Registration continues at local schools
With the start of the new school year just one week from today, any new students who have not yet registered in the Albany Independent School District need to do so as soon as possible.
Local classes start on Thursday, Aug. 16, with the tardy bells at both campuses ringing at 7:55 a.m.
Administrators are hoping for similar enrollment numbers as last year, although budget figures are conservatively based on less than that.
NSES Registration
Registration for new students at Nancy Smith Elementary School took place on Wednesday, Aug. 1, and about 20 new students have been enrolled over the past week, according to NSES principal Jonathan Scott.
That number does not include the new Head Start and pre-K students who were enrolled in the spring before school was out, he said.
Online Status
Stephanie Gleitz in the NSES office said Tuesday morning that there are still around 50 students whose parents have not completed the new online registration process.
“We’re making progress, because we probably had about 100 missing yesterday,” said Gleitz. “I know it’s a lengthy process to fill out the form online, but it will be easier after this first year.”
Computers are available at the school for those who don’t have access to one at home.
To register, go to reg.albanyisd.net and click on the tab “Nancy Smith Elementary,” then “Current Student Verification.”
The form is 32 pages for each student, Gleitz said, but many of the pages are quick fills.
Parents of any new NSES students who have not already registered need to contact the school at 325-762-3384 to make arrangements to enroll.
New Faces
Scott is still expecting a few more new faces to appear before school starts, and he added that there are still spots available in both the Head Start and the pre-K classes.
The principal also said that any parents who have not yet registered their child need to do so by next Tuesday, Aug. 14, if at all possible.
A “Meet the Teacher” event is scheduled for that evening, and students should be enrolled before then so that parents can be sent to their child’s classroom and teacher for the informative meetings.
Head Start, pre-K, kindergarten, first, and second grade parents meet at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14 and third through sixth graders at 5:30 p.m. the same evening.
More information about the “Meet the Teacher” event is included in the Back to School section of this paper.
Parents of elementary students are reminded that the NSES day begins at 7:55 a.m., the same as last year.
JH/HS Registration
This week, Aug. 6-10, is the official time for new students to enroll at the secondary campus and students already registered should pick up their schedules starting Thursday, Aug. 9, according to principal Edward Morales.
Morales had originally thought that schedules would be ready earlier this week, but there has been a delay in the scheduling process, he said.
Also, if students want to change their schedules, they need to wait until Monday, Aug. 13 to come in and request the changes. Counselor Dee Dee Waggoner will be in her office starting that day.
High school and junior high students new to the district should come in as soon as possible.
They should bring a birth certificate, immunization records, Social Security card, a parent’s drivers license, and proof of residence such as a utility bill, Morales said.
New Student Meeting
All seventh grade students and parents, as well as any new-to-the-district secondary students and their parents, need to attend an orientation meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria/snack bar of the junior high building.
The secondary office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. The high school number is 325-762-3974.
Computer Use
The district has arranged for students in seventh and eighth grades to use Chrome books and high school students to use MacBook laptops again this year.
Parents and students will review the policies involving the responsibilities for the use of the computers and sign the appropriate forms at a meeting to be scheduled after the school year begins.
There is a student use fee required from each student.
Any students and parents who attended the meeting and signed for computers last year will not need to attend the computer orientation info meeting this year.
At the elementary campus, both the fifth and sixth graders will be able to use Chrome books.
“We introduced one-to-one Chrome book technology to our sixth grade students year before last in an effort to bridge the transition between the elementary and secondary campuses,” said Scott.
Students were allowed access to the laptops at school but were not allowed to take them home.
“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,” Scott continued. “It worked really well, so we included the fifth graders last year.”
Students and parents are required to sign an user agreement. The students are not charged a fee because the devices stay on campus, but they are held accountable for any damages.
Staff Preparation
New AISD staff members, including five new teachers, had an orientation meeting yesterday, Aug. 8.
The district breakfast will take place Monday morning, Aug. 13, at 8:30 a.m. at the Feed Store, followed by district and campus meetings.
