With the first day of school just around the corner, Dalton Public Schools would like to share some important Back-to-School information with parents and students. Orientation meetings for students and parents provide a time for students to visit their school and meet their homeroom teacher. Orientation meetings are planned for Wednesday, August 8, at the schools as follows:
- Blue Ridge School ~ 2 – 4 p.m.
- Brookwood School ~ 3 – 5 p.m.
- City Park School ~ 3 – 5 p.m.
- Park Creek School ~ 3 – 5:30 p.m.
- Roan School ~ 2 – 4 p.m.
- Westwood School ~ 1 – 3 p.m.
- Dalton Middle School ~ 8 – 10 a.m.
- Dalton High School ~ 10 a.m. – noon
- Morris Innovative High School ~ 10 a.m. – noon
New Students to Dalton Public Schools Should Enroll Now
As the 2012-2013 school year draws near, Dalton Public Schools will be welcoming many new students into its almost 7,200 student population. Before a student can attend his/her first day of class, there are a few steps that must be done first.
If a student was not enrolled in a school in Dalton Public Schools last year, parents/guardians should enroll a student for school now. To enroll a student, a parent or guardian should come to the Central Office located at 300 W. Waugh Street. The office is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The following paperwork is required: a proof of residency, a birth certificate, the student’s social security card, an immunization form and a Georgia eye/ear dental certificate. (The medial forms can be obtained through the child’s doctor or the health department.)
If a student is not zoned for Dalton Public Schools, they must wait until after the tenth day of school to complete an out of district or out of zone request. There are limits on the number of students in each grade who may attend a Dalton Public School from out of district or out of zone. Currently, grades 5-7 are closed to out-of-district students.
For more information, visit http://daltonpublicschools.com/enroll-at-dps or call 706-876-4000.
Buses to Roll as School Starts on Thursday
School starts on Thursday, August 9, and that means buses will be hitting the roads bright and early to pick up students. Drivers are urged to be cautious in school zones, watch for students waiting for buses, and be aware of buses on the roads that will be making frequent stops. Here are a few tips for students, parents and drivers to remember while on the roads on Thursday:
For Students
▪ Instead of slouching backpacks on shoulders or arms, make sure it is securely worn on your back. Straps can get caught on handles, stairs or in the door if the backpack is not worn correctly.
▪ Do not cause commotion while on the bus. Make sure you use the same behavior as you would in a classroom. Use a normal voice, and do not move around the bus while it is in motion.
▪ Be at a bus stop 10 minutes before your bus is scheduled to arrive. If one child is late getting on the bus, the whole schedule is pushed back for the rest of the morning.
For Parents
▪ Make sure there is someone to meet the child at his or her bus stop. No driver will let a child off at a stop unless an adult is there to meet him or her, or they exit with an older sibling.
▪ Don’t panic if your child’s bus is not right on time. If you believe your child’s bus is running too late, call the school or First Student—do not go to the school.
For Drivers
▪ Keep an eye out for speed limits. There is about a ½ radius around most Dalton Public Schools that have parents and students walking to campus, so slow down and pay attention in school zones.
▪ STOP FOR BUSES. If a bus has out its stop sign, you must stop unless you are in an opposite bound lane on a divided highway with a physical median.
▪ Be on guard when around a school bus.
By the Numbers
▪ First Student runs 27 regular buses through Dalton city and five Exceptional Student Services buses.
▪ Around 4,423 students ride the bus system.
▪ Seventy-two students can fit on one bus.
▪ In a 28 state test to see how many people actually stop for buses, 112,000 school bus drivers reported that 40,000 drivers passed them illegally during their routes.
▪ A fine for not stopping for a school bus is around $500.
For information regarding which bus a student will ride, please contact your child’s school. For all other transportation questions, please call First Student at 706-428-9489.
Food Prices Rise Slightly for 2012-13 School Year
Breakfast:
Elementary & Middle School- $0.85
High School- $0.85
Non-Student- $1.35
Reduced Student- $0.30
Lunch:
Elementary School- $1.40
Middle & High School- $1.60
Non-Student- $2.65
Reduced Student- $0.40
Extra Milk $.0.50
School meals may be paid for online at www.myschoolbucks.com.
School Start and Ending Times for 2012-13 School Year
Elementary Schools will start at 8:15 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
Middle School will start at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m.
Dalton High School will start at 8:15 a.m. and end at 3:39 p.m. during first semester and 3:31 p.m. during second semester.
Morris Innovative High School will start 7:45 a.m. and end at 4:35 p.m. Morris Innovative High will only have classes on Tuesday through Friday.
Early Dismissal Scheduled on Friday, August 9
All Dalton Public Schools will dismiss early on Friday, August 9. All elementary and high schools will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. and the middle school will dismiss at noon.
By Lindsey Derrick, Dalton Public Schools Contributor
