Northwood Middle School

Summer offers no break for Rapides Parish principals and their staffs

Schools may be officially closed for summer now, but for principals and their staffs, the summer break is definitely not a break.

Hundreds of Rapides Parish School District employees, including principals, custodians, secretaries, counselors and more, have work to do to get ready for the 2011-12 academic year.

"The summer break is a time of preparation; it's a real important time in the life of a school," said Fred Moore, Julius Patrick Elementary principal, who along with his staff is multitasking dozens of projects that need to be completed before the opening of school on Aug. 17.

Save for some students currently attending summer school, most students are nowhere to be seen in the hallways of their schools, where a certain degree of peace and quiet reigns.

So in the meantime, employees are scrubbing the floors, shampooing the carpets, painting the walls, doing maintenance repairs, updating administrative documents and making changes in personnel.

"You have a spring cleaning in a house; we have summer cleaning in schools," Moore said.

Moore said he is spending his days updating several administrative documents, including the School Improvement Plan, the teacher handbook and the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports systems program, and making curriculum updates.

Principals also meet with their staffs on a regular basis and with district Superintendent Gary Jones to discuss staff and program changes.

Despite the workload, some principals say the summer break is a welcome change of pace, and because there are no students on most campuses, the atmosphere is relaxing and quiet.

But that's not the case at all schools.

At Alexandria Middle Magnet School, about 150 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders are attending summer school. It's the principal who solves issues when they arise.

"Most of them are eighth-graders who failed the LEAP test and had to come back ... so June is pretty busy," said Tim Tharp, Alexandria Middle Magnet principal, who soon was called to help a crying pupil.

Before that, Tharp said July will be his quiet time to finish getting his school building in good order, to order textbooks and to complete other tasks.

It is also around this time of the year that a lot of new initiatives get started in schools and across the district.

"We are looking at expanding our career pathways for our kids," said Tharp, explaining that teachers will meet with pupils to encourage them to think about future career options. It will go hand-in-hand with the school's career awareness program.

August registration dates set for Pulaski County Special

Parents who were unable to register their children in school this June for the Pulaski County Special School District will be able to do so in August.

According to Brenda Bowles, assistant superintendent for the Office of Equity and Pupil Services, parents and guardians of middle school and high school students should check-in/register beginning August 1, at newly assigned registration hubs. The North Hub is located at the new Sylvan Hills Middle School in Sherwood, the West Hub is based in the Maumelle High School and the South Hub is housed at the District’s Central Office in the Division of Equity and Pupil Services. Hub hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Elementary students who have not previously registered will register/check-in at their zoned school beginning August 8.

Bowles encourages parents or guardians to take necessary documentation when registering their students.

For returning students, a current proof of residency must be provided.

To register a new student parents or guardians need to bring the following proper identification: birth certificate or a registrar statement, baptismal certificate, passport, affidavit, military identification, previous school records, immunization records, transcript or last report card or social security card. Address verification is also necessary, which requires a current utility bill, a Little Rock Air Force Base housing verification form, home purchase closing papers or lease agreements.

North Hub (Sylvan Hills Middle)
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