the high school, with more information available next week.
“We’ll be having a new student orientation,” said secondary campus principal Edward Morales. “All incoming seventh graders and other new students are welcome to come.”
While most high school and junior high students are already registered, there is still paperwork that they will need to fill out before the school year begins.
“Students will be able to come and pick up their paperwork Aug. 1,” said Morales.
The secondary campus will also be providing new agri-business class options to students this year.
“Many students signed up for the new classes at the end of last year,” said Morales. “These classes are focused more on the business and math side of agriculture.”
Some minor changes will also be made to the junior high and high school schedule.
“We think that this year we will have our PTC Friday every Friday,” said Morales.
Morales believes that enrollment numbers will be compare to past few school years.
Summer school went well this year, according to Morales.
“Mostly everyone who was supposed to show up to summer school did,” said Morales. “That’s always nice to have.”
A school supplies list for NSES will also be posted shortly, so parents can get a head start on purchasing those items.
