Back To School

August 2, 2006

Students take first steps back to school

DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

Hays Daily News

Enrollment for grades kindergarten through grade 12 in Hays USD 489 began in full force this week in Hays, with Hays High School upperclassmen enrolling Monday and Tuesday and underclassmen beginning the process today. HHS sophomores are scheduled to enroll today, when Felten Middle School will begin its two-day enrollment today, with Munjor the only elementary school scheduled for today. Kennedy will be added to that list Thursday, when the other five elementary schools in Hays also will hold their enrollments. At Hays High, enrollment on Monday and Tuesday appeared to be running smoothly, even in the library, where every student was checking out a laptopcomputer. Hays High is in its third year of an initiative in which each student has use of an Apple iBook for the school year. "The first year, we didn't really know what to expect," said Todd Bryant, in his third year as a technology assistant at Hays High. Lines were much longer then. Tuesday, parents and students didn't have long waits to receive their laptops. "We put a lot of work into getting more organized, even from last year," Bryant said, admitting that each year gets a little easier. "It might be a little longer wait Thursday, having to explain more to freshman parents since it's their first year. Otherwise, it's going pretty smoothly." Teacher orientation in Hays is scheduled for Aug. 16, and school will begin the next day. Half-day schedules are set for grades kindergarten through eight on the Aug. 17, while Hays High will have a full day of classes that day. * Two of the three Catholic schools in the county, St. Mary Elementary School in Ellis and Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays, are enrolling the next couple of weeks. Holy Family Elementary School, Hays, conducted its enrollment last month in conjunction with uniform-sale day. Both TMP-Marian and Holy Family students wear uniforms. "That gives us a chance to get a head start on a lot of paperwork," Holy Family Office Manager Sheryl Ruda said in reference to the early enrollment date. "With parents able to buy uniforms all on the same day, it works out really well." St. Mary's had its enrollment Tuesday and its first day of school is set for Aug. 21. TMP-Marian enrollment is Aug. 8 and 9, with the first day of school, a half day, on Aug. 16. The first day of school for Holy Family will be Aug. 17. * Enrollment for Victoria public schools K-12 will be Aug. 9 and 10. The first day of school for Victoria students will be Aug. 21. * The Ellis public school system will have its enrollment for all students Aug. 10 and 11. The first day of school in Ellis is Aug. 21.

Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.