Cheat Sheet: Quick Back To School Facts You Need To Know To Survive

August 18, 2008

Here’s the last minute cheat sheet on things you need to know on this first day of school:

School Start Times Are Different

Most elementary schools in Escambia County have a morning start time of 7:30 and an afternoon dismissal time of 2:00. The earliest students can be dropped off at the elementary schools, including Bratt and Molino Park, is 7:05.

Carver/Century has an 8:55 a.m to 3:25 p.m. day for both elementary and middle school students, with an early drop time of 8:30. Byrneville Elementary has a start time of 7:45 a.m. with an early drop time of 7:15. Dismissal time at Byrneville is 2:00.

At Ernest Ward Middle School, the morning start time will be 8:30 and the afternoon dismissal will be 3:10. The earliest students can be dropped off will be 8:15. At Carver/Century, morning start time will be 8:55 and the afternoon dismissal will be 3:25. The early drop time for middle school students at Carver/Century will be 8:30. Most of the rest of the middle schools in the county will have a 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. school day.

At Northview High School, the school day will run 7:40 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The earliest students will be allowed on campus will be 7:25. Most other high schools in the county will run 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.

Buses Run At Different Times Too

Since school starts at a different time this year, buses will run at different times too. Questions about your child’s bus? Call your child’s school

Breakfast and Lunch Cost More For Some

Unless your child qualifies for free and reduced meals, both breakfast and lunch will cost more this year.

Lunch for elementary students that pay regular, full price will jump 20 cents to $2.00. The price of breakfast for elementary students will remain $1.

Breakfast for middle and high school students will be up a nickel to $1.50. The middle and high school lunch price will jump 35 cents to $2.50.

Reduced price breakfast will remain at 30 cents and lunch will stay at 40 cents. The school district can’t raise those prices; they are set by the federal government.

School district officials say the rise in cost for students that don’t qualify for the free and reduced price program is simply due to the rising cost of food. Students that qualified for free and reduced price meals last year must complete an application again this year.

An extra milk at the elementary level will remain at 50 cents.

The price for adult meals, those meals for teachers and staff, will go to $1.80 for breakfast and $3.00 for lunch.

You Can Pay For Meals Online

You can prepay for your child’s breakfast and lunch at mealpayplus.com. You’ll need their student number. That will be sent home with your child, or you can call your school to get it. You can use any major credit card. It’s the cost of the number of meals you choose plus a small service charge per student. But there’s no sending money to school and hoping it arrives or is spent for lunch.

The Breakfast And Lunch Menu

Here is the breakfast and lunch menu for elementary students for the first two days of school:

The elementary menu for breakfast on the first day of school…August 18, will be Pop Tart, cheese wedge and mixed fruit. The lunch menu will be cheese pizza or corn dog, corn, mixed vegetables, peaches and a cookie. Day two, August 19, will have breakfast pizza and pears in the morning. For lunch on the second day, the menu includes BBQ chicken sandwich or grilled cheese sandwich, green beans, carrots, fresh fruit and strawberry Jello.

The Rules And The Dress Code

Each student will receive a copy of the Escambia County Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook during the first few days of school. Take a moment to look at; it can save one of those unwanted calls from the principal.

The biggest change this year? The school day dress code for students in grades 6-12 now applies to every activity after school too, even ball games. Leave the short shorts and baggy pants at home.

If you are just dying to read the handbook before it comes home with your child, click here.

Communications

Communications is a two way street. Make sure you have your child’s school phone number in your cell phone in case you need it one day.

Make sure your child’s school has correct phone numbers for you, both your landline and cell phones. There will be forms sent home the first few days of school asking for the information, and you can send a note to your child’s teacher anytime.

Speaking of the teacher, ask him or her for their extension number at school, and trade email addresses with them. That way you have easy access to your child’s teacher(s).

Checkout List

Make sure you have an updated list of people allowed to check your child out of school. You don’t want to send grandma to school to checkout the kids for her to be told no.

Fall Break

If you are planning ahead for Fall Break, don’t expect it to be a long one this year. The school district has taken the normal Thursday and Friday Thanksgiving break and tossed Wednesday in for a three day Fall Break. It will be November 26-28.

Last Day Of School

Ready for next summer again? The last day of school will be May 29, 2009.

Pictured above: A bulletin board greeting new kindergarten students today at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Education, FEATURE TOP STORY, News

Learn More About Candidates This Week On WSRE-TV

August 18, 2008

WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, will present “Rally 2008,” a primary and general election television candidate forum.

These specials will feature local candidates from the races for Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties.

The first installment of “Rally 2008” focusing on the upcoming primary election August 26, will air on WSRE (channel 23) and WSRE HD each night Monday through Thursday from 7-9:30. The second installment featuring candidates for the general election will be announced later.

Here is the complete schedule:

AUGUST 18, MONDAY
FL House Dist 1
Republican Greg Evers
Republican Ryan Gilbert

FL House Dist 2
Republican Dave Murzin
Republican Joe Roberts
Republican Gregory Fink

FL House Dist 5
Republican Sherry Campbell
Republican Brad Drake

Escambia Sheriff
Republican Ron McNesby
Republican David Morgan

Escambia Sheriff
Democrat Samuel Lucas
Democrat Larry Scapecchi

Santa Rosa Sheriff
Republican Paul Roper
Republican Robert Randle
Republican Wendell Hall
Republican Jeffrey Van Camp

Okaloosa Sheriff
Republican Charlie Morris
Republican William Patterson
Republican Robert Thacker

Public Defender 1st Judicial Circuit
Republican James Owens
Republican Kelly Richards

** Unable to attend

AUGUST 19, TUESDAY
Okaloosa Commissioner Dist 1
Republican Thomas Carmical
Republican Wayne Harris
Republican Andrew Wheeler

Okaloosa Commissioner Dist 5
Republican James Campbell**
Republican Kathy Foster
Republican Larry Hines

Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections
Republican Rhonda Cawthon
Republican Graham Fountain
Republican Douglas Hutcheson
Republican Paul Lux

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Dist 1
Republican Jim Williamson
Republican Thomas Stewart
Republican Clayton Miller
Non-Partisan Stacia LaDue

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Dist 3
Republican Marvin Fowler
Republican Don Salter

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Dist 5
Republican Lane Lynchard
Republican Lauretta Aiken
Republican John Broxson