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Published Sunday, July 20, 2008 in Local
Schools prepare for Aug. 6 opening
The Times-Herald
What happens when 23,000 youngsters show up at your door about the same time on the same day and plan to spend the whole day with you?
School happens.
In Coweta, it all happens Aug. 6, the first day of school for 2008-2009.
For those parents who are uninitiated or too overwhelmed with everything else, here's what to expect and how to prepare for it:
New students
* Parents who have new students to enroll are urged to register them before school starts by making an appointment with the Coweta County School System's central registration office at 167 Werz Industrial Drive in Newnan. Registration is not handled at the schools. Werz is located off of Millard Farmer Industrial Boulevard/Highway 34 bypass near Bullsboro Drive. The registration office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The last appointment is taken at 4 p.m.; but if the paperwork is completed beforehand, office personnel can take care of parents registering their children for school as late as 4:30 p.m.
For information on what items a parent needs to register his child in school, call the central registration office at 770-254-5551 or better yet go to the Web site at www.cowetaschools.org/registration.">www.cowetaschools.org/registration. Print and complete the registration forms beforehand, and the registration process at the central office should take about 20-30 minutes, says Donna Carter of that office.
Instructions in Spanish are also available on the site as well as easy-to-read directional maps.
Visits before school starts
* Parents and students can visit their assigned school and meet their teachers on the day before school starts on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon at all middle schools and from noon to 2 p.m. at all elementary schools.
* High school orientation for new students at Northgate High School will be on Monday, Aug. 4, from 2 to 4:30 p.m..
For new students at East Coweta High and Newnan High, the orientation is on Aug. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m.
'Mommy, I missed the bus.'
* Someone from the school system's transportation department will be at each school on Aug. 5 and 6 to provide information about bus routes for the new school year. The representative will have the names of the drivers, bus routes and times, and will be on hand to answer transportation-related questions.
The bus routes will also be posted on the school's Web site at least one week before school begins. Each school's Web site is accessible through www.cowetaschools.org.">www.cowetaschools.org.
For the first day of school, all Cowetans are encouraged to leave home early because of the expected higher volume of traffic. The school system operates 180 regular school bus routes, 50 special education routes and transports about 15,000 students more than 12,000 miles daily.
Parents who are driving their child to school are also encouraged to leave early and have their child at school earlier than usual on the first day.
Coweta's elementary schools operate from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; middle schools, 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and high schools, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Central Educational Center operates from 8:15 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. for first and second blocks and from 12:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. for the third and fourth blocks.
Student who ride the bus are asked to be at their bus stop no later than 7 a.m. on the first day and for the remainder of that first week of school. The stops will become more predictable as ridership and routes become better established during the first few weeks of school.
If parents are unsure about their student's pick-up or drop-off site or the times, they can call the transportation department at 770-254-2820.
'C'mon dad, I need more than this for lunch.'
* Student prices for school breakfasts and lunches increased this year to $1 for breakfast and $2 to $2.25 for lunch. Milk and juice prices also increased to 50 cents. High school students also have more choices besides the regular hot lunch line, including the "pizza line" and a salad bar.
All meals and drinks have to be paid in advance. Parents are encouraged to pre-pay for a student's meal by the week or month.
Meal costs for families eligible for the reduced prices under the federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program remain unchanged this year at 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. The program is based on household income and other factors. Applications for the federal program are available at the schools.
School supply lists
* A school supply list detailing what your child needs to bring to school is available online on each school's Web site or by calling the school. School Web sites and contact information is available at www.cowetaschools.org or by calling the school system's main switchboard number at 770-254-2800 and asking to be connected to the school.
After school daycare
* Registration for the Coweta Schools' after-school daycare program will be Aug. 1, 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the elementary school that the child will attend. The registrations are on a space-available basis and cost $9-12 per day after the initial $20 non-refundable registration fee for each child. The program operates at all elementary schools from 2:30 to 6 p.m. on school days. The Friday, Monday and Tuesday dates for the After School Program registrations will be done by an ASP site coordinator in the elementary school's cafeteria. For more information, call 770-254-3016.
Dress code
* For information about Coweta County School System's dress code, check the 2008-2009 dress code guidelines. There are guidelines for elementary, middle and high school students. The guidelines address everything from bandannas to those rolling shoes or "Heelys."
Night high school and driver's ed program
* Registration for night high school classes is Tuesday, July 29, through Monday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Central Educational Center at 160 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Night high school starts Aug. 11.
Full-credit classes are offered, including for math, English, science and social studies, and a half-credit driver's education course is also offered. The full-time courses cost $400 for Coweta County residents and $700 for out-of-county students.
The full-time classes are held from 4 to 5:50 p.m., 5 to 7:40 p.m. and 7:40 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday on the CEC campus.
Regular students attending daytime classes may also attend CEC's night courses as a fifth block class with clearance and permission from their high school guidance office, and the $400 tuition fee for the full-time course.
A half-credit driver's education course is also offered at CEC Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6:20 p.m. for $300. Only cashier's checks or money orders are accepted for payment. For more information, call CEC at 678-423-2000.
New teachers
* New teachers begin orientation sessions on July 29, 30 and 31 starting with an annual welcome breakfast at the Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts. All teachers start Friday, Aug. 1.
Comment On This Story
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Most parents who vent usually have little or no involvement in schools. I personally don't have a problem with the school calendar because no way can everybody be made happy. So I think Bass and the school board did the best they could. If people would actually show up for meetings maybe they could have more of a voice. I have rarely seen an overflow Pto or Board meeting and have spent years in this school system. Its not like the schools/board doesn't give notice of its meetings.
Posted by Somebody who likes school at 8:46 AM
Incase you have'nt noticed, things DID work better when we "gramps" went to school. Kids are so confused nowdays, they are'nt quite sure where to go or what to do..
Posted by Susan at 8:02 AM
I don't really have a problem with the start back to school date because August is such a hot month. I don't like having the kids out an extra week in January and then getting out later in May. Since we go back at the first part of August, I'd love the kids to get out mid-May and BEFORE Memorial Day Weekend. May is such a pretty month and the weather is nice so the kids will go outside and play!!!
Posted by Coweta at 11:44 AM
Part of the reason we are starting earlier is because we are required to get 90 days in for each semester. Also, as a first grade teacher, I like starting on a Wednesday because it gives the kids and myself 3 days to get to know each other. When we start on a Monday it is difficult because parents are bringing in supplies, boys and girls are nervous, and I'm expected to jump in and begin teaching the curriculum immediately and make sure every student has a lunch, bus number, and paperwork the office needs. I'm also having to calm down the child that's crying and help the one that didn't bring any supplies. Also, maybe you don't need breaks during the school year, but I promise your child does and so do the teachers. It is amazing how much a small break helps my students calm down and refocus. Oh, and by the way, many of the breaks your children get, teachers are not getting. We are still at school working. Before the winter break was added we were going a little more than 3 months with 1 day off. I doubt very seriously that many of you are doing that.
Posted by 1st Grade Teacher at 8:59 AM
I like how they schedule orientations in the middle of the darn day so working parents have to struggle with their employers to attend their child's school functions. If im not mistaken, 2 parents work outside the home these days. How convenient for the stay at home moms! The school board needs to compromise and make orientation schedules for everyone. Noon-2pm is ridiculus! Im sure others will agree! And yes i agree, the school year should start after Labor Day like most the country does! No wonder were at the bottom.
Posted by Mommy2 at 8:59 AM
I have three children in the CCSS and for the most part am satisfied. During the planning sessions of the school calendar, each school asked a few parents to participate in the planning. We attended the session and could not believe the selfishness of so many of the parents. Their biggest concern was that they would not have enough summer break time to get all of their vacations in. What is more important, vacation or education? I understand that when we were in school, it wasn't this way. Nothing was the way it is now. Children ride in car seats, cars have seat belts and air conditioning. You have cable tv or a dish. PROGRESS
Posted by Parent at 8:26 AM
I'd like to point out that the school calendar was drawn up by a group of teachers and parents. Teachers wanted it one way...parents wanted another. The current calendar is a compromise. It is what it is. I doubt that a day here or there is going to affect CRCT scores. That's MY comment.
Posted by Room405 at 10:54 PM
"Off sides" says we should contact, this person and that person, who never gives us the answers that we need or we receive a generic response at best. I'm choosing this forum because I enjoy reading the outlook that other Coweta Co. residents have. I've been in school THIS decade and as a former student of ECHS I often asked why we were out of school so much, but of course, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth so I just took things as given. But with the rising failure rate of graduation tests and CRCT test (implemented prior to my graduation) I really think the school system should re-think their calendar in order to get a little more learning in and improve our County rank within Georgia for standardized testing. Again, this is just my opinion, which is the purpose for the comment section, right?
Posted by Cowetian at 10:37 PM
How all these people who havent gone to school in years and say "Well back when I was in school it was the right way to do it..." How do you know what works? You havent been there for decades. Why dont we stop asking the people who dont have kids or havent been to school in years what works and start asking the people who are there everyday. The kids and the teachers might know a little bit more than Gramps...
Posted by Steve at 9:37 PM
Concerned TAX Payer...all pre-k programs are state funded. The money from the GA Lottery pays for pre-k programs. The state allots a certain amount of money to the counties and most put one pre-k in each school. The county has little or no say in the matter. I'm a former pre-k teacher and can tell you that the state maintains strict control over every penny.
Posted by Room405 at 9:35 PM
What about all the pre-k kids who are on a waiting list? Why doesn't this county offer enough classes for everyone? My taxes went up, so why can't my child be in school.It is not fair that my child's sisters and brother are in the same school, but there is not enough room for my son.Of course he can go to a state funded program(daycare) but that requires driving half the morning , spilling coffee every where, stressing to get everyone to school on time and still trying to get myself to work on time.GA is about every child needs an education, well they need to make more room.
Posted by Concerned TAX Payer at 8:08 PM
I agree with "Cowetian", school has been starting way too early the last few years.We should have 3 full months off, and start school end of August or after Labor Day. We don't need all the winter breaks, etc. I vote for the more traditional 3 month summer off.
Posted by jon at 6:39 PM
We ave a school board that can answer all of the questions below about the start of the school. Please contact the board member that represents you for this information and not the local paper. Time changes and we must adapt to time. It is called the survival of the fit...
Posted by Off Sides at 5:41 PM
Can someone please explain to my why students are starting school earlier and earlier? AND in the middle of the week. I don't understand the planning strategies but I know when I was in school we hardly went back before the end of August and school started on a Monday, as it should. Another thing, why is there a "student holiday" EVERY Month (almost), but then we wonder why are students are so lax about schooling and testing. They are never there. There was a time when there was only Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break and Spring Break. If you were lucky, a Teachers' Holiday here and there. MAYBE. What's going on now???
Posted by Cowetian at 2:54 PM
"Going to school" has sure changed. Why is it so much harder now? Used to, you went to the school closest to where you live and you registered there. Now you have to go to a totally different place to register and it just seems like a ton of extra work for the parents.
Posted by Susan at 11:08 AM
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School calender
7/28/2008
Link To This Comment
I agree with Coweta, why are we out of school until January 7th? We start on August 6th and still are not out by Memorial Day? Most the surrounding counties are starting later and will be out the Friday before Memorial Day and we will still have 4 days of school to go. Who needs almost 3 weeks at Christmas? Kids are bored with new toys by New Year's and most parents have to go back to work. Kids hardly get back in the swing and low and behold, another week off in freezing cold February! When summer arrives end of May, Coweta kids will still be in school. This is by far the worst calendar we've had in the last several years.
Posted by mom in summergrove at 10:49 PM