The Annual First Day of School Education Celebration for DeKalb County will be held July 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. downtown around the courthouse square.
The celebration is held on school registration day.
Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction for Pre-Kindergarten to sixth grade, said the event is free and all parents and students are urged to attend to help kick off the new school year. "Our goal is to provide an evening of activities, education, and enjoyment for the residents of DeKalb County. We will be having information booths, passing out school supplies, refreshments, and various activities for the students to participate in while promoting education."
"This will also provide a time for our teachers and parents to come together to build a foundation for new and positive relationships, right from day one," said Burklow
"Our First Day of School Celebration is an opportunity for our schools to take a leadership role in re-enforcing and improving relationships among parents, teachers, students, and the community. This is the one day each year when it is both easiest and most important to enlist families as partners in our children's education. This is a great time for us to engage our families and make them feel welcome into our schools."
"So come out and join us. Everything is free that evening. We'll have free school supplies, free food, snacks and lots of community people coming together to make this event possible", said Burklow.
"There are many volunteers, churches, and organizations that come together to make this event possible for our children so they are able to start school with new supplies and a great positive attitude."
If you would like to help with this event please call Michelle Burklow at 597-4084. Volunteers are needed.
This celebration is totally free of charge to those who attend so make plans now to join the fun downtown Smithville on Thursday, July 31
Meanwhile, DeKalb County Schools will re-open with registration for all students on Thursday, July 31. That will be an abbreviated school day from 7:45-9:30 a.m.
Aug. 1 will be an administrative day for teachers only.
The first full day of school for all students will be Aug. 4.
Freshmen orientation will be on July 28 at 5:30 p.m. at DCHS. New students will pre-register from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. July 28-30. Only new students to the county entering DCHS may register at those times.
Sixth-grade orientation at DeKalb Middle School will be July 29 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for students with a last name beginning with the letters "A" through "K" and from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for students with a last name beginning with the letters "L" to "Z".
Meet Your Teacher night for second and third grade students will be July 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Northside Elementary School. Parents and children may tour the school and meet the teachers.
A system-wide in service day will be Monday, July 28
All teachers will report to their individual schools on July 29 and July 30
Students will not attend on Labor Day, Sept. 1.
Schools will be closed for the fall break Oct. 20-31.
Students will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 26, 27, and 28, and for the Christmas break Dec. 22 –Jan. 2. Dec. 19 will be the last day students attend before Christmas break, and that will be an abbreviated school day.
Jan. 5 will be a stockpile day for teachers. Students will return after the holidays on Jan. 6.
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 19 and for President's Day on Feb. 16.
Schools will be closed for spring break March 30 -April 3
No school for students Memorial Day, May 25.
The following are designated as early release dates: Aug. 29; Oct. 3; Feb. 13 and March 6.
Students will not attend on May 22. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be May 26. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Oct. 7 and March 10 at DCHS from 3-6 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held from 3-6 p.m. Oct. 9 and March 12 at DMS, NES, SES and DWS.
DCHS report cards will be sent home on Oct. 6 and March 9, and at all other schools on Oct. 7 and March 10.
